Hello Group... Hooray!!! The author, himself,... Lonnie BLIZZARD (Bless His Heart!!)... sent me his first article printed in the Kinston Free Press on 10 Dec 04 which we were missing. I apprised him of the many favorable comments I had received from you privately! He was very pleased that you appreciated his efforts! A rousing cheer for Lonnie for a job "Well-Done"!! Thank you from ALL of us! Article One is below.... read on and enjoy: Jewelle [email protected] [email protected] Researching: (Main Capitalized) BAKER, Barrow, BEAMAN, BLOUNT, Bonner, Bours, Braxton, CANNON, Carraway, COX, Chester, Dail, ELLIS, Faircloth, Gardner, HANCOCK, HARDEE, Hardison, Harris, Harper, Harrington, Heath, Hollyman (all sp), JACKSON, Johnson, Jones, Letchworth, Manning, McGLOHON (all sp), McGOWAN, McKeel, Mills, Mitchell, Mumford, PHILLIPS, Price, Shaw, Smith, Sumrell, Stocks, Stokes, Tyson, Vandiford, Walls, Walston, Weeks, Wilkerson, WINGATE, Wetherington, Worthington, plus ++++ GenealogyPITT Co NC Friends In Research (Serving all Eastern/Coastal NC Counties) http://groups.yahoo.com/group/genpcncfir http://groups.yahoo.com/group/genpcncfir/messages eMail scan by NAV & certified Virus Free *************************************************************** (Run December 10) Civil War Comes to Eastern North Carolina, 1862 In the fall of 1861, General George McClellan, Chief of the Federal Army, proposed an amphibious Army invasion on North Carolina's coast and for the Army to push inland. Brigadier General Ambrose Burnside, a friend and business associate of McClellan's, was selected to command the operation. General Burnside set out to secure a fleet capable of carrying 15,000 men. Seventy-five vessels were obtained, which Burnside referred to as a "motley fleet." It included barges outfitted with steam engines and propellers, ferry boats, passenger steamers, and tug boats. The assortment of vessels assembled for departure at Fort Monroe, Virginia. The fleet "set out" in early January, 1862, with Burnside commanding from the little tug boat named "Picket," the smallest vessel in the entire fleet. The violent storms in mid-January cost him several of his ships and men. Burnside didn't have Doppler radar and doubtfully understood a "nor'easter," which hit near Hatteras Island. By early February, the amphibious Army had successfully taken Hatteras Island and Roanoke Island. After their capture, Burnside sent out units to invade several towns and villages near North Carolina's northeast coast. This invasion became known by historians as "The Burnside Expeditions." In early March, General Burnside moved further inland to capture New Bern. The Confederates had regrouped and established their eastern-most defensive position at New Bern. Confederate General L. O'B. Branch had approximately 4,000 troops in his command. Expecting an assault by river, Branch had most of his big guns mounted toward the Neuse River. Burnside, expecting this, landed downstream and assaulted New Bern by land. The outnumbered Confederates were soon forced to withdraw and to set up defenses at Kinston. Burnside, in turn, ordered special services of "Thanksgiving" on March 16, 1862, for the victory just gained. In July, 1862, General Burnside was called back to Virginia, along with 7,000 troops to support General McClellan at Fredericksburg. General John G. Foster was left in command of the Union forces at New Bern. In the meantime, General James G. Martin had assumed the command of the Confederate brigade at Kinston. He too, along with approximately 2,000 troops, was called to Virginia by General Robert E. Lee, Commander of Confederate troops. General Nathan Evans assumed command at Kinston of the remaining 2,014 troops. Union General Foster continued "expeditions" into eastern North Carolina villages during the summer and fall of 1862. He began planning his most ambitious inland assault in the late fall. His goals were to capture Kinston, destroy the gunboat being built at Whitehall, and to burn the Wilmington-Weldon railroad bridge at Goldsboro, a vital supply link for General Lee. Tomorrow: Union March to Kinston Begins *************************************************** Note from Jewelle: Use our Search Engine to view Message 12662 for Part 2 at GenPCNCFIR's Archives which are Open To The Public. All four articles will be on the same page. Feel free to copy. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/genpcncfir/messages