He received a posthumous promotion to brevet brigadier general after being mortally wounded at the Battle of Cedar Creek.

During the Fall of 1863 and Winter 1864 Kitching briefly commanded the Army of the Potomac's ammunition train and artillery reserve.

[7] Kitching and the 6th New York Heavy Artillery were transferred to the Washington defenses where he took part in the battle of Fort Stevens.

At Cedar Creek, Confederate General John B. Gordon surprised the Union army in an early morning attack.

A posthumous brevet promotion to brigadier general was awarded to Kitching, postdated August 1, 1864, for his service in the Richmond Campaign.