Wyse Fork
Kelly's Mill Pond, Second Kinston
Civil War North Carolina

American Civil War
March 7-10, 1865

Schofield planned to advance inland from Wilmington in February, at the same time assigning Major General Jacob Cox to direct Union forces from New Berne toward Goldsboro.

On March 7, Cox's advance was stopped by Hoke's and Hagood's divisions under General Braxton Bragg's command at Southwest Creek below Kinston.

On the 8th, the Confederates attempted to seize the initiative by attacking the Union flanks. After initial success, the Confederate attacks stalled because of faulty communications.

On March 9, the Union forces were reinforced and beat back Bragg's renewed attacks on the 10th after heavy fighting.

Bragg withdrew across the Neuse River and was unable to prevent the fall of Kinston on March 14.

Result(s): Union victory

Other Names: Wilcox's Bridge, Wise's Fork, Second Kinston, Second Southwest Creek, Kelly's Mill Pond

Location: Lenoir County

Campaign: Campaign of the Carolinas (February-April 1865) next battle in campaign previous battle in campaign

Date(s): March 7-10, 1865

Principal Commanders: Major General John Schofield [US]; General Braxton Bragg [CS]

Forces Engaged: Divisions: 20,500 total (US 12,000; CS 8,500)

Estimated Casualties: 2,601 total (US 1,101; CS 1,500)


North Carolina State Battle Map
State Battle Maps
Campaigns of the Civil War
American Civil War Exhibits
Civil War Timeline
Women in the War
Civil War Picture Album
Civil War Maps
Confederate President Jefferson Davis
Civil War Submarines
Kids Zone Gettysburg
General Stonewall Jackson
 
Web AmericanCivilWar.com
Volcano-Pictures.INFO

Civil War History Book Club Selected Reading Titles

This book contains an examination of the army that General William Tecumseh Sherman led through Georgia and the Carolinas, in late 1864 and early 1865. Instead of being just another narrative of the March to the Sea and Carolina campaigns, however, Glatthaar's book is a look at the individuals that composed the army. In it, he examines the social and ideological backgrounds of the men in Sherman's army, and evaluates how they felt about various factors of the war--slavery, the union, and, most significantly, the campaign in which they were participating. The result is a fascinating look at Sherman's campaigns through the eyes of the everyday soldier. Glatthaar makes the army come alive, and shows the men not as heartless animals who delighted in wanton destruction, not as mechanized marching machines who could perform the most difficult marches without even flinching, but instead as real human beings, complete with sore feet, empty stomachs, and minds engaged in contemplation over the ethical ramifications of what they were doing to the people of the South.
Hess studies the use of fortifications by tracing the campaigns of the Army of the Potomac and the Army of Northern Virginia from April 1861 to April 1864. He considers the role of field fortifications in the defense of cities, river crossings, and railroads and in numerous battles. Blending technical aspects of construction with operational history, Hess demonstrates the crucial role these earthworks played in the success or failure of field armies. He also argues that the development of trench warfare in 1864 resulted from the shock of battle and the continued presence of the enemy within striking distance, not simply from the use of the rifle-musket, as historians have previously asserted.

Sources:
U.S. National Park Service
U.S. Library of Congress.