Wyse Fork

March 7-10, 1865
Also known as: Wilcox's Bridge, Wise's Fork, Second Kinston, Second Southwest Creek, Kelly's Mill Pond
Lenoir County, NC
Campaign: Campaign of the Carolinas (February-April 1865)

 

Maj. Gen. John Schofield, USA
Gen. Braxton Bragg, CSA

The Union had about 12,000 men, roughly a Corps, against 8,500 or so Confederates, a strong division.

Confederate losses were about 1,500, against 1,100 Northern casualties.

Schofield planned to advance inland from Wilmington in February, at the same time assigning Maj. Gen. Jacob Cox to direct Union forces from New Berne toward Goldsboro. On March 7, Cox's advance was stopped by Hoke's and Hagood's divisions under Gen. Braxton Bragg's command at Southwest Creek below Kinston. On the 8th, the Confederates attempted to seize the initiative by attacking the Union flanks. After initial success, the Confederate attacks stalled because of faulty communications. On March 9, the Union forces were reinforced and beat back Bragg's renewed attacks on the 10th after heavy fighting. Bragg withdrew across the Neuse River and was unable to prevent the fall of Kinston on March 14.