The New York herald., 1862-12-20

woods The enemy were found in the odge OF the woods
when lively Are commenced between skrmishefs
ana the oe The entire Ninth then ordered forward
and the rebels commenced firing sharply from
a battery Of three howitzers, with grape and
canister. section Of two pieces OF scnenck
battery was now ordered up, and returned
the euemy's grape and canister with twelvepo
shel. Tho gallant ers eymen 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 wore obliged to fall back about half
mile open neld skired by The fight ended
about dark when advance guard encamped upon tho
scene Of battle II Ia singular fact that notwthstand
Ing the conspicuous part taken and gahanty displayed In
this skrmsh by the Ninth New Jersey in their advancing
movements, bnt wounded In tho whole
regiment But they suffered severely subsequently, The
number Of the enemy killed and wounded Is unknown,
but supposed to no heavy.
out molestaton ON the following morning Sunday,
about halfpast seven tho first gun fred upon the
enemy by one or Capt. Coles pekcis and tho report
spread that the rebels approaching in force COL
Hickman had tho brigade OF which no Va acting som-
mander Immediately drawn up In line Of BATTLE with the
intrepid NAth still in advance After waiting about half
an hour, and finding tho enemy did not approach the
Ninth was ordered forward with skrmishsrs 70 the right
and left, the main body being In the Kipston road
they were then within about three miles from Klnston
and while moving were occasionally saluted with
shot from the enemy's skrmishers. In short time
the firing became moro general, and - the
JerseymAn went on, closely followed BY the brave boys
Of Company Of the New York cavalry thcy returned tho
are brisky. After reaching point bordering on piece
Of woods the rebels commenced firing artillery, nearly
rakips the road on which our troops advancing
They then fred the right and left to prevent ank
movement which was attempted by Colonel Hickman
Tho fight began In earnest and as our infantry and
artillery ordered up, regiment, by regiment, Gen.
wessell rode forward, immediately followed by
Gen. Foster; and while tho lighting In front
was going tho mannuvering Of our forces
80 as 10 outnank the enemy begun Gen. Foster
dered Col Hickman to take his brigade 10 the right by the
road and attack the their left flank the
artillery consisting d the Third New York artillery
Begers Rhode Island battery schenek's battery, and
two three others, closely following the infantry After
getting into position terrific fire was opeaed upon the
enemy from the front and flank. This was withsiood
with great orude and bravery by the enemy for about
four hours when dashing charge made by several cf
our regiments the rebels to break and retreat
confusion the bridge over tho Neuse clear TO and
through the vilgo Of Knson and beyond. Some places
they crossed in their flight tho river to the left the
water was dacp that II reached the bellies Of cavalry
horses while IN parsuit. The Nouse river bridge had
been saurlte with turpontno In places and ms the enc
my retired in their great haste they mpcrfccty set hre
10 IT. FIRE easily extinguished by the mid Of
tho artillery buckets used for watering the horses II
was here VIC met saddest loss almost, II were by
accident Colonel Gray, Of the Ninety sixth New Yok,
was at work with his regiment endeavorng to put out
the c, when loaded musket thrown away by fly ing
rebel caught fire and exploded, the charge entering the
body Of the Colonel, and nlicng wound which caused
instant death. His body brought to Newbern by
CJmpany X, and will be sent to New York.
The bridge was condition TO permit the infantry
TO with perfect safety artillery having in the
meantime opened from tho bridge upon the enemy. who
had been rallied ami again formed in line Of battle
about mile beyond tho village Of Rinston Tho enemy
made reply but with artillery, but fell back behind
high hill out Of sight. About two p. n. General Foster
ordered our troops the town. when 10 was occu.
ped and brigadcs about miles beyond Sew
eight houses burned In Kinston some say by
accident and some by design, after got In The
rebels burned great amount OF and cotton before
leaving the place. The Ninth New Jersey, taking the ad
vance again forced the rebels from behind tho hill where
they had made stand 70 point about three miles from
Kinston, when the troops encampcd for the night
(Sundsy)
After reaching tho town Captain Cole, Of Company x,
Third New York cavalry, ordered proceed down
tho the blockade and where battery had been
erected play upon gunboats f they attempted
ascend the river. Captain Cole arriving at the
placca sort Of half circular fort with brcastworks
milo and half longascertaned from negro that the
rebels had moved six pieces about hours before
there that they had guns there and that
guard had been left protect them until they could be
secured the rebels not having hoi enough TO get
all away Captain Cole attempted " surround the fort
aud capture what thore remaining In t'
when the guard discovered his force and dccamped
for fha sho Y
charged the fort and took thereof capturing
everything in IT, Tho ing was found TO
consist Of seven guns, including eightnch coumbad
two thirty iron gums, and four xpounder
iron guns The four latter found 70 be loaded prmed
and ready 10 be fired but the brisk movements OF Cap
tain Cole and his daring company prevented the execution
OF the latter deadly operation. Company and its
mander have bgcn highly complimcuted by the Command
ing General Tor their gaantry on this occasion. small
amount OF provisions clothing, &c. was found in tho
fort, which le The four sI Founders brought,
away the columbiad aud the thirty being too heavy
be were spiked and the carriages burned Capt
Cole reached Rinston about midnight with the tro.
phes The morning at vo O'Clock he received orders
from General Foster to Newbern with the sevon
pecss-two brass and i've ron-capturod, with other
trophies. Tho two brass pieces the captured
from at Little Washington about three months ago
Captain Z. brings the remains Of Colonel Gray Of
tho Ninety sixth New York, killed on Neusc bridge. On
his way down Captain c. captured eight rebels and
brought them into Ncwbern. Three belonged to South
Carolina aud four 10 Georgia.
The New Jersey Ninth captured the regimenta Gag or
South Carolina regiment before crossing tho Neuso
bridge, and now carry as trophy Of their galantry
Most Of the five hundred rebels captured aud paroed
by General Foster belonged to south Carolina and Georgia
The conduct OF the Tcn,h Connecticut regiment is spo
ken Of IN the highest They, with the New Jersey
NINTH we're particularly distinguished for their bravery,
and suffered tho most
THE CUNB0ATS IN THE BATTLE.