The New York herald., 1862-12-20

The forces under General Foster left Newbern on
Thursday, the 11th and moved up the Tren'
road along tho Trent river about ten miles, when the
division halted for the night On Friday tho march was
resumed at sunrise, the Ninth New jersey having
the extreme advance followed by Wesses brigade, ono
Of General Pcck's brigade, recently sent from Suffolk
with Company B. Third New York artillery Captain Morri
son. Then followed the brigade Of Acting Brigader
General Amory, consisting Of four Massachusetts feg
ments. Acting Brigadier General Lees brigade came
next also Of Massachusetts, regiments Col Stevenson
brigade brought up the rear with four regiments Acting
Brgader General Ledlie Of the Third New York arti
ery, had command Of the artlory, consisting Of the
Third New York artillery and BcIger's battery First
Rhode Island artillery. Colonel hix's Third New York
cavalry, Lieutenant Colouc Mix in command wore en-
Moved as scouts on the advance and on the sides Of the
line Of march, provost guards to protect houses
along the road.
On Friday night the column halted within eleven iniles
Of Kinston encamped in line Of battle, fires be-.
ing allowed and all unusual noises prohibited The troops
did not get camp until nine O'Clock. skirmishing
tinued all day between cavalry Of the rebels and Mixs
cavalry, in which lest two men prisoners and one
wounded. We captured fifteen sixteen Of the rebel
cavalry and killed and wounded several.
Saturday morning at seven o'clock the line Of march
was resumed towards Kinston At slow pace, ~
In 'front.' 70 point where the Whitehall and main Kinston
roads unite about miles from Kinston. This point
was reached at about eleven O'Clock Saturday
ing and then that was expected that the rebels
would offer BATTLE il was strong position. Our troops
were formed line OF battle In open field the left
Of the road which TO whitehall In front OF wood
which IL was supposed covered the enemys main force
small creek the road I'VE hundred yards TO
the right and front Of limo of battle, which
debris Of which they had erected breasswork and plant
cd six pcunders ri6ed sweeping the road Morrsons
battery was put forward to the right Of the road and
taking position on q small hill two hundred and Hfty
yards from the rebel battery, opened fire. The enemy
hotly replied with grape and canister, sweeping the
road but doing damage Morrison continued to shell
the battery and the woods either side for nearly
hour, when the enemy began to retire. Just 40
the enemy were about retiring the Ninth New Jer-
sey were dcpoyed rs skirmishers 70 tho left
the road, and, advancing under hre they crossed
the creek q mill dam, nanked the rebel battery and
taking il by storm, captured rined sxpounder and
several prisoners Tho rebels retreatsd hastily
aud succeeded saving the other sixpounder, but left
six killed and wounded Three hours were consumed in
the reconstruction of the bridge When completed the
infantry and artcry crossed and marched towards Kin
ston about three and half miles, and halted for the
night in limo Of battle, with strong pickes out The
enemy made but feeble resistance TO the advance Of
forces Mxs cavalry driving them like chat before them
The night passed quietly, little affair between picke;s,
without result breaking the mouotony Of the night.
On Sunday morning at daybreak, Mix's cavalry and
wesses' brigade began to advance, feeling their way
cautiously up the road about two mles when the ensmys
pickets were met and driven back through piece OF
woods about three-quarters Of mile, when they retired
upon the main body OF the enemy, six thousand strong
NJ Evau
Bluff nctorioty. His force consisted Of tbres regiments
Of South Carolina infantry the balance Of artillery cava
~ and infantry was made up OF North Carolina troops
Here our advance halted and the artillery was ordered
10 the front and at half past the artillery opened the
enemy The rebels found 10 be drawn up 10 line
Of battle on Q ground partially wooded and covered
with a dense underbrush, with their artillery in the
centre and on either flank They formed their line nearly
in the shape OF triangle, with the base toward our
forces Der line was formed with the Ninth New Jer
sey on tho right wesses brigade In the centre and left
Behind, In second line, was tho Tweny.third Massa
chuselts regiment the right the Forty. fourth and
Forty nth Massachusetts, regiments and other regiments
Of Emorys brigade, stevcnson's and Lees brisadss
being held in reserve. Our artillery was placed
In position on the right, centre and left OF the
line Tho battle was begun by the artillery at
hafpast ten, and continued uninterrupedy until
about halfpsst O'Clock, when tho enemy commenced
70 retreat. But short time elapsed after the artillery
duel had begun before tho infantry got TO work in carnest
and the musketry became very rapid and hot The fgbt
was quito lively until O'Clock, but not at very close
quarters when the rebels began to fall back the Ninth
New Jersey wero thrown out as skirmshers and wes.
sells brigade pushed forward in pursuit Our batteries
wero then thrown around 10 tho right Of tho road and
fred upon the retreatng rebels but with little effect The
enemy fell back hastily nearly mile, and crossed the
bridge leading into Kinston, the Ninth New Jersey fol-
lowing closely In pursuit. As the last rebel regiment
crossed the pridgc the rebels applied tho match 10 H.
and II had been prepared for the purpose, the Gre
soon gained headway; but the Ninth New Jersey
came up in time 10 ertnguish the nro before had done
much damage.
After crossing the bridge rebel brigade retreated In
the direction Of Godsboro and the other the direction
Of snow Hill, on the road TO Weldon General Evans
with his South Carolina troops, retreated towards Colds
boro, our artillery throwing shells the relreating
columns.
Our division Immediately crossed the bridge and occu
peA Kinston the rebels their retreat burning guam
tity cotton locomotive and some cars Our troops held
the town until yesterday morning. when they left the town
and moved forward In . northsry direction, after burn
inc We bridge over " Nsups Tiysr We captussao