Harriet's Chapel and Starr's Battery Site

This site was the center of the Confederate's final line of defense during the Dec. 13-14, 1862 Battle of Kinston. It occurred as Union General John G. Foster's Division was enroute from New Bern to Goldsboro to destroy the Wilmington-Weldon Railroad Bridge which would cut a major supply route to General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia. Foster also planned to destroy the CSS Neuse gunboat under construction at White Hall (Seven Springs).

The Union advance through Lenoir County was stubbornly contested by Confederate General Nathan G. "Shanks" Evan's Brigade; first at Southwest Creek, about four miles south on Dec. 13th and then here along the line defending Kinston on Dec. 14th. Although greatly outnumbered (~2,000 vs. ~12,000), the Confederates put a much stronger resistance than expected, but were overrun and withdrew north of the Neuse River in the direction of Goldsboro on Dec. 14th. Foster occupied Kinston overnight on the 14th but continued his movement toward Goldsboro on Dec. 15th, taking the River Road, south of the Neuse River.

Battle operational reports and diaries mentions that "small, unpainted wooden church", known as "Harriet's Chapel", sat in this area. It was a focal point for both the Union and Confederate forces and was used as part of the defensive position by Confederates.

It received much damage during the fight but was used as a field hospital after the battle.

A section of the Confederate earth works are near here and lead to the site of Starr's Battery, a Confederate artillery position. The church sitting on the site today is the New Beaverdam Primitive Baptist Church. It was built about 8 miles south in the 1860s. It was moved to this site in 2010, stabilized, restored and preserved by the Historical Preservation Group for use as an interpretive tool representing Harriet's Chapel.

The site is being preserved with the help of a federal grant from the Land and Water Conservation Fund, Administered by the National Park Service. The Grounds are open to the general public. The site is owned by the Historical Preservation Group and managed by the Lenoir County Battlefields Commission — Kinston/Southwest Creek/Wyse Fork

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Show me all markers in:  Kinston, NC  |  Lenoir County  |  28504  |  North Carolina  |  United States of America

Fighting at Harriet's Chapel
The Night of December 13, 1862
First Battle of Kinston
The Site of Harriet's Chapel
Caring for the Wounded
The Confederate Defenses of Kinston
Wessells' Advance—December 14, 1862
The Center of the Confederate Line
The Action in the Swamp
The Union Artillery

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