Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1863-04-29
For the Standard.
KINSTON BATTLES.

For the Standard.
KINsTON BATTLES.
i Report, to all ychom it may concsrn-Greet'"g:
The 6lst Regiment, n. G. Troops, was oreanized
in the town Of Wilmington OH the - day OF
August in the wear of our Lord, 1852, Of which
one JAS d. Radcliffe was then, and is now, the
Colonel commanding. This regiment has undonot-
edly hal the easiest time Of it of any in the Con-
Tolerate service, having done less marching, Lss
fighting, enjoyed more high living worn the hand-
s5af,t uniforms, and received the greatest amount
of praise from various and high distinguished func-
,ionsries, TO say nothing of The unbounded admira.
,ioii If the fair women of the land, who welcomed
Us everywhere. The health Of the regiment has
No; been as good as It might have been, owing
principally to the fact Of its being too stationary
Before entering upon the detail Of the part player
by thee st in the kinston battles, think it right
to ri 70 fsw notes taken from my diary, which
viii un.b s the CURIOUS to. trace out the path We
took 10 reach this gay little battlefield just in time
Tor the fight
We went 10 SmithviHe from Wilmington on the
10Th September; to Camp Radcliffe, miles, 10Th;
TO Smithville, 18th October; to Northeast Bridge,
above Wilmington, 9th; to Camp Collier, near
Goldsboro', 18th to Tarboro', 10th left Tarboro'
for the country around Plymouth, oath, constantly
maEhing and counter-marching; left camp near
Plymouth (close by Miss Lucy Johnsons,) I'd No.
yenber, at p o'clock, p H., marched 80 miles and
arrived at Spring Green, November Sd, at day
break at Fortifcations, Sd; Cross Roads, 4th;
waded throug deep snow with about 100 bare
footed men, 20 the terminus Of the Tarboro' Rail-
road 9Th: left 10th, and arrived in Greenve 18th;
ut H.ddock's Cross Roads, 18th 7; near Black Jack
Meeting House, 18th; at Taft's Store, 10th; at
Greenville, 2Sd left Greenville Eth December, and
at kinston 9th at Southwest Bridge, near the
battlefield, 18th fought like the ID 18th and
14th Though, as usual we've had no credit for IT'D
retreated towards Goldsboro, under Gen. Evans,
from South Carolina, 14th at Goldsooro', 18th;
step right down the RsilroaO arriving I'd January,
1883 at Masonboro' Sound, 9Th February; at vii.
mington, 10th at Charleston, (they made US ride
oil tie way,) 18th; at Savannah, March Sd; at our
old c1mp near Charleston 9th and at this blessed,
miserable hour, We are on the most God-forsaken
spot of Gods habitable globe-James Island, Saint
Andrews Parish, in the great State Of South Caro-
Ina o, Hr. Dapis, have mercy upon usl If
compatible with thy finite goodness, mercy, and
vision, We do most heartily and earnestly unite
orr prayers and beseech thee, either to remove US
away from us.
F,rgetful Of the important duty dero1uing upon
NE, Of making Report of the Fight at Einston,"
OR rather, OF the part taken BY the 6lst regiment in
the battles near Kinston, on Saturday and Sunday,
18th and l4th of December last l have entered,
unintentionslly, too much upon the detail of the
.1'r lness of this regiment which, I must repeat,
has not been moved about sufficiently for the pro-
motion of the good health Of the same-for all of
which most respectfully ask indulgence. My des.
TIMES are united inseparably with the 6lst regi-
msnt, and am extremely solicitous 10 any thing
affecting its sanitary condition. stick to it still,
~
oee:saen9tty to move our camp.
Now to the report According to the best and
most reliable accounts, the battles of knston &C.
cured about the 18th and 18th December, 1862.
ms frst fight was on Saturday, that is ia which
the 6lst regiment had any thing to do. On FRIDAY
eigat the 18th, We were about miles on the road
from Klpstont to Grsenville. We received marching
orders abouttwillght. In about fourteen minutes
Sneariy quarter OF an hour,) we were on the march
VI, ~ marched rapidly to Southwest Bridge, below
Ehistoih crossing at the County Bridge over the
Neise. Next morning a company of the regiment
haa little skirmisA with the enemy at the bridge
S S.er Southwest Creek, at about o'clock. But
nHle blood split on either side. At about 10
cioSk, Lieut. Col Devane was ordered by Col
~ M. 70 take seven companies of the regiment
W hines Mills, about miles, We went. As
soen as getting there, and We went in double Quick
800 oeai OF the way, we we're promptly depioved
seAlllMsoers IN the edge Of an old field, nearest
n.;, uasmy. we mad not been here long, say FORTY
srnu .es oeore the ball opened. Rapid and terrific
u!h,g ensued. Minnie balls whistlcd through The
an oy front and cross fires from the enemy 40 ;f
w Sy nso nothing else to do. We held tbem in
'ssss tst soma Tina, and uparo .aranolI,d =. Ell
oeok, owing to the enemy advancing uyof, MS IN
o Owe. numbers. Here we lost several men
snleo ana wounded. (Nothing has been said abont
,;no, "elsve The balance of Us relied mostly
FIJI h. VT iess 70 take US to the next st.sd We
lsn oack. We went towards Kinston. W. mall -
slsno next about mile distant. in an onsn saia
uoh : know whose place it was. I had MT IT,
W, inquire o. suy body that knew. Drawn nm . -
Ane u oattte mere, = company of skrm;sha,s ~
sen. OUT 10 60 till they met the enemn rS %se
wens Ptoosoiy ninety yards, and after fr,o my NY
rnnM1.s sna nIasmg the compliment promntiv nv
;n,si,;sos Aley marched in retreat brineing tho
misass .s.. ".s large body Of the enenys Skin.
sesefai regiments were lankinc us m omr - ana
we had orders from Gen. Evans 10 oa oul ieit-
pre; In good order. We did so. W. 81 unaer
oeek and fell back and fired. The nsx. t sna le
~e c~tne to, we made another stand taL;n .,s nela
se OF tne woods on the. Kinston side. Hss aa'an'
49, pretty lively artillery duel lasting about "" ""
H.. Dss,oes, suppose, about,two thousand ,ss1 ~
ia;d ~ saoss o. small arms from the enemy. W.
'alo iow and did NOT return the fire hsc.,s. me
guns were inferior, and we could M, $500 our
can give them the devil now. thonob y a .he.h
o'clock on Saturday nigh. we ELL U hsa' About
sws"R mud and wster, to Harrets Chanel ,lsof "a
- bitter, cold highland all banda ~a. hul ~
s,n, Ana worn out We were in hearing Of II. . an
o.ti ha a.d not have spark Of FIRE to warm u ca
aSoat shS to-; ossof two o'clock in the morning us,
q ~ s' PEI, Ne hadooncluded to make frssz ss
Ase day. e s s. ass: .'1sysa .ad s.;sd lite
asstss ssdt somethins 1s% 70 sss Capt O. P;
.ssives and ssaysd our stomach. Me refreshed
sssS me u s:ses fsld Of Supdsy ,4,s we're then
'S' q Which ysa have heard % much DEC