Kinston in Lenoir County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

Starr's Battery

Harriet's Chapel Battlefield Park

— Battle of Kinston Military Park —

Starr's Battery Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Don Morfe, September 26, 2013

1. Starr's Battery Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

In front of you is the position held by Capt. Joseph B. Starr’s Battery. Starr’s Battery defended this position against the Union advance on December 14. Finally, his ammunition exhausted, Starr withdrew across the Neuse River.

Capt. Starr had lost one gun at Southwest Creek the day before but his remaining fire smoothbore cannon fought tenaciously that cold December Sunday. The Confederates deployed artillery at key positions along the line to aid the thinly stretched infantry. A South Carolina soldier witnessed it effectiveness: “The enemy first attacked our right and were repulsed several times by our artillery and infantry. Our artillery did good execution, sending the vandals back at every onset…”

Starr and the rest of the Confederate line held for hours against the much larger Union force. A soldier in the 17th Massachusetts wrote of the Confederate artillery fire as it pounded them: “The fire of the rebels upon our attacking columns was rapid and well directed, and did great havoc among them…”

Capt. Starr held until his ammunition was exhausted. With no ammunition

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and Union infantry pressing them Starr had little choice but to pull back across the Neuse River. Starr abandoned one gun, all of its horses killed by Union fire.

(captions)
(upper left) A Confederate battery at Charleston, South Carolina

(upper right) Starr’s battery probably looked much like this captured Confederate fortification.

(lower right) Each gun in a battery had eight horses, six to pull the gun and caisson and two spare.

Erected by Battle of Kinston Military Park.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical month for this entry is December 1780.

Location. 35° 14.433′ N, 77° 35.233′ W. Marker is in Kinston, North Carolina, in Lenoir County. Marker can be reached from the intersection of Richlands Road (U.S. 258) and Measley Road, on the right when traveling north. The marker is located on the grounds of the Kinston Battlefield Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Kinston NC 28504, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Union Artillery (within shouting distance of this marker); Wessells' Advance—December 14, 1862 (within shouting distance of this marker); The Center of the Confederate Line (within shouting distance of this marker); The Action in the Swamp

Photographed By Don Morfe, September 26, 2013

2. Starr's Battery Marker

(within shouting distance of this marker); The Confederate Defenses of Kinston (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Caring for the Wounded (about 500 feet away); The Site of Harriet's Chapel (about 500 feet away); The Night of December 13, 1862 (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Kinston.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on November 26, 2013, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 702 times since then and 55 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 26, 2013, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.