Continued
On Dec. 14th Union artillery opened fire and Federal forces advanced causing the outnumbered Confederates to fall back across the bridge which was then set afire. About 400 Confederates on the right flank didn't get the word to fall back and found themselves stranded and were either captured or killed.
Union forces put out the fire and entered Kinston where they spent the night raiding homes for food and valuables. They left on the 15th and headed for Goldsboro.
Much of the battlefield has since been paved over, but the Battlefields Commission is working to preserve what remains. There are about seven Civil War Trails located around Kinston, probably one for every battle name in the second battle.
Many of the original defensive works remain in nearby woods. The Historical Preservation Group leases a parcel of land where the Wil King Memorial Site now is located. They have another 100 acres along Measley Road where a battle re-enactment was held in March of 2006 which attracted 6,000 to 6,500 people.
Blizzard said, "You preserve what you can, and you tell the story and interpret that and do the best you can."
Congratulations to Kinston for Doing Such a Great Job with Its Heritage. --The Old Blockade-Runner
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