WF09 – Battle of Wyse Fork Driving Tour Series Traditional Cache
WF09 – Battle of Wyse Fork Driving Tour Series
-
Difficulty:
-
-
Terrain:
-
Size: 
(micro)
Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions
in our disclaimer.
This Series follows the Kinston Battlefields Driving Tour of the Battle of Wyse Fork, which occurred March 8th thru 10th of 1865, & sometimes called the 2nd Battle of Kinston.
This is the 9th stop of 12 on the tour. A color 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. Come see and tread the actual grounds where this momentous event took place!
(See Stop #WF01 (GC1VA0W) for Tour Prologue)
Stop #WF09 – Battle of Wyse Fork
Hoke's 2nd Attack
[See storyboards at the site]
Two storyboards here give an overview of the campaign, and describe Gen. Hoke’s 3rd day attack. Looking west, just slightly to your front and left, Col. Splaine’s 17th & 25th Massachusetts troops were dug in. To the right of US-70, behind the white house, Col. Malloy was entrenched. By March 10, Union Gen. Cox extended his left flank, up to and across the Lower Trent Road (now Wyse Fork Rd, to your left rear; the Upper Trent Rd is now Hwy 70). Gen. Hoke’s Division consisting of the Kirkland, Clingman, Colquitt and Hagood Brigades had made a cross country march in the late night and early morning of March 10, to attack this left flank. Had Cox’s lines not been extended and reinforced with 21 cannons, Hoke probably would have rolled up the left Union flank. Cox, recognizing the potential of this flank attack and extending the lines, saved the Union Army.
Hoke’s attack, instead of being on the flank, hit firmly entrenched infantry which had heavy artillery support. Col. McQuiston, on the east side of the Lower Trent Road, was on the flank of the 66th Regiment NC Troops. It was a bloody angle. Kirkland’s Brigade, the lead element, was handled roughly, suffering heavy casualties.
Hoke pulled back quickly to the west side of Southwest Creek. On the night of March 10th, under mounting Union pressure, the Confederates retreated to Kinston. This area to your left, behind the power lines and left of the silo, to the Lower Trent Road, was strewn with thousands of minie balls, evidencing the place of the March 10th flank attack.
Don't forget the Mystery Clue -- Proceed to Stop #WF10...
Additional Hints
(No hints available.)