Moving towards Goldsboro, the Union forces repaired the railroad which was to function as a supply route for Sherman's Army Group.

On March 7, Federal advance units encountered Bragg's entrenched forces along Southwest Creek east of Kinston.

Bragg's forces were also reinforced by veterans from the Army of Tennessee and the North Carolina Junior Reserves, all under the command of General D.H. Hill.

Reinforced, Bragg went on the offensive and sent a division under North Carolina native Robert Hoke into the Union left flank.

Hoke's attack hit a New England brigade in Carter's division, capturing an entire regiment (the 15th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry).

At this time Cox, who had been away from the front lines, returned and moved up his reserve division under Maj. Gen. Thomas H. Ruger to plug the gap between Palmer and Carter.

[4] The N.C. Department of Transportation (NCDOT) has proposed upgrading the existing four-lane US 70 in the Kinston area to interstate standards as part of the I-42 project.

The website also features a Frequently Asked Questions page [6] section and a virtual room [7] with video simulations showing how the upgraded highway would look and function.