Upon the discovery of the advance of the enemy from New Bern,
whence they set out early in March, General Hoke’s Division was
ordered to Kinston. On 6 March, the Junior Reserve Brigade,
consisting of the First Regiment under Lieutenant-Colonel Charles
W. Broadfoot; the Second under Colonel John H. Anderson, and the
Third under Colonel Hinsdale, and Millard’s Battalion under Captain
C. M. Hall, all under Colonel F. S. Armistead, marched through
Kinston and across, to the south side of Neuse river, which here
runs in an easterly direction, past the breastworks which they had
so laboriously constructed. They marched down the river road which
leads out in a southeasterly direction to Southwest creek. This
creek is a sluggish, unfordable stream, which runs in a northerly
direction and empties into the river about six miles below Kinston.
The regiment was placed in some old breastworks on the margin
of a swamp, about a hundred yards from the creek. Our pickets
were stationed on the creek. The next day the enemy made their
appearance on the other side of the stream and established a line
of skirmishers and sharpshooters. During the day our skirmishers
were engaged and occasionally a minie ball would whistle over the
breastworks as each individual boy of the regiment believed, “just
by my ear.” On the morning of 8 March, General Hoke, whose troops
were also stationed along the line of the creek, was relieved by
the arrival of D. H. Hill’s troops. Hoke’s Division crossed the
creek and made a detour down the lower Trent road which crossed
the British road at Wise’s Fork, about three miles in our front.
The lower Trent road runs in a southeasterly direction to Trenton.
The British road runs in a northeasterly direction towards the
river. General Hoke with his usual dash surprised a Federal
brigade, captured it and sent it to the rear. The reserves held
the breastworks throughout the 8th. On the morning of the 9th,
the reserves crossed Southwest creek on an improvised bridge
constructed by them about 200 yards above the bridge on the Dover
road which had been destroyed. This bridge was made by felling
trees across the creek and covering them with lumber taken from
Jackson’s mill in the vicinity. Line of battle was formed on
the east side of the creek on swampy ground and the brigade was
ordered forward under fire through fallen trees, brush, brambles,
and bullets--making it difficult to preserve the alignment. They
advanced as steadily as veterans, driving the enemy who were fresh
troops from New Bern, well dressed, well fed, well armed and well
liquored, as was evidenced by the condition of some prisoners
captured. The Third Regiment suffered the loss of a number of brave
officers and men, among them Lieutenant John W. Harper, a gallant
young officer of Company C, from Caldwell. Here also Lieutenant
Hamlin was wounded in the arm. That night General Hoke undertook
a flank movement down the British road and the Neuse river road,
the Junior Reserves being a part of his command. We could plainly
hear the enemy at work on their fortifications. The night was
rainy and so dark you could not see your hand before you. After
marching through slush and rain about six miles, we countermarched
and returned. On the afternoon of the 10th all of our troops fell
back to the entrenchments on the British road, and later in the
day we re-crossed the Neuse, burning the bridge behind us, and
marched through Kinston, our brigade camping at Moseley Hall. This
retrograde movement was the consequence of the arrival of Sherman’s
army in North Carolina.
The operations near Kinston, sometimes called the battle of
Kinston, but usually the battle of South West Creek, were upon the
whole a Confederate success, and when the disparity in numbers
between the contending forces is considered, were very creditable
to the Confederates. General Bragg in general orders thanked the
troops for their heroism and valor and complimented them upon their
achievements.
The arrival of Sherman in Fayetteville and the approach of
the troops from Wilmington to form a junction with Sherman at
Goldsboro, made it necessary for us to withdraw to prevent being
cut off and in order to form a junction with General Johnston’s
Army, which was moving in the direction of Smithfield. On 15 March
Colonel John H. Nethercutt, of the Sixty-sixth North Carolina, was
placed in command of our brigade which was permanently assigned to
Hoke’s Division.