Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1865-03-16
The Battle at n aIfnsiOn-The First Bays
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TIE Battle at u nfnsfOn-The First Bays
Fighting.
The Cincinnati Gazette publishes an ac-
count Of the battle at Kinston on the sth
instant, which it takes from the Newbern
Times of the 10th. There is no mention,
Of course, made of the fighting on the 9th
and 10Th, and of our final victory.
According to this account, our forces ad-
vsnced, on Monday, March 9th, toward
KinstOD, akirmishing with the retiring en-
emy as they went. The enemy fell back
to Southwest Creek, four miles and a half
from Kinston, where they msde stand,
and artillery firing commenced. 1
Wednesday morning commenced quiet
ly, the firing being very light on both sides
during most of the forenoon. During the
morning intelligence arrived that move
ment was in progress, with view to turn
ing the left of our line. To meet il, Colonel
Uphsm ordered the 9th Massachusetts, in
10 the woods south Of the road, and had
them formed in line of battle, facing nearly
south. About hsf-past eleven, a sudden
and tremendous volley Of musketry ssluted
US. 1t came from a point nearly in our
rear, threatening the capture or destruction
of an entire brigade. Colonel Upham met
the emergency by the most prompt and
Well-timed orders that the nature of the
case admitted, but the attack was of too
precipitate character to allow new dispo-
sitions to meet it, and after brief but de-
termined contest, the rebels swept that
q. AL II
orally reached our right, being cut on from
the main body on the left, to which they
belonged. o G
The attacking forceis understood to have
been Hoke's Division. About two hours
after the attack was made, Colonel Savage
made raid on their rear capturing about
sixty five men from their ambulances, and
surgeon. A short time previous to the
attack above alluded to, General Ourtiss
visited the skirmishers IN the front in COM
psny with two of his staff, Colonel Uphsm
and your correspondent. Though avoid
ing unnecessary exposure, the rebels had
undoubtedly noticed our approach, and the
firing was very sharp for while. The
General was as cool and as quiet as
when out of danger, smoking his pipe,
and making his observations as if uncpn-
cerned for his own personal safety. AT
one time, as the shells were passing close TO
us, said he TO one: HYou had better get be-
hind thst tree" No onetook his advice, but
Just in thetime it would have required for US
to reach the tree, the splinters few from it,
telling what would probably have become
of US hsd we taken it for anything else
than jocoss remark, for whichit was in
tended. During the fighting that followed
soon after, General Curtis personal daring
brought him st one time between the enc
my's fire and our own, where his horse
was shot, and he much exposed. He es-
capped from the danger, bringing his own
men forward, and scorning to retire.
Soon after an attack was made upon our
right, but twas speedily repulsed. During
the afternoon the firing was heavy on the
left. The loss is not heavy so far. Previ-
Gus to the attack yesterday probably q
dozen would cover the whole loss in killed
and wounded. The medical officer of Gen.
Curtis staff, where the fighting was hesvi-
est, estimates his loss in killed and wound
ed, up to this time, at fifty or sixty.
This morning skirmishing had bean quite
lively on our part, and our skirmish line
has been pushed forward so as TO regain
most of the ground we lost during the on
set yesterday Prisoners now report the
rebel force in fr1nt ct from 1900 to 15,-
600. They are said to have received large
reinfoIcements night before last. They
all report that Bragg is in command. Our
men are in good spirits and long for an
opportunity TO repay the enemy for the
injury they inflicted upon us at their first
onset yesterday. They appear to have the
most perfect confidence in their officers.