The New York herald., 1862-12-25
FIFTH DAY.
In 1Bs FnID, Dec. as, lS62.

IN 1us FIELD Dxc. 10, teol
rHE ONWARD nARCR.
We moved ous Of KIus,on = very early hour tnis
morning and marched u the line OF Neuse river
VIC side opposite o that place. Tho road lay through
sestsn of country hi,y aud comparatively During
- cay wo came upon the enemy's pcksts and drove
1sm u, taking three or four prisoners. By aup-
set we had marched seventeen mep. We then bivou-
aAksa for the night This days march considered
very good one considering tho atsued Condition OF the
troops On marching out OF Kstcn and recrossing the
s,yer the srids fortunately saved the day prev
ems was totally destroyed order to defest any dess
on The part Eysns to follow up and attack
b tho rear.
osvALRy SCOUT WHITEHALL.
when she uain column halted for the night ss,or Ga,
ysrd tn bis battalion OF the Third New York cavalrs
aaa section Of Captain Janeys battery OF ihe Thra
New York artillery sent forward to dash into
Sahs small town the banks Of the Nsnse, known
whitehall To do this bad to 20 distance oc three
sad half miles from the main column. This
somp,shed at full galiop; but, notwithstanding W.
voshsd forward rapidly, we found arrival TIE
bridge over the river In flames. We also learned thai
Avrgnia resmsnt had just retreaed across fhc bridge
and that ncy would be heavily reinforced on the follow
hg morning. Tho Major Immediately ordered q recon.
xossanee Of the whole position BY demoun,sd cavalry
men, In this reconnaissance found previous reports
ssasrmsd in that we discovered rebel gunboss the
.sthsr side Of the river.
-pxsrauCueN or a alBRb evSBoAH
20 destroy the eunboas which not fully completed
wss one of our principal objects but 70 Go in the face
e an enemy csscealed In the woods the opposiic
SAak WAS Q very ditucuh matter. In order 10 cast
heavy reflection of Ighs the enemy, set Gre 20
hrgs quantities Of turpsntse, in barrels in sheds and
SAsrwes This rendered ecsnce Of peculiar and
aiveiy ,stsssst The flames sseended 10 al forms and
various heights communicating 70 and airing many sf the
Sdjaosns During all tbs time the enemy laid c~
. y Us woods, only srins enc y t~0 small srms.
G.SILu1 ACTION.
essss bysf dslberatcp, tue MAYOR determined call
spo como 20 volunteer and swim the river; then,
.stsr sw nlnng IL, 10 board tho sunboat and fire 1t.
10 dA ahis daring deed, Henry Batter, Of Company c,
fn,ya Hsv York csyary, voluniesrsc Oar artillery
ssdsvsdgp snd opened with shell 10 che right and left Of
s bridge Butler then undresssd. ran down The bank,
plunged nSp ihs river srd SWAN 70 the opSoske side
he then s,sse 20 get re brand al the burning ge,
whom The cusny opened nre on him. Butler instantly
turned ana rn for ths river, followed by coups Of Ne
nepys (who sHickly sprans from their hiding places,
bumped into thsvaisr, again fred upon, and finally
reoshea his old piiion w,hou, injury. For this gallant
Ass tpe MAJOR highly complimenisd Fuller he spot
and while wos in situation not Observable in civilized
anwarkc society. We then gave the enemy severe
desc Of canister, and dnding that could well gel
sycr 10 tho gnpoa We battered IL 20 pieces with ebo
and sheu The vessel was nmali one nat boilomed, in
Suded for as navigation designed for one or two
,\ns balt somewhat after the form of the Merriuac
plating and ALL We then returned 70 camp, havns
,ceo. .vplisbed our purposes
rHs pHnsls curwIryp.
I'M oop vsct,cs with our movements to-day may add
,h.t tho xaslag was completely outwiitcd. From the
Ac, 4 our Tough, hard TO save the Kinston BRIDGE
md then crospa 10 the opposite side, occupying the
,evn, the enemy yVrspsrsd TO meet US at Mossisy Hs-
small town sdisas to tbe line OF the eOdsboro aud
kinsson silroadsvposing we intended proceeding
y that town along tbisns bank Of the Nsase Instead
,haa m VIII be observed by what Is above, we psssed
y on the ether side, Leaving Noscley Bs, With rs srmsd
hrse, far % our right,
~ SIXTH N<Y.
wHlyf\ Hal, Dec. Ie--P. ".
M xAScn AVID OCCUPATION oy lvreuu--A exasnu
abs column again moved at es<y hour this morning
n tho direction u whitehall. As Va neared the town
u wsn syscs revealed approach to$ne crcDy, the
hss beng concealed In thick woods co The opposite
6ds Z ,hs river. Heavy sklrmishins mnNedia.sly
Iusa btswsap the Ninth New Jersey and three Spspeuts
n fsbsls Major darrsrd, WHO was in sdynnoe>ef the
column, with ihyss pieces Of N,lsry and squaden Of
RSAiry papscd overs high bill behind the skirsiishs,
/. ,tnfrk nn thaf egt