THE NORTH CAROLINA VICTORY: Gen. Foster’s Official Report of the Capture of Kinston; TWO DISTINCT ACTIONS FOUGHT (12/21/1862)

New York Times - Times Machine ^ | 12/21/1862

[Homer_J_Simpson]

WASHINGTON, Saturday, Dec. 20.

The following has just been received at the Headquarters of the Army of the United States: Maj.-Gen. Halleck, General-in-Chief, Washington: I have the honor to inform you that I left Newbern for this place on the 11th instant, but that owing to the bad roads and consequent delays to my trains, etc., I did not reach Southwest Creek, five miles from this town, until the afternoon of the 13th instant. The enemy were posted there, but by a heavy artillery fire in front, and a vigorous infantry attack, on either flank, I succeeded in forcing a passage and without much loss. This morning I advanced on this town and found the enemy strongly posted at a defile through a marsh, bordering on a creek. The position was so well chosen that very little of our artillery could be brought in play. The main attack therefore was made by the infantry, assisted by a few guns pushed forward in the roads. After a five hours' hard fight we succeeded in driving the enemy from their position. We followed them rapidly to the river. The bridge over the Neuse at this point was prepared for firing, and was fired in six places, but we were so close behind them that we saved the bridge. The enemy retreated precipitately by the Goldsboro and Pikeville roads. Their force was about 6,000 men, with twenty pieces of artillery. The result is, we have taken Kinston, captured eleven pieces of artillery, taken 400 to 500 prisoners, and found a large amount of Quartermaster's and commissary stores. Our loss will probably not exceed 200 killed and wounded.

I am, with great respect,

Your obedient servant,

S.G. FOSTER,

Major-General Commanding.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Free Republic University, Department of History presents U.S. History, 1861-1865: Seminar and Discussion Forum
The American Civil War, as seen through news reports of the time and later historical accounts

First session: November 21, 2015. Last date to add: May 2025.
Reading: Self-assigned. Recommendations made and welcomed.

Posting history, in reverse order

https://www.freerepublic.com/tag/by:homerjsimpson/index?tab=articles

To add this class to or drop it from your schedule notify Admissions and Records (Attn: Homer_J_Simpson) by reply or freepmail.

Link to previous New York Times thread

https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/4117633/posts

[Homer_J_Simpson]

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[Homer_J_Simpson]

The North Carolina Victory: Gen. Foster’s Official Report of the Capture of Kinston – 2
The Resignation of Secretary Seward: A Caucus of Republican Senators Requests his Withdrawal – 2
Reported Resignation of Burnside – 2-3
From the Army of the Potomac: Our Special Army Correspondence – 3-4
Casualties at Fredericksburgh – 4-5
The War in the Southwest: Gen. Hindman’s Army Across the Arkansas – 5
News from Washington: Our Special Washington Dispatches – 6-7
Another Soldier Trouble: Serious Disturbance at Camp Stranahan – 7
The Indian Troubles: Threatened General Massacre of Whites in Missouri – 7
Editorial: Resignation of Secretary Seward – 7-8
Blunders of the War – 8
Editorial: The Battle and Retreat at Fredericksburgh – 8-9
Sunday and Its Sensations – 9
The Admission of West Virginia (Letter to the Editor) – 9

[KC Burke]

As a recent newcomer to North Carolina low country and a history buff I have been reading of the Revolutionary War actions and events, and to a smaller extent, the Civil War history of the area as well.

In my travels around the area I have noted that the topography, drainage, woodlands, swamps, backwaters, rivers, sandy soil, snakes and alligators make the life of the infantryman a very hard task. Movements north and south are constantly against the predominant drainage with the woods very dense and swampy in summer and winter. The swamps do not dry up even in periods of no significant rain for weeks on end.

You couple that with the overbearing of big brother Virginia in both wars and it is easy to see why the North Carolina suffering and losses produced a very mixed legacy.

The Revolutionary actions within the state were more interesting to me, but the civil war losses outside the state were legendary in their impact with North Carolina Regiments almost always commanded within Corps controlled by Virginians.

[MMusson]

Does anyone really believe the NYT was more reliable in the 1860’s than they are today? Why do you post this drivel?

[John S Mosby]

Especially since Kinston did not surrender nor did the commander there, Evans. Foster caught some prisoners,and his federal troops thoroughly looted what little was in the Kinston area— and then they withdrew. The Times just as accurate now as then. Home Depot likes to post this propaganda sheet, incidentally owned by Horace Greeley, who paid for Jefferson Davis’s bail out of Fortress Monroe and who was a supporter of the Confederacy (in the middle of NYC). When we get to 1863 let’s see what the Times had to say about the Draft Riots in NYC which murdered blacks throughout. The wealthy union people could pay the $300 subbstitute fee, so they wouldn’t be drafted as cannon fodder for the incompetent Union army.

[Bull Snipe]

Wealthy Southerners could also pay for a substitute to avoid being cannon fodder in the Confederate army. Also, down South, if you owned twenty slaves, you were exempt from the draft.

[John S Mosby]

Uh huh- sure thing.