This is the 7th stop of 12 on the tour. A brochure with driving
directions and descriptive information is available at the
Visitor's Center (coords: 35° 14.630' -77° 35.040'); a
recommended starting point for the tour.
(See Stop #FB01 (GC1T6PC) for Tour
Prologue)
Stop #FB07 - First Battle of
Kinston
Wilmington Road
You are standing on the edge of the old Wilmington Road, which
figures prominently in this event, and which basically follows the
path of today’s US-258.
After a 2-hour battle at Southwest Creek, Confederate General
Nathan Evans ordered Col. Radcliffe to take command at the next
crossing downstream, at the Upper Trent Road (today NC-58). Gen.
Foster had ordered units of the 3rd NY Cavalry down to the Upper
Trent Road crossing. Gen. Evans ordered his troops to pull back
toward Kinston. He kept the line of battle in place and made a
number of counter-attacks along the route of the Wilmington Road.
The 9th New Jersey and the 85th Pennsylvania continued in hot
pursuit.
Here at the intersection of US-258 and Will Baker Road is where
nightfall ended the battle on December 13th. Gen. Evans’
troops “rested on their arms” that night.
If you will look back southward, just behind the row of block
houses, this is where the old Wilmington Road ran, parallel and
just east of US-258.
Don’t forget to gather the Mystery Clue - Proceed to Stop
#FB08….