Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-01-20
MOttester Qailg SPY.
Account of the Battle of KinstOn by
Lady who Lives There.

The Boston Journal publishes part of a
private letter written by Massachusetts, lady
who resides at Kinston, N. c., where her
husband is practicing physician. She was
formerly school teacher in Boston, and
writes to her parents an account of the late
battle at Kinston. The letter is dated Dec.
18th. She ssys, 81 have seen a battle" and
proceeds to give an account of her observa-
tons and adventures.
''To begin at the very first, as you will wish
to know all: On Friday noon, Dec. 18th, DIR.
(the husband of the writer,) said that there
was skrmishing at Trenton, and six or seven
of our men (reoels) killed. thought but lit
tic of it, as Trenton seems to be Il sort Of a
trap into which first one side and then the
other falls
was very busy all day trying to put the
finishing touch to my merino Dress DR.. was
away, and determined to have it ready to
put ON for him to see when he came home. 1t
WAS done about sunset At seven o'clock a
gentleman (sddier) came to pay his bill to the
Dr., saying nc did not know where he might
be in the morning. On being asked why, he
said that the Yankees were within ten miles
of the town. | was perfectly surprised and
you may be sure awaited DR.. s return without
thinking much of showing my new dress. He
had gone with several hands to kill some
hogs, and as the hours went by-S: 8, 10
you may believe L got frightened. L feared
he might have been captured. He got home
at eleven, aud we talked the matter over till
past one.
by daylight next morning Saturday ev-
cry ear was strained to hear the first gun. No
sound came for several hours, and we had
about concluded that the alarm was false,
when boom! boom! fell on the ear and hearts
of hundreds of listeners. This was at ten A.
Ii. The firing was kept up with occasional
rests until dark. The battle ground on that
day was near ''W oodirfgton Meeting House"
some of you know the place. There was
no great manifestation of alarm on that day
among the citizens. Many left, but without
anything like panic. L did my weeks mend
ing as usual.
Again On Sunday morning did we breath
leSsly await the roar of artillery. At ten it
came-nearer and still nearer. We sent all
OF the black children with Phillip and Al
bert (white) into the country. Calvin and
Jeanette (servants) took two trunks contain
ting our most valuable clothing, to a place
so that if the town was burned, we might
not be destitute. About twelve an orderly
came riding up and told Doctor her hus
band) to send his women and children to
place of safety, as the place would be de-
stroyed. Doctor told him we wished to stay
and protect our things. ''Well," he said to
Doctor, ''you stay" l told himI was not afraid
and expected to stay by husband and home.
every well" replied he, ''if you feel brave
enough, go ahead y
''After that the cannonading got perfectly
fnrious shells flew thick and fast all about'
the smell Of powder and the shouts of the
hOr tbo
derby came up and gave us Il peremptory or
der to leave L told doctor (le' was perfectly
willing to go) that could not leave my home.
l wept for the first time when he ordered the
ponies. Before they came we knelt down to-
gether and l offered up prayer for protec-
ton. My poor husband was so agitated that
he could not speak, but wept like child. At
ter a little persuasion the horses were ordered
back again but to be left Vith their harness
on. The house was shaken to the foundation
by the artillery, and the musketry ratified like
corn in Il pepper The Yankees stood in the
low ground between the bridge and Mrs.
Hills; the rebels occupied the ridge and OPP
posite side of the bridge, where they had
battery.
81 do not know of any lady left in the town
at this time except myself and Mrs. B,
very old woman. About three and half
the shout went up that our (rebel) forces were
retreating, and soon they came pouring
through the town. They set fire to the bridge
after crossing, and expected to make another
stand on Mr.. WashIngton's hill bnt the fed
erals put out the fire in few moments, and
were too close upon their heels to permit
them to otter any more fight SO that the only
part | should have been frightened at-a
hand hand fight in the streets, was avoided.
1.-The federals came pouring in on every
side, amounting to many thousands As soon
as the firing ceased we started Ferney, Il SER
want, oil with the ponies tor the children. In
few minutes he came running back, ont OF
breath, saying the federals had taken the po-
MES away from him. Doctor took his hat and
started to go, but Ferney protested, fearing
they might capture him, and pleaded for me
to go instead l started off at a double
quick, found them standing at one side OF the
road, and plenty of men on the other side.
jumped in chad Jake, Il servant, with me),
took the reins, and went sailing toward home.
When just by Mr.. Herring's store was halted
by two officers, and an Irishman caught hold
of the bride. They said they wanted those
horses. | said you can't have them
they're mine and | am going home with them
They ordered me to get out. | told them
l would not be left in the street, those horses
had to take him home. One took out his pis-
WI; as IL " DLlNS W lGrillS, L llSlSlcu
on being taken home. The Irishman, the
scSundrel, when | insisted on driving myself
telling him that | knew where my home was
better than he did, jerked the rens so that he
sprained my hand. However, | got home
with them and when l told my driUer that l
was northern woman, he said every one said
that when they could make anything out of it,
He was of the 44th Massachusetts, and i'm
mediately started out to find Col. Lee. When
near the court house we doctor and u saw
Lieut.. Gregg of New York cavalry regi-
ment, whom we both knew. He treated us
very handsomely, and agreed to get back the
ponies without any more trouble on our part.
He soon came back with them and sat awhile.
He is very gentlemaniy. He left a "protec-
ton" for US. BY this timeitwas nearly night
and Doctor went out to get a guard. In the
meantime, an Irishman came in without
knocking, and said he wanted frying pan. l
told him he would be much more likely to get
it if he had knocked and said please aud
sent him away empty. Three officers came
in to wash their faces, and | gave them sup
per, for which they seemed grateful.
'After while Maj. Morrissey of the Sd
Massachusetts with whom she became ac-
quanted on board the Merrimac on the pas
sage from Boston to Newbern) with some
brother officer called. He said we ought to
have guard right off and he would wait till
one came. Some soldiers tried to get large
quantity of meat from me, but he prevented
it. gave them about twenty pounds. AT
phpn d Hxa Ontt w TnDrnS