1862 December 16 near Kinston, N.C.

[from the diary of Jesse Calvin Spaulding, Co. F., 25th Massachusetts]

Tuesday
Dec 16
We started about the usual time this
morning on our march and soon heard our
cannon making itself heard at the advances.  We
shall soon be at it again from present appearances
and God defend the right.
Noon-As I am writing these lines, the cannonading is perfect-
ly awful, and the wounded are being brought to the rear
but I am feeling hopeful that God is with me in every danger.
O God be with us and spare our lives if Thou thinkest
best=Here we were ordered to fall in and marched into
battle, but by the blessing of God none of us were injured
and marched off to our right, in order I suppose to
get in their rear, and we are now encamped a good
ways from where the battle-at this point our regiment
was ordered forward and I put up my book. We went
down and filed off to the left into an open place
where we stood supporting a battery.  Our enemies
were the other side of the river, having burned a bridge.
While we stood there I heard one of the artillery men
who was hit cry out and fall in death.  We were
finally marched off to the left, leaving the forces engaged
at the river. Several men were taken from the regiment
as sharpshooters.  We encamped about dark
in a large cornfield.  George got some husks
to sleep on so I guess we can lie pretty well to-night
Blessed be God who has again preserved us through
another battle in safety.