New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-11-20
TIE WAR IN NORTH CAROLINA.
Gen. Fosters Report of i,is Expedition
through the Eastern Counties of the

WASHINGTON, "wednesday, nov. 49, 1862
Tie following dispatches have been received at
the headquarters Of the army:
HEsporaRrERRs DEPARTMENT. oP NORTH
CAROLINA, hEwBERs, Nov. IL, 1902
Major General H. W. HlLLEcX, GeHsyai-in CHEF |a'h-
ia0iog.
GEsERAL: have the honor TO report that agree
able to nay letter Of the Both ut, informing you OF
NV intention 20 make expedition through the
oafern corDies Of this State, and stating the object
Of the move l loft this post Oh the 3lsI ult. and
have Just arrived here on nv return.
am harry 20 inform you that although the orig
iual plan fr the capture OF the three gmens for
uging H. -e~'io. was, owing 10 the condition OF
tie roacs frustrated, the expedition VIII DC .. great
service 81 our cause in this department.
The first brigade, under command Of Col T. j.
Camoy together with the artillery, cavalry, and
wagon train were marched from THIS front across
the country TO Washington the balance OF my
forces including the second brigade, Col Stevenson,
and the third brigade. Col. Lee, were embarked on
Transports and landed at Washington, where they
were Joined BY Col. Amory's command on Saturday
evening, the "a inst.
On Sunday, the 3d. all the forces, including ar
tillery, left Washington, under my command for
Williamson On the evening OF the same day we
encountered the enemy posted in strong position
nj n email creek, called Little Creek. Immediately
ordered Col. Stevenson, commanding the ID Brigade,
who was then in the advance, ~ make all haste IN
driving them from the opposite side OF the creek,
and pufh on at once.
The engagement lasted one hour, when the enemy,
being driven from their rihe-pits by Begers Rhode
leland Battery lie retired to Rawls Mills, one mile
further on where they made another stand in a re-
Gently constructed ield-worl Belger's Battery and
two batteries Of the 81 New York Artillery were
Immediately ordered into position, and after spirit
ed engagement Of hall hour, succeeded IN drawing
lie euemy from their works, and across bridge,
Which they burned
Last night while the pioneers built the burnt
bridge the forces biyouackod on the field, and pro
coeded the next morning to Williamson, whore we
arrived about noon. We started from there, after IA
short rect ia pursuit OF the enemy, biv0uhcking
about five miles from that place. On Tie following
day we reached and occupied the Notifications at
RAINBOW Banks, three miles below Hamilton, and
then pushed on TO Hamilton.
7 here we expected to find fome iron-clad boats,
said 20 be IN the process OF construction at lanl-
ton, but discovered nothing OF the KIND. On the
9Th, we lefs Hamilton, IN pursuit Of the enemy.
toward 1arbOrO, and encamped on the same night
within ten miles OF that place.
l. WAS my intention 10 pursue the enemy TO Tar
boro, but the exhausted condition Of my men, most
OF whom had been sick during the last two months,
and bad not yet recovered their strength, and the
provisions being entirely exhausted, 20 INIT bad TO
subssi the command By forging as well as the fact
that the enemy were being largely reinforced by
rail. changed my plans, and on tho following
morning. the 7th inst. / countcrmarohcd the
we remained till the next morning, when we
marched for williamson in tho midst of a severe
snow storm. Al williamson We remained day, in
order 10 give the men IN opportunity TO rest. ~
daylight the next day. the 10Th inst, we started for
Plymouth, where we arrived that night. The iol-
lowing day the troops were all reembarked at
Newbern.
During the engagement at Rawlss Mills and at
Hamilton, we captured five prisoners, who were pa
rolled at williamson. The loss on our side consisted
of six killed and eight wounded.
The expedition was instrumental in eayng the
town aud forces at Plymouth from destruction ana
capture, as | found, upon my arrival AZ the place,
dat tae enemy forces while lying IN the vicinity,
beside being engaged in foraging, had reconstructed
n bridge over the creek, three miles OUTSIDE he
town. ior the transportation OF their artillery to the
opposite bank.
/ aso learned from information ga hered on the
spot that an immediate attack was to have been
made on the place, but upon hearing Oh my advance
from Washington, and seeing the danger oi Their
capture, they beat precpitate aud hasiy retreat.
The navy, under command Of Commlnder DAVeh
port, senior officer, coOperated heartily with me
during the whole time, by sending FIVE gunooats to
Hamilton, aud there placing four boat howltzefs,
with their crews, at my disposal.
desre TO mention particularly the efficient con-
duet of Col Stevenson, commanding tho second
Brigade aud Col. Potter OF the LIST North Carolina
Union Volunteers.
recommend that Col. Stevenson, for his efficient
services On this march, and ~ the affair az Ll'te