last--the enemy disputing our advance with pertinacity wherever the
ground favored them. They are reported to have had a force of 15,000
under command of General Evans, of Ball's Bluff fame. 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.
Our wounded were placed in unoccupied houses in Kinston and the dead
buried.
The advance continues toward Goldsboro; but before reaching that point
we shall have to encounter further and still stronger opposition. With
the large and well disciplined forces of Generals Foster and Wessell,
every obstruction will be overcome, and the object sought attained.
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.
The Ocean Wave was fired upon from an open field by a force of one
hundred and ten North Carolina rebel troops, commanded by Captain
Whitfield.
The first brush with the enemy commenced about 8 o'clock on Friday
morning, about twenty miles from New Berne, on the main road to
Kinston, a little to the right of Trenton when Company B, Captain
Marshall, Third New York Artillery, encountered them.
The enemy's force consisted of one company of cavalry and four companies
of infantry, of Major Nethercote's North Carolina battalion. After a
brief skirmish we dispersed the rebels, killing two, wounded and missing
amounting to fifty. Our loss was two wounded and four missing. The
advance then moved on, after crossing a bridge, partly destroyed, over a
creek, and being delayed an hour in fixing the same. Captain N. encamped
the same night within nine miles of Kinston.
On Saturday morning Company K, Captain Cole, Third New York Cavalry,
took the advance, and while moving forward captured two prisoners,
belonging to Nethercote's battalion, who gave some valuable information,
proceeded thence to Southwest creek, about five miles from Kinston. On
Captain Cole's approach, the enemy were found engaged in endeavoring to
destroy the bridge over the creek. Captain Cole dismounted a platoon,
who fired a volley upon the enemy while they were at work. The enemy
then retreated, but soon after fired from a battery of two six-pounders,
howitzers, upon our advance, wounding one man--a private, named John
Costello--who was shot through the head.
Colonel Heckmann, of the Ninth New Jersey (the advance guard of the
infantry), here came forward and ordered the Ninth to deploy as
skirmishers. This order was quickly executed, and had the effect of
partly dispersing the enemy; and Schenck's Third New York battery coming
up, fired about a dozen shells, driving the enemy entirely away. On the
Ninth New Jersey crossing the bridge, four of the enemy were found dead,
the wounded being carried on with the retreating enemy. The Ninth
succeeded in capturing one of their howitzers, which was brought into
New Berne this morning.
As soon as Captain Cole had crossed the bridge, following the New Jersey
Ninth, he was ordered forward by Colonel Heckmann, and his company
directed to act as scouts to find the position of the enemy. They had
proceeded about eighty or one hundred rods beyond the pickets of the
Ninth when the advance guard of Company K was fired upon by a concealed
body of the enemy, and Private Chapman wounded in the thigh. Captain
Cole then halted, and Colonel Heckmann ordered a part of the Ninth New
Jersey forward to skirmish through the woods. The enemy were found in
the edge of the woods when a lively fire commenced between our
skirmishers and the foe. The entire Ninth was then ordered forward, and
the rebels commenced firing sharply from a battery of three howitzers,
with grape and canister. A section of two pieces of Schenck's battery
was now ordered up, and returned the enemy's grape and canister with
twelve-pound shells. 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. But they suffered subsequently. The number of the enemy killed
and wounded is unknown, but supposed to be heavy.
The advance laid upon the field all night without molestation. On the
following morning (Sunday), about 7.30, the first gun was fired upon the
enemy by one of Captain Cole's pickets, and the report spread that the
rebels were approaching in force. Colonel Heckmann had the brigade of
which he is acting-commander immediately drawn up in line of battle,
with the intrepid Ninth still in the advance. After waiting about half
an hour, and finding the enemy did not approach, the Ninth was ordered
forward, with skirmishers to the right and left, the main body being in
the Kinston road. They were then within about three miles from Kinston,
and while moving were occasionally saluted with a shot from the enemy's
skirmishers. In a short time the firing became more general, and as the
Jerseymen went on, closely followed by the brave boys of Company K of
the Third New York Cavalry, they returned the fire briskly. After
reaching a point bordering on a piece of woods, the rebels commenced
firing artillery, nearly raking the road on which our troops were
advancing. They then fired to the right and left, to prevent a flank
movement, which was attempted by Colonel Heckmann. The fight began now
in earnest, and as our infantry and artillery were ordered up, regiment
by regiment. General Wessell rode forward, immediately followed by
General Foster; and while the fighting in front was going on, the
manoeuvering of our forces so as to outflank the enemy was begun.
