“ After the Forty-fifth, Seventeenth and Twenty-third Massachusetts Regiments had been ordered up, General Wessell, who was on the field, ordered the execution of a flank movement on the enemy's battery. So it was that while a small portion of this force operated to the left, the remainder moved through a woods to the right, also flanking a swamp, and got a position on the line of an open field that enabled our men to play upon the enemy with intense effect and remarkable execution. ”

“ Having the advantage of position, being on a hill, over a mile from the railroad, with an entirely open country before us, the river on our right and a dense wood to the left—we opened on the enemy with shell. For a very short space of time the rebels stood their ground; but so accurately did we get the range of their position, rapidly throwing in the shells, that the enemy broke front and line, and commenced a precipitate retreat across the river on the railroad bridge. ”

“ The gallant Jerseymen kept advancing steadily upon the enemy, committing great havoc in their ranks by their unerring aim, until finally the rebels were driven from the woods, and obliged to fall back about half a mile to an open field, skirted by woods. The fight ended about dark, when our advance guard encamped upon the scene of battle. It is a singular fact, notwithstanding the conspicuous part taken and gallantry displayed in this skirmish by the Ninth New Jersey in their advancing movements, but one man was wounded in the whole regiment. ”

“ Twelve miles beyond Kinston, at a place called Mosely Hall, the enemy have a battery of ten heavy guns, so planted as to deal a very destructive fire upon an advancing foe.
In the attack upon Lieutenant-Colonel Manchester's transports in the Neuse River the rebels suffered severely as reported by a deserter this morning. The shells from the Allison fell directly in the midst of the battery, killing and wounding several, and, for a time, dispersing the working force of the battery, together with an infantry reserve of some two hundred men, with two regiments at hand. ”

“ However after a renewed fight, lasting nearly two hours, we again silenced the enemy's fire, and pursued our retrograde movement. In the last fight the rebels opened from two batteries instead of one—their iron plated car—and brought into action their infantry on both sides of the river.
In the battle of this bridge the rebels had, as prisoners report, between eight and ten thousand troops engaged. We never had over one-third of our force engaged. About nine o'clock p. m. our army bivouacked for the night, between Whitehall and the Goldsboro railroad bridge. ”

“ Their loss is heavy in killed, wounded and prisoners, five hundred of the latter having fallen into our hands. Our loss is one hundred and fifty to two hundred and fifty in killed, wounded and missing.
The principal fight was a few miles beyond Kinston, where the enemy had intrenched themselves. The Third New York Cavalry, Colonel Mix's, had a hand to hand conflict with the Second North Carolina Cavalry. The New Yorkers routed the North Carolinians after a hard fight. All the Union troops are reported to have behaved well, exhibiting in many instances great courage and fearlessness. ”

“ The road lay through a section of country hilly and comparatively poor. During the day we came upon the enemy's pickets and drove them in, taking three or [Pg 24] four prisoners. By sunset we had marched seventeen miles. We then bivouacked for the night. This day's march was considered a very good one, considering the fatigued condition of the troops. On marching out of Kinston and recrossing the river the bridge we so fortunately saved the day previous was totally destroyed, in order to defeat any design on the part of General Evans to follow up and attack us in the rear. ”

“ On Sunday morning, at daybreak, Mix's cavalry and Wessell's brigade began to advance, feeling their way cautiously up the [Pg 54] road about two miles, when the enemy's pickets were met and driven back through a piece of woods about three-quarters of a mile, when they retired upon the main body of the enemy, six thousand strong, under command of Brigadier-General Evans, of Ball's Bluff notoriety. His forces consisted of three regiments of South Carolina infantry, the balance, of artillery, cavalry and infantry, was made up of North Carolina troops. ”

“ Preparations have for some time been carried to enable the force which was to engage in the attempt to push it to a successful issue. The time has now come when the object and the means of execution of this movement may be safely revealed. The object of the expedition was to capture Kinston, and then to take Goldsboro, thereby cutting the Wilmington and Weldon railroad, which would isolate Wilmington and effectually cut off its supplies and reinforcements. ”

“ Our loss was one hundred and sixty, killed and wounded. That of the enemy about one hundred and twenty-five, as they were more protected. The only officers killed on our side were Colonel Gray, of the Ninety-sixth New York Volunteers; Captain Wells and Lieutenant Perkins, of the Tenth Connecticut; we captured a lieutenant-colonel of a South Carolina regiment, and several other officers. The Twenty-third Massachusetts, Major Chambers commanding, captured seventy officers and men of the Twenty-third South Carolina Regiment. The mudsills are a little ahead of the chivalry this time. ”

“ Whitehall, and made a rapid march (a distance of over twenty miles) to Mount Olive Station, a small place situated on the line of the Wilmington and Goldsboro railroad. While Major Garrard was away, in order to cover his operations, General Foster entered into a regular engagement at Whitehall.
The enemy, having destroyed the bridge over the river, showed that he labored under the impression that we would attempt to cross at this point; whereas, if he had not been so fast, he would have discovered that it was our intention to burn the bridge on the previous evening. ”

“ An expedition, consisting of the gunboats Delaware, Seymour and Shawsheen, of the navy, under the command of Commander Murray, United States Navy, and the [Pg 72] steamboats Ocean Wave, Allison, North State, Port Royal, and Wilson, manned by the Marine Artillery and commanded by Colonel Manchester, left this point on Thursday last, the 11th inst., to proceed up the Neuse River to co-operate with the land forces under General Foster in his advance toward Kinston, or more properly to effect a diversion in General Foster's favor. ”

