Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-12-27
GENERAL FOSTERS EXPEDITION
THE MARCH TO GoLDsBoRo'.

ton, going up on the south side of the river |
Neuse. He had various skirmishes with the |
rebels, and also two serious eugagements-one at |
Whitehall, and the other at Godsboro' bridge. |
The rebels were beaten in every contest, and the |
object of the expedition was fully accomplished.
The railroad bridges at Gotlsboro' and at Mount
Olive station, fifteen miles south of Goldsboro', |
with the track and telegraph wire between them,
were destroyed This being done, Gen. Fosters
men returned to Newbern, where they had ar
rived on Sunday, Dec 2lst. A correspondent
of the New York Herald, who appears to have
marched with the New York Sd cavalry, has sent
to that journal full account of the operations
aobve Kinston and list of the killed and
wounded on our side. In the tifty-irst regi-
ment, John s. Rich OF company was wounded
in the hand, and Michael Sullivan of company
K, slightly in the breast
A letter received here from the 25th Massachr-
sets regiment, states that Henry Holden of
Princeton, belonging to that regiment, was killed
at the battle of Goldsboro' bridge, and that four
other members of the 25th, names not given,
were wounded. The New York Herald mentions
the 2Sth Massachusetts regiment as one of those
with Gen. Foster; but the 2sth is with Gen.
Burnside.
The Connecticut 10Th lost more heavily than
any other regiment having II killed, 10 mortal
ly wounded who soon died, and Is others
wounded.
The HeraldS list gives the names of 90 men
killed or MORALLY wounded, on our side, in the
several battles, as follows In the Connecticut
10th, 81; Pennsylvania 1O3d, Is; Massachusetts
23d, IA; 9th New Jersey, Il; Massachusetts 44th,
S; 45th Massachusetts, s; 22d New York. 3; 43d
and 10th Massachusetts,, 2 each; 9Th Rhode Isl
and, 24th New York, 10th New York, S5th Penn
sylvania oath, 17th 9th, and 25th Massachu-
sets, each and 4 of the artillery and cavalry.
The whole number of wounded on the list is 49,
of whom about IS are wounded severely, and
most of the Others slightly. We can not say
whether this report is entirely accurate, but we
presume it TO be substantially correct
From the letters in the New York Herald we
compile the following accounts of the move
ments.and battles above Knston. Gen Fosters
army left Knston on Monday Dec II. We fol-
low the order of the letters which give daily
record of proceedinga:-
MONDAY, Dec. 15.-During the day we came
upon the enemy's pickets and drove them in,
taking three or four prisoners. By sunset we
had marched seventeen miles. We then bivou-
acked for the night. On marching out of Kin
ston and recrossing the river, the bridge we SO
fortunately saved the day previous was totally
destroyed, in order to defeat any design on the
part of Gen. Evans to follow up and attack us in
the rear. When the main column halted for the
night, Major Garrard with his battalion of the
Sd New York cavalry, and section of Captain
Janey's battery were sent forward to dash into
S 5nd gekAt ARss4 t%F Fl a the ssr6 e.;
that Virginia regiment had juStretreated across
q nd fhat fhpt, ha ho,,-
forced on the following morning. The maior
Immediately ordered reconnaissance of the
whole position by dismOunted cavalrymen. In
this reconnaissance we discovered rebel gun
boat on the other side of the river.
10 destroy the gunbOat, which was not fully
completed, was one of our principal objects; but
to do 1t in the face of an enemy, concealed in the
woods on the opposite bank, was a very difficult
matter In order to cast a heavy reflection of
light on the enemy, we set fire to large quanti-
ties OF turpenne, in barrels, in sheds and other
wise. This rendered the scene one of peculiar
and lively interest. The flames assembled in all
forms and in various heights, communicating to
and hrlng many OF the adjacent trees. During
all this time the enemy laid low in the woods,
only hiring one or two small arms
After brief elaboration, the major determined
to call upon some one 10 volunteer and swim the
river; then, after swimmn II, to board the pun-
boat and fire it. 70 do this daring deed Henry
Butler of Co c, 81 New York cavalry, yoIun-
teered. Our artillery was ordered up, and opened
with shell to the right and left Of the bridge
Butler then undresscd, ran down the bank
plunged into the river and swan to the opposite
side. He then started to get a fre-brand al the
burning bridge when the enemy opened fire on
NM Butler instantly turned and ran for the
river, followed by a couple of the enemy (who
quickly Sprang from their hiding places jumped
into the water was again fired upon and finally
reached his old position without injury For this
gallant act the major highly complimented But.
Ter on the spot and while he was in a situation
in ro,I;l.
We then gave the enemy severe dose of CAMS
ter, and finding that we could not well get over
to the gunboat, we battered it to pieces with shot
and shell. The vessel was a small one, flat bot.
toned, intended for fast river navigation de-
slgned Tor one ortwo guns, built somewhat after
tne FORM OF the Merrimac, iron plating and all.
we then returned to camp, having accomplished
our purposes.
In connection with our movements to-day I
may add that the enemy was completely outwit-
ted. From the fact of our having fought hard 10
save the klnston bridge, and then crossed to the
opposite side, occupying the town, the enemy
prepared 10 meet us at MOsely Hall-a small town
adjacent to the line of the GoldsbOro' and Kin
ston railroad-supposing that we intended pro-
ceedlng to that town along the right bank of the
Neuse. Instead of that, as will be observed by
what is above, we passed up on the other side,
leaving Moseley Hail. with ts armed force, far TO
the right
TUESDAY, Dec. l6.-The column again moved
at an early hour this morning in the direction of
whitehall AS we n;ared the town an open
space revealed our approach TO the enemy, the
latter being concealed in thick woods on the
opposite side of the river. Heavy skirmishing
Immediately ensued between the ninth New Jer-
sey and three regiments of rebels. Major Gar
rard, who was in advance of the column, with
three pieces of artillery and squadron of caval-
ry, passed over high hill behind the skirmSh-
ers, in full sight of the enemy, until he got TO
the left Of those in action, and then opened with
ms artillery. Under cover Of action on both
sldes Major Garrard, with his command, pressed
on past Whitehall, and made a rapid march Ga
distance of over twenty nies) 10 Mount Olive
stauon, small place situated on the line Of the
wilmington and Goldsboro railroad While
MAYOR Garrard went away, in order to cover his
operations, General Foster entered into regular
engagement at Whitehall.
The enemy having destroyed the bridge over
the river, showed that he labored under the i'm.