General Foster ordered Colonel Heckmann to take his brigade to the
right, by the river road, and attack the enemy on their left flank; the
artillery, consisting of the Third New York Artillery, Belger's Rhode
Island battery, Schenck's battery, and two or three others, closely
following the infantry. After getting into position a terrible fire was
opened upon the enemy from the front and flank. This was withstood with
great fortitude and bravery by the enemy for about four hours, when a
dashing charge, made by several of our regiments, caused the rebels to
break and retreat in confusion across the bridge, over the Neuse, clear
to and through the village of Kinston and beyond. Some places they
crossed in their flight up the river, to the left, the water was so deep
that it reached the bellies of our cavalry horses while in pursuit. The
Neuse River bridge had been saturated with turpentine in places, and as
the enemy retired in their great haste they imperfectly set fire to it;
but the fire was easily extinguished by the aid of the artillery
buckets, used for watering the horses. It was here we met our saddest
loss, almost, as it were, by accident. Colonel Gray of the Ninety-sixth
New York was at work with his regiment, endeavoring to put out the fire,
when a loaded musket, thrown away by a flying rebel, caught fire and
exploded, the charge entering the body of the Colonel, and inflicting a
wound which caused instant death. His body was brought to New Berne by
Company K, and will be sent to New York.
The bridge was soon in condition to permit the infantry to cross with
perfect safety, our artillery having in the meantime opened from the
bridge upon the enemy, who had been rallied and was again formed in line
of battle about a mile beyond the village of Kinston. The enemy made no
reply but with artillery, but fell back behind a high hill out of sight.
About 2 p. m. General Foster ordered troops to enter the town, when it
was occupied, and three brigades sent about two miles beyond. Seven or
eight houses were burned in Kinston, some say by accident and some by
design, after our men got in. The rebels burned a great amount of corn
and cotton before leaving the place. The Ninth New Jersey, taking the
advance again, forced the rebels from behind the hill where they had
made a stand, to a point about three miles from Kinston, when the troops
encamped for the night (Sunday).
After reaching the town, Captain Cole of Company K, Third New York
Cavalry, was ordered to proceed down the river to the blockade, and
where a battery had been erected to play upon our gunboats if they
attempted to ascend the river. Captain Cole, on arriving at the place--a
sort of half circular fort, with breastworks a mile and a half
long--ascertained from a negro that the rebels had moved six brass
pieces about six hours before he reached there; that they had more guns
there, and that a guard had been left to protect them until they could
be secured, the rebels not having enough horses to get them all away.
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 be fired; but
the brisk movements of Captain Cole and his daring company prevented the
execution of the latter deadly operation. Company K and its commander
have been highly complimented by the commanding General for their
gallantry on this occasion. A small amount of provisions, clothing,
etc., was found in the fort, which was left. The four six-pounders were
brought away; the columbiad and the thirty-twos, being too heavy to be
removed, were spiked and the carriages burned. Captain Cole reached
Kinston about midnight with the trophies. The next morning about 5
o'clock he received orders from General Foster to return to New Berne
with seven pieces--two brass and five iron--captured with other
trophies. The two brass pieces were the same captured from us at Little
Washington about three months ago. Captain Cole also brings the remains
of Colonel Gray, of the Ninety-sixth New York, killed on Neuse bridge.
On his way down Captain Cole captured eight rebels and brought them
into New Berne. Three belonged to South Carolina and four to Georgia.