“ Lee's brigade wheeled into line and did excellent execution. The rebels made this bayonet charge with great dash and courage, [Pg 40] but, notwithstanding, they were repulsed with great loss of life, and an amusing and astonishing precipitancy.
Of course, this latter movement on the part of the rebels had the effect of halting our column for several hours. Not knowing but that they might be in strong force this side of the river, we made every preparation to enter into a regular engagement. ”

“ They are a valuable arm of the service, and merit better treatment than they have received from the authorities. It seems about time to recognize them as a corps, now that they are performing all duties contemplated in their organization. Justice ought to be done them.
Commander Murray is displaying an immense deal of energy in conducting naval operations in North Carolina waters, and is greatly aiding General Foster in his operations.
LOSSES IN THE THREE BATTLES:
Those of Kinston, Whitehall and the Goldsboro Bridge consolidated. ”

“ Resolved, That the example of our patriotic forefathers is too plainly set before us to be unmindful of our duty. We know the cause of the Confederate States to be the supreme interest of North Carolina ”

“ To back out of the scrape was the only resort, and as soon as that could be effected it was done; but not until the Allison had been twenty minutes under an exceedingly hot fire, in which she was repeatedly struck by shell and shot. She returned the fire from her thirty-pounder [Pg 74] Parrott gun forward, and occasioned the rebels considerable loss. The Allison was seriously damaged in the fray. The top of her pilot house was torn off, her smoke stack pierced by a shell, and her steam safety pipe cut away. It was a miracle she was not sunk. ”

“ Our troops are in excellent spirits and eager to push forward and reap the [Pg 58] fruits of our victory. You may rest assured that General Foster will follow up his advantage to a successful issue. I forgot to mention that Company K, Mix's Third New York Cavalry, charged and captured three pieces of artillery, with caissons, horses and all, in the most gallant manner. ”

“ We found the railroad depot in flames and that was also saved.
On looking around the town we found every evidence of our large and small shot having taken excellent effect. By the time two or three of our regiments had crossed, Major-General Foster dispatched Col. Potter, under a flag of truce, to communicate with Gen. Evans, and to demand a surrender of his forces. The flag was recognized. ”

“ Captain Cole attempted to surround the fort and capture what there was remaining in it, when the guard discovered his force and decamped for the woods without firing a shot. Company K charged on the fort and took possession thereof, capturing everything in it. The armament remaining was found to consist of seven guns, including one eight-inch columbiad, two thirty-two-pounder iron guns, and four six-pounder iron guns. The four latter were found to be loaded, primed and ready to [Pg 70] be fired ”

“ By this time we at Mount Olive Station had taken up a large extent of the track, destroyed the switches and did all the damage we could; then, about 8 o'clock, we set out for a change of base, made several strategical movements through woods and swamps and reached the camp of the great army about midnight, having cut across, as [Pg 34] explained above, without moving on any main road more than five minutes at a time. ”

“ She can be raised with but little trouble. Her guns have been taken off, as well as the crew, coal, provisions, etc., and she will soon be afloat. What effect this had on Gen. Foster's fortunes has not yet been ascertained. It probably prevented some rebel troops from meeting his forces. [Pg 77] If the river had been up, the flotilla would have been of great service in aiding in the capture of Kinston ”

“ INDEX Ainsworth, Major, 86 Allen, Ex-Gov., 86 Allison, 60, 72, 73 Allis' Flying Artillery, 17, 32, 42 Ammon, Captain John H., 44, 91 Ammon's Battery, 44 Amory, Colonel Thomas J. C., 80, 90 Amory's Brigade, 50, 55, 80 Angel, Captain James R., 81, 91 Angel's Battery, 42 Ashby, Lieut. G. E., 81 Arnold, Job Col. B., 78, 79 Atlantic and North Carolina R. R., 58
Ball's Bluff, 54, 59 Baltimore, Md., 85 Belger's Battery F., First Rhode Island Artil'y, 39, 51, 66, 79, 90 Belger, Captain James, 44, 79 Belknap, Col. ”

“ H. A., 17, 60, 72, 77 Marine Artillery, New York, 72, 75, 77 [Pg vi] Marshall, Capt. James F., 10, 61, 81, 91 Massachusetts, 29, 30 Massachusetts Third Regiment Vol. M., 80, 90 Massachusetts Fifth Regiment Vol. M., 80, 90 Massachusetts Eighth Regiment Vol. M., 89, 90 Massachusetts Seventeenth Regiment Inf., 16, 36, 37, 38, 80, 90 Massachusetts Twenty-third Regiment Inf., 16, 54, 57, 80, 90 Massachusetts Twenty-fourth Regiment Inf., 79, 90 Massachusetts Twenty-fifth Regiment Inf., 90 Massachusetts Twenty-seventh Regiment Inf., 80, 90 Massachusetts Forty-third Regiment Vol. ”

“ Aloysius, 89 Churubusco, 82 Clifford, ——, 14 Codman, Col. C. R., 80, 91 Coffin, Col. F. T., 90 Cole, Capt. Geo. W., 11, 13, 21, 61, 62, 65, 68, 69, 70, 81, 91 Company B, Third New York Cavalry, 10, 61, 91 Company K, Third New York Cavalry, 10, 13, 22, 61, 65, 68, 70, 80, 91 Company K, Ninth New Jersey, 63 Company K, Ninety-sixth New York, 67 Confederate States, 45 Connecticut Tenth Infantry, 18, 21, 57, 71, 78, 92 Contreras, 82 Costello, John, wounded, 11, 62 [Pg iii]
Day, Lieut. ”