Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-03-15
THE FIGHT KINSTON NC

From the Newbern correspondence Of the
New York Hs,ald we compile the folio wing
account OF the recent engagements at Kinston
between Gen. Schofield and Bragg:
The first action of any consequence was on
Wednesday, the 9Th, although there was some
inferior skirmlshing on the 7th between small
body Of Colonel Classen's command and the
enemy's skirmishers, which resulted in the
latter being driven to their works at Jackson's
ston. There was subsequently more or less
artillery firing till night came on, attended
with insignificant results
Wednesday forenoon, the Sth, the enemy
gave evidence Of determination to turn our
left flank. when the 18th Connecticut and 9th
Massachusetts regiments were occupying the
advance skirmish line.
The rebel force that made this unexpected
onset is supposed to have been Hoke's division
They came upon us furiouSly, and the conse-
quence was that large portion OF the two
regiments mentioned above were taken pris-
oners, they having been completely outfianked
by the rebels, who pressed in upon them from
the rear and the sides, and gobbled them up
nearly en- mdSse. The 9th Massachusetts
mum bered not far from two hundred, Lieut..
Colonel Bartholomew icing in command. he
was captured with his regiment.
Just previous TO this the enemy had advanced
with similar impetuosity in front of the First
and Second divisions, and captured portions
OF three or four companies Of the Twelfth New
York cavalry.
MANY OF these three commands made good
tn 4ir escape In the confusion that occ urred and
afterwards, and some have struggled in from
Time 10 t1Ile even up 70 Inc present moment
The left of the line was held by the Second
division, Gen1 5. p. Carter in command, and
some ct the most desperate fighting occurred
their front.
partially compensate for the loss of the
reg iments above named Colonel Savage, of the
Twelfth New York cavalry, afterwards made
detOnr towards the rear of the enemy with a
portion OF his command, capturing between
fifty and one hundred rebels, a few wagons
and surgeon. The same afternoon, also, an
attack was made up@n:o Jour right occupied by
the First Division, Commanded by Gen1 I. N.
Palmer; but it was repulsed without difficulty
and without any serious loss of life.
Onr line at this time afternoon OF the eth)
was In front OF Jackson's creek, at one point
on which tJackson's Mills, previously men
tioned) the rebels had their strongest position.
In the early part of the afternoon Col Malloy,
OF the Sc venteenth Wisconsin, but now in COM
mand OF the First brigade, Second division. was
winning laurels by the gallant and successful
opposition he was presenting to any further
advances upon our left. 1t must be confessed,
however, that 1t was no triting talk, inasmuch
as many OF his troops were small, fragmentary
portions of large number of regiments from
different States, many of them being witbo ont
officers Of their own, some OF them being con-
valescents, others new recruits, and all of them
but little disciplined under their new organi-
ZatiOn.
Strangely, too, no connection existed at this
time between the First and Seeond divisions,
there being an interval Of undefended territory
between them. Brigader General Ruger, Of
the First division, Twenty third corps, but
army, had his headquarters and division four
or five miles back, and General Cox s head
quarters were in the same vicinity.
Between three and tour o'clock on the after.
noon Of the eth, General Ruger came MP and
filled the interstice between the first and sec.
ond divisions. THIS gave new life to the
upon the rebel rifle pits, partially regainiag the
ground he had formerly occupied. At this
night came on and the action ceased. Captain
Fish, OF the 18th New York cavalry, had lost
two small howitzers, and Captain Kelsey, Of
the 3d New York artillery. had lost Napoleon
prisoners during the day.
Thursday morning, the 9th, Malloy fully re.
gained his original position and continued to
hol6,it. The enemy charged upon him three
lines in the forenoon. and were each time east.
ly repulsed, with some loss of life and small
loss of prisoners to them The afternoon was
mostly occupied with light skirmishing along
ths whole Ike. About two hundred prisoners
were taken by us during the day. We still
held our original line, ample breastworks hay-