The New Jersey Ninth captured the regimental flag of a South Carolina
regiment before crossing the Neuse bridge, and carry it as a trophy of
their gallantry.
Most of the 500 rebels captured and paroled by General Foster belonged
to South Carolina and Georgia.
The conduct of the Tenth Connecticut Regiment is spoken of in the
highest terms. They, with the New Jersey Ninth, were particularly
distinguished for their bravery, and suffered the most.
THE GUNBOATS IN THE BATTLE.
[Our New Berne Correspondence.]
NEW BERNE, N. C., Dec. 16, 1862.
An expedition, consisting of the gunboats Delaware, Seymour and
Shawsheen, of the navy, under the command of Commander Murray, United
States Navy, and the 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. Owing to lack of water the
gunboats were unable to go up the river more than fifteen or eighteen
miles, and were compelled to stop and allow the affair to be carried on
by the Marine Artillery flotilla alone. Colonel Manchester assumed
command of the expedition from that point, and resolutely pushed up
toward Kinston, determined to reach the village and participate in its
capture. The low state of the water alone prevented Commander Murray
from carrying his heavy gunboats to the town.
Colonel Manchester met but little resistance going up, a few scattering
shots being fired at him by guerrillas on the banks. He experienced
much difficulty, however, in getting ahead rapidly, because of the bars
and shoals, upon which the boats grounded. But all obstacles being
overcome, they reached a point within two miles of Kinston on Saturday
afternoon, when they suddenly found themselves under the fire of an
eleven gun battery, which opened on the Allison, the leading boat, as
she rounded a point of land and appeared full in view of the enemy's
formidable work, and not over 1,200 yards distant. The river was here
only about one hundred feet in width, with shoals on either side of the
channel, and it was found to be utterly impossible to turn the boat. 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 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. Finally extricating herself
from her perilous position, also backed around the point of land and
came to anchor with the rest of the flotilla, screened from the rebel
battery by woods, but in short range. There they laid all night,
prepared at any moment to repel any attempt on the part of the enemy to
capture them by boarding. Several times during the night they fired upon
the rebel reconnoitering parties, who became very bold in their
advances.
All night long our men could hear the rattle of trains over the
railroad, evidently conveying reinforcements to Kinston, against which
General Foster had steadily pushed his advance, fighting for every inch
of ground. The blows of axes, as the rebels felled trees to block up
the avenues of approach to the town, the calls of soldiers, barking of
dogs, and other sounds, were heard all the night long proceeding from
the wooded shore. But no serious attempt was made to capture the boats,
which might have been successful if well planned. On Sunday morning the
boats turned, and descended the stream, as the water in the river had
fallen nearly fifteen inches during the night, and promised to leave
them high and dry, prizes to the rebels, if they much longer delayed
their return. On their way down they were fired upon from the shores by
guerrillas, who followed them a distance of twenty miles, killing one of
our men (Edward J. Perkins, Company H, Marine Artillery), and wounding
three others, none very seriously. The Ocean Wave, and, indeed, all the
boats, were more or less injured by musketry and field pieces. Bullets
were found on the Ocean Wave dipped in verdigris, to poison the wounds
they inflicted, and others had copper wire attached, for the same
purpose. The rebels evidently have been taking some new lessons in
warfare from the Sepoys or Chinese; They are apt pupils. It would also
appear that about 150 of these guerrillas were the attacking party, and
thirty of them were killed and wounded before they relinquished the idea
of taking the boats, as we have since learned. The attempt to pen in the
boats, by felling trees across the river, was thwarted by the rapid
movements of the boats.
On our return the Ocean Wave was unfortunate enough to stave a hole in
her bottom by running on a stump, and sunk in three feet of water. 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. If the river had been up, the flotilla would have been of great
service in aiding in the capture of Kinston; but lack of water prevented
it. Colonel Manchester and the officers and men of the Marine Artillery
have earned a still higher reputation for their gallantry and
indomitable perseverance on this expedition. 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.
