The First Battle Of Kinston, By Ted Sampley. Olde Kinston Gazette, September 2001 Ted is trying to sort the two Battles of Kinston for those of us who are real fuzzy about these battles. He is also going to do an article on WyseFork/Kellys Mill Pond.

WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE?

The Citizens for Historic Preservation would like to start collecting information on the History of the Civil War in the area of Lenoir County and near by places. There are many areas in which we need input so would like to start building a base of sources that we may call on for help in our preservation efforts. Please contact me if you would like to help.

Jane

diamondg@icomnet.com

A WIN (For Now) on the Battlefield Issue !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Aug 20, 2001 City Council member Joseph Tyson is in favor of preservation of the battle field. On Monday Aug, 20, 2001 The Free Press quoted him saying"It has nothing to do with trailer parks -- it has something to do with the one asset that (Kinston) has and that's real estate," Tyson said. "If we don't keep these areas to tell our children that a battle was fought here, we'll live to regret it." Preservation of Historical Landmarks committee member Jane Phillips, in the same article said, "We're constantly getting e-mails from all around Lenoir County from individuals interested in this and who have contacted the City Council members with their concerns." Those of us around the world, who have ties to Lenoir County, appreciate the hard work this committee has put forth. We also would like to thank North Carolina Department of Archives and History,the archeologists and historians at East Carolina University and the director of the Civil War Battlefield Preservation Trust in Washington, D.C. for their interest and support. August 21, 2001   The Citizens for Historic Preservation in Lenoir County were excited when told the request for rezoning had been withdrawn. However the applicant can come back and apply in one year. Our group plans to move forward with plans for preservation in Lenoir County. The battlefield is our top priority. Jane Phillips

 

Citizens for the Preservation of Historic Landmarks in Lenoir County

(reprinted with permission from the Free Press)

FREE PRESS (8-16 Historical Committee) By Steve Martini Staff Writer    A group of Lenoir County residents is trying to stop Kinston City Council members from turning a former Civil War battlefield into a trailer park.    The issue was discussed Wednesday at the first meeting of the Committee for the Preservation of Historical Landmarks.    "We're trying to secure memories for future generations that they can hold in their hand," said committee member Pat Faulkner. "Once something is taken away, it can't be brought back."    Jane Phillips, Cindy Brochure and Pat Faulkner are the committee's founding members. A recent proposal to rezone 26 acres of a Civil War battlefield on U.S. 70 to accommodate a trailer park spawned the group's interest, Phillips said.  Finding out how to generate interest in the Lenoir County's history was a pressing concern.  Kinston resident Tony Kelly suggested several options:    * place flags from every state that participated in both Kinston Civil War battles along U.S. 70 to attract beach traffic;    * build a wharf down to the Neuse River so visitors could see the battle site of the CSS Ram Neuse and the Civil War battlefields;    * add benches made of granite donated by Kelly and place along a self-guided tour.    "You can still see the breastworks in this land where the guns were laid out," Kelly said. "They're some of the best anywhere."    The group is focusing on many other historical landmarks in Lenoir County such as Indian artifacts found in Snow Hill and the development of a replica steamboat on the Neuse River.    Non-profit organizations play a pivotal role in preserving historical landmarks, said Donny Taylor, site manager of the Bentonville battlefield.    "A private non-profit group has helped expand the Bentonville battlefield," Taylor said. "We have a 6,000-acre battlefield up there but only 240 acres belongs to the state."

The rest of the land was donated or loaned to the battlefield through work done by private organizations.  Artifacts and possibly dead soldiers lie buried on Kinston's private lands, Taylor said.    A letter was written by a Union soldier describing the Battle of Kinston in 1862 and supports the presence of artifacts in Kinston.  Part of the letter says, " ... we entered the woods where the battle commenced the boys left the ranks, and scoured the woods for bullets ... (and) for relics; trees were scathed by bullets and slivered by cannon-balls, rebel blankets were found saturated with blood, and cartridge boxes laid scattered in all directions."   The letter describes the property to be rezoned, Sparrow said.  "There is no doubt in my mind that part of the letter describes the Lakeside site," Sparrow said. "(The letter) also insinuates a lot of things could still be found out there because those soldiers 'scoured the area for relics'."    Danny White, of Seven Springs, has collected hundreds of artifacts from former Kinston battlefields after hunting relics for several years.    "I have cannon balls, medicine bottles, bullets and buttons from out there," White said.     Those artifacts should be displayed in businesses along U.S. 70 so beach traffic could see the artifacts and learn the history, Kelly said.    Also at the meeting were Kinston-Lenoir Parks and Recreation Director Bill Ellis, PRIDE Chairman Tommy Sutton and PRIDE Executive Director Terah Archie.  "We have to focus on the economic development of our history," Archie said. "That's what people are interested in."    Steve Martini can be reached at 527-3191, ext. 237, or Steve_Martini@link.freedom.com.   © 2001 Kinston Free Press. All rights reserved. No text, artwork or images may be downloaded,copied, transmitted, reproduced or printed without the express permission of Kinston Free Press.