Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1862-12-22

1ne lolloWtng letter from orr Soao;., n n,
orter at Goldsboro, contains all the rar.S,o &C
etails OF events occurring at that no;,., !. III
o'clock yesterday 1t is due to the n,,h,,o )
hat we should state that all our efforts 70 $,
btain prompt information from Goldshoro, h
ave. 70 some extent, failed, in consequences Il
fthe irregularity of the mails and the mon. d
poly OF the telegraph by the State govern A
nent. Il what We have obtained is reli-l
!ble.
From our Special Reporter D
On Sunday morning, the enemy displayed ,
,ut a small body of troops on the banI If
The river opposite Kinston. which induced
,ur troops to cross. The enemy after a short
line retreated, our men following them uo
With great spirit until an overwhelming bodv
advanced from the cover of the woods in
front and on the flank Of our small force. A
gallant but fruitless fight took place. but our
men, overpswered, had to retreat. Before
ell had succeeded in crossing the bridge. it
was fred AID a number were scorched in
passing over, but the ehemy following closely,
and succeeded in putting out the fire. I'll
was at this'time our troops suffered most by |
l a heavy IRE of musketry and shells. Our
Ms on that day did not exceed Is or 20 kill
and about 60 wounded, mostly slightly !
Nrt. The occupation Of the town and bridge
vkvented a body Of our men, about five
$dred in number, from escaping, the great
sArt were taken prisoners and paroled,
,Nme few succeeded in escaping higher
spIy khe river. All agree our troops fought
fprcSNy, and nothing but superior physical
force Ne them FROM the field. Our entire
nnly wAApder 5000 and of which 1900
makes ttlIngased. Inc ae"est computation
lost on the pstn{ NO honor was
Of crossing u W ., oa,.as' ous 'ne propr'e prey,
oods, may be- Questioned.
.haIi !" o'Nnston was injured by the
o - some evept, but was not burnt as
H. 'eportec During the night Of Mon
49, eheihY esvacuated the town, and
ri g : pursuit V burning the bridge.
cuS II. rogers occupied it soon after and
iouno here our parole0 and wounded pris-
on.ers. In addition to Ia, .usual oath the,
enemy pad sworn them not 10 leave the
POUNDS q hsnston for 48 Aaurs, which
time expired on Wednesday. We.have been
unable to learn the number paroled the
majority belong to the 6Sth or Mallet's bat
.aiion: Ate recrossing the river the enemy
divided his forces, part proceeded to White
hsll while our army lay in the neighbour
mood Of Mosely Hall, IA miles from Colds
night by the 9Th M BIT N. .. Regiments.
On Tuesday a brisk artillery engagement
took place at White Hall across the river, We
having burned the bridge. Casualties were
few on either side. While this engagement
was progressing the enemy dispatched a
force of cavalry and artillery down the river
who touched the Wilmington and Weldon
Railroad at Olive Hill, burning the depo
AND tearing up about two miles of the track
A MI. Kornegay, who lives in that neighbour
hood. hearing the uproar, ran towards then
having a gun in his hand, a platoon fired OF
him and he fell dead, pierced by severa
bullets. On Tuesday evening our troop
began to arrive in G~oldsboro, from tn
direction of Kinston, and were forwarded b,
train to Dudley's Bridge, on the WilmingtoI
Railroad, which seems to be the prineipa
point aimed at by the enemy.
On Tuesday night the enemy's encamp-
ment stretched from Whitehall to near Slee
DIV Creek. Scouts on the Dlplin road wer
Aired on by the enemy's pickets, about mid
night. All remained quiet until Wednesda
about IL o'clock, when a heavy cannonadln
commenced about the Railroad Bridge, whic
continued to a late hour. We could not lear
ANYTHING reliable as TO the object oil attach
hut think the enemy were endeavoring to CT
off ALI communication with Wilmington an
rumors have reached Raleigh that they sue
ceeded in destroying it. The above is a state
ment of reliable facts, selected from the thol
sand and one sensation rumors which are
circulation every day.
Very little can be learned at official quar-
ters. bit our general officers are in good spl
its and confident of giving a good account
the enemy. The Government at kichmor
isIdoing it's duty. Nine regiments and " os
teries of artillery arrived on tuesday, al
several brigades are on the way. Pruaeh
will not allow US TO specify from wheh
thew we're drawn, but the concentration W
rapid and by this time a force is IN ana aroal
Goldsboro'. sufficient to battle, II not captu
the invaders. ~.
Generals Gus. Smith, French, Clingma
pe.tiOrew and Martin are in command, Q
troons are we'll armed and clothed, and frt
actual observation on the ground, we have
fears for the result
TOSS IN COL. ~MALLErT's BATTALION.
Col. Mallett, wounded in the leg, not Sc
ously, and q prisoner.
Iieuts. Hill and Reid, killed.
Cant. McRae, and Lieut.. Haywood prise
ers. Lieut.. Mckee is supposed to have q
capped capture.
we were unable to procure the names
the killed but the following are in the Mi
tarv Hospital at Goldsboro', none OF tn
seriously wounded.
G A Powell, stunned by shell
"a ] Henson, wounded in hand.
] F Glenn, wounded in head.
w s Kesiah, wounded IN arm.
D G Ross, wounded in hand
W S. Stapleton, wounded in back.