Ninth New Jersey, Col. C. A. Heckmann, 2 killed, 32 wounded, 2 missing.
Battle of Whitehall, 44 wounded. Battle of Goldsboro, 11 wounded.
Fifth Rhode Island, Capt. J. B. Arnold, 1 killed, 4 wounded.
Third New York Artillery, Capt J. J. Morrison, Battery B, 2 wounded.
Capt. E. S. Jenney, Battery F, 2 wounded.
Twenty-fourth New York Independent Battery, 1 killed.
General Wessell's Brigade--Eighty-fifth New York, 3 wounded.
Ninety-sixth New York, Col. Charles O. Gray, 1 killed, 6 wounded.
Twenty-second New York, 2 killed, 16 wounded.
One Hundred and First Pennsylvania did not lose any in killed or
wounded.
Eighty-fifth Pennsylvania, 9 wounded.
One Hundred and Third Pennsylvania. When this regiment went into action
it had about 450 men, and after the action it was found that it had 14
killed and 58 wounded.
Casualties in Second Brigade, First Division, Department of North
Carolina, Col. Thos. G. Stevenson commanding, at Kinston, Whitehall,
Everettville, December 14, 16 and 17, 1862:
Tenth Connecticut Volunteers, Lieut.-Col. Robert Leggett commanding, 11
killed, 86 wounded, of whom 10 have since died.
Twenty-fourth Massachusetts Volunteers, Major Robert H. Stevenson
commanding, 1 killed, 7 wounded.
Forty-fourth Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers, Col. Francis S. Lee
commanding, 8 killed, 13 wounded.
Fifth Regiment Rhode Island Volunteers, Capt. Job Arnold commanding, 1
killed, 3 wounded.
Battery F, First Regiment Rhode Island State Artillery, Capt. James
Belger, 1 killed, 8 wounded; 10 horses killed and wounded.
* * * * *
Report of the casualties in the Third (Col. H. C. Lee's) Brigade. The
expedition to Goldsboro:
Fifth Massachusetts Volunteers, Col. Geo. H. Pierson, 7 wounded.
Third Massachusetts Volunteers, Col. Silas P. Richmond, 2 wounded.
Twenty-seventh Massachusetts Regiment, Col. H. C. Lee, 3 wounded.
Forty-sixth Massachusetts Regiment, Col. George Boler, 2 killed, 3
wounded.
* * * * *
List of killed and wounded in the First Brigade, first division,
commanded by Colonel Amory:
Seventeenth Massachusetts Volunteers, 1 killed, 29 wounded.
Forty-fifth Massachusetts, Col. Chas. R. Codman, 6 killed, 38 wounded.
Twenty-third Massachusetts, 14 killed, 52 wounded.
Fifty-first Massachusetts, Col. Abram B. R. Sprague, 2 wounded.
Forty-third Massachusetts, Col. Chas. L. Holbrook, 2 killed, 1 wounded.
Artillery Brigade, Col. J. H. Ledlie, commanding, 2 staff wounded.
Battery B, Capt. James J. Morrison, 4 wounded.
Battery F, Capt. E. S. Jenney, 8 wounded.
Battery E, Lieut. G. E. Ashby, commanding, 3 wounded.
Battery I, Lieut. George W. Thomas, commanding, 1 killed.
Battery K, Capt. James R. Angel, 2 killed, 5 wounded.
Twenty-fourth Battery, Capt. J. E. Lee, 1 killed.
* * * * *
Casualties in Third New York Cavalry: Company A, Capt. W. S. Joy, 3
wounded; 7 horses killed.
Company B, Capt. John F. Marshall, 7 wounded; 10 horses killed.
Company E, Capt. F. Jacobs, Jr., 2 wounded.
Company K, Capt. Geo. W. Cole, 2 wounded.
It is impossible to send the list of the missing, which may turn up in a
day or two.
[New York Times, Sept. 3, 1874.]
MAJOR-GEN. JOHN G. FOSTER.