Date
- March 16, 1865
Location
- Near the present city of Dunn, in Harnett and Cumberland Counties, North Carolina
Campaign
Principal Union commander:
- Major General Henry W. Slocum
Principal Confederate Commander
- Lieutenant General William J. Hardee
Union Forces Engaged
- Army of Georgia
Confederate Forces Engaged
- Hardee’s Corps
Number of Union Soldiers Engaged
- Roughly 26,000
Number of Confederate Soldiers Engaged
- Roughly 5,400
Estimated Union Casualties
- 682 (killed, wounded, and missing/captured)
Estimated Confederate Casualties
- 500 (killed, wounded, and missing/captured)
Result
- Inconclusive, however, William J. Hardee accomplished his task by hindering Henry W. Slocum’s advance by nearly two days, thus buying Joseph E. Johnston time to concentrate Confederate troops for the Battle of Bentonville.
Significance
- The Battle of Averasboro was the first major Confederate attempt to stop William T. Sherman’s march through the Carolinas.
Timeline of the Carolinas Campaign
These are the main battles and events of the Carolinas Campaign in order.
- February 3, 1865 — Battle of Rivers’ Bridge
- February 11, 1865 — Battle of Aiken
- March 7–10, 1865 — Battle of Wyse Fork
- March 10, 1865 — Battle of Monroe’s Cross Roads
- March 16, 1865 — Battle of Averasboro
- March 19–21, 1865 — Battle of Bentonville