A BGES Civil War Field University Program and the Lenoir County Historical Preservation Group with Dennis Harper and Wade Sokolsoky
December 11–12, 2026; from Kinston, NC
The Blue and Gray Education Society is raising $10,000 to support the Lenoir County Historical Preservation Group’s efforts to replace 11 interpretive panels and repair important infrastructure at Harriet’s Chapel – First Battle of Kinston Battlefield Park in Kinston, NC. To assist in these efforts, we are offering an evening presentation on “Foster’s December 1862 Raid” inside Historic Harmony Hall, followed the next morning with “Breakfast on the Boat (CSS Neuse II), and a bus tour of the First Battle of Kinston led by noted historians Dennis Harper and Wade Sokolosky. We will conclude the tour at Harriet’s Chapel with a ribbon-cutting ceremony by leaders from the Historical Preservation Group and the Blue & Gray. The tour concludes that afternoon following a visit to the CSS Neuse State Historic Site.
Itinerary
6:30 – 8:30 pm Friday, December 11, 2026
Presentation on Major General John G. Foster’s Raid, December 1862
Join Wade Sokolosky and Dennis Harper at Historic Harmony Hall in Kinston. The evening begins with light refreshments and socializing, followed by Wade’s presentation on General Foster’s Raid toward Goldsboro in December 1862. The talk will set the stage for the following day’s tour of the First Battle of Kinston.
Saturday, December 12, 2026
8:00 am to 9:00 am: Breakfast on the CSS Neuse II
Free to registered tour members. Transportation provided to the Neuse II from either Mother Earth Motor Lodge or the Kinston-Lenoir County Visitor Center (Pickup times to be published later).
9:00 am to 1130 am: Bus Tour of the First Battle of Kinston
The battle occurred as Maj. Gen. John G. Foster’s 12,000-man division was en route from New Bern to Goldsboro to destroy the Wilmington-Weldon Railroad Bridge, thereby severing a major supply line to General Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia. Foster also planned to destroy the ironclad CSS Neuse, which was under construction at White Hall (now Seven Springs).
The Federal advance through Lenoir County was stubbornly contested by Confederate Brig. Gen. Nathan G. “Shanks” Evans’ Brigade of 2,000 Rebels. The Confederates offered stronger resistance than expected but were overrun on December 14th and withdrew north of the Neuse River toward Goldsboro. Foster’s troops remained in Kinston overnight on the 14th but continued to Goldsboro the following day, taking the River Road south of the Neuse River.
(Note: This day will incur some walking, at times over uneven ground; walking shoes and hiking sticks are encouraged.)
11:45 am: Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at Kinston Battlefield Park – Harriet’s Chapel / Starr’s Battery
12:30 – 1:45 pm: Lunch at King’s BBQ (private room) (individual pays)
Continue our discussion of ongoing and future projects regarding the First Battle of Kinston battlefield sites in Kinston.
1:45 – 3:00 pm: Tour of the CSS Neuse State Historic Site
Bus transportation provided.
3:00 PM: Tour concludes.
Buses will transport members back to the Motor Lodge and the Visitor Center.
About the Faculty
Dennis Harper currently resides in Swansboro but is a native of Lenoir County, North Carolina. His passion for local history began in his early childhood. Raised in a home directly on the historic Wyse Fork Battlefield, he developed a lifelong connection to the area’s past at age 11, when he first began searching for and collecting historical relics in his backyard.
He deepened his knowledge by earning a Bachelor’s Degree in History from East Carolina University in 1993. Over several decades, Harper has established himself as a leading expert on the region’s American Revolution and Civil War heritage. He currently serves as a Board Member of the Historical Preservation Group and as the Chairman of the Save Wyse Fork Battlefield Commission, actively advocating for the protection and preservation of North Carolina’s significant historical sites.
As an experienced battlefield tour guide, Harper leads educational tours detailing major regional military actions, including the First Battle of Kinston, the Battle of Wyse Fork, and British Major James H. Craig’s 1781 Revolutionary War raid. He has authored and self-published books on his Harper family genealogy and documented his extensive artifact collection of the Wyse Battlefield, and he recently collaborated with Stacey Jones to author and publish August Reign of Terror: Major James H. Craig’s 1781 Punitive Raid. Through his preservation work, research, and guided tours, he remains dedicated to sharing and safeguarding eastern North Carolina’s rich history.
Colonel Wade Sokolosky (Ret.), a native of Beaufort, North Carolina, graduated from East Carolina University and served 25 years in the U.S. Army. He is one of North Carolina’s leading experts on the 1865 Carolinas Campaign. Wade has lectured nationwide, speaking to roundtables, various societies and organizations, and historical sites. He is the author of North Carolina’s Confederate Hospitals, 1861-1865, volumes 1 and 2. Wade is also co-author (with Mark A. Smith) of “To Prepare for Sherman’s Coming”: The Battle of Wise’s Forks, March 1865, and “No Such Army Since the Days of Julius Caesar”: Sherman’s Carolinas Campaign from Fayetteville to Averasboro, and the compiler of “Final Roll Call” Confederate Losses during the 1865 Carolinas Campaign, vol. 1 (North Carolina). Volume 2, covering soldiers from Alabama, Arkansas, and Florida, is due for release in spring 2027.
He received the UDC 2024 Jefferson Davis Historical Gold Medal for his outstanding contributions to publishing and lecturing on Confederate history. Raleigh Civil War Round Table’s 2017 T. Harry Gatton Award for his significant efforts to study, preserve, and share the Civil War heritage of his native North Carolina.
Additionally, Wade continues part-time work with the non-profit Blue & Gray Education Society, serves as the vice president of the Friends of Bentonville Battlefield, and is a member of the Brunswick County Civil War Round Table Advisory Council.
Wade lives in Beaufort, North Carolina.
Hotel Information
This program will be headquartered at Mother Earth Motor Lodge, 501 N. Herritage St., Kinston, NC 28501 (877-729-0517). When you call the hotel, be sure to tell them that you are booking your room with the group “First Battle of Kinston Weekend” to get the special rate.
Transportation
The tour bus will pick up and drop off those tour guests staying at Mother Earth Motor Lodge. A packet will be available for tour registrants at both the Visitors Center and the front desk at the Motor Lodge with specific times. For day guests, the bus will pick up and drop off at the Visitor Center.
Tour Pricing
$100/per person (one-time payment)
Deposit to reserve spot: $50
In addition to the bus tour, registration includes refreshments during the evening presentation and “Breakfast on the Boat.”
Online Registration
The First Battle of Kinston 2026-Tour
Registration includes 1 breakfast, light refreshments, all paid admissions, maps, the
academic program, support of historians, and transportation by passenger bus. We will
also provide snacks and bottled water.
Complete your registration by filling out the form below and making your secure payment.
Mail Registration
To register by mail, download: Printable Registration Form
If you have any issues registering or questions, please contact Wade Sokolosky at BgesAdminOps@gmail.com or call 434-770-7325.