Interpretive Plan for Kinston Battlefield Park Coming

The Historical Preservation Group would like to invite you to attend a meeting
 to introduce to the community the Kinston Battlefield Interpretive Plan.
  The meeting will be on September 9 at 6:30 in the Kinston Library auditorium.
 Please attend and bring a friend.

 

Summer Update 2010

Church Gives a New Approach to Kinston Battlefield Interpretation

The First Battle of Kinston Battlefield Park, under the Historical Preservation Group, has a new feature added that gives the site a new approach to interpreting the First Battle of Kinston.  It is an old one room wooden church built in the 1860s and was once known as New Beaver Dam Primitive Baptist Church.  It is very much like the church that once sat on the Kinston Battlefield.  This old church building will be used to interpret the role of Harriet’s Chapel during the First Battle of Kinston.  This part of the battlefield was in the heat of the battle and today is on highway 258 South, about quarter of a mile from the Kinston Visitors and Information Center.  The church building will be incorporated in the Kinston Battlefield Interpretive Plan that is being written this summer.  The Interpretive plan will be ready for the public to review by early fall.  

The Civil War story of Harriet’s Chapel and the Kinston Battle is one of excitement, turmoil, defeat and coming together.  The church is often mentioned in various records of the First Battle of Kinston.  As the Christmas season was drawing near, Union forces were marching toward Kinston.  The Confederate troops stationed at Kinston found ice in their canteens as they were gathering on the south side of the Neuse River in preparation for battle.  One of the final defensive positions taken was at Harriett’s Chapel about half a mile from the Neuse River. Soldiers took their place inside the church and watched from the windows for the advancing enemy while other soldiers positioned themselves behind the north side of the church. For many it was their first time in battle and they were about to taste the rage and horrors of war.  Perhaps being in a church gave some a false sense of security but in reality there was no real defense for what lay ahead..  The Union troops arrived at the swamp not far from the church and fought their way through the mire while the sound of Union and Confederate cannon fire was exploring over their heads.  The cries of the wounded filled the air while trees all around were catching afire from the bombardment of cannons and guns. Slowly at first the Union soldier emerged from the swamp and saw Harriet’s Chapel on a slight rise ahead of them.  They could see the enemy inside the church with guns pointed their way and at the same time could see beneath the church the feet and legs of soldiers on the other side.  Gun fire was blazing from all directions. The beating of hearts and fear were with every soldier as they perform gallantly, as the records later recorded. One record stated a man’s head was blown from his body as his follow soldiers watched in terror. The Confederate soldiers were outnumbered 4 to 1, so they began to pull back to the bridge that crossed the Neuse River.  On reaching the church the Union soldiers found both wounded and dead rebels inside the building.  The battle was over in a matter of hours, Kinston and the men that fought here were to never be the same again.  The church building was soon turned into a field hospital where both Union and Confederates were tended. It was a strange war and it is a story that needs to be told in order for all generations to know why it was fought and what it meant.  The old wooden church located in the Kinston Battlefield Park will help tell that story. 

There is much work to be done to ready the old church building for interpretation, public viewing and tourism. If you would like to volunteer your time and labor please contact Lyle Holland at 252-527-7494.  Monetary contributions may be made to the Historical Preservation Group and mailed to Jo Huettl at 1603 West Road Kinston, NC 29501.  For more information call Jane Phillips at 252-522-0540. 

The Historical Preservation Group thanks Michelle Waller for donating the New Beaverdam Primitive Baptist building and the Kinston Tourism Development Authority for helping to make moving the church to its new location possible and its support.