Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-12-27
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" AlAsSOni anu tne Victory gained ~ lnat
point. Corres spondenee from the army
brings to hand the particulars Of the re-
mainder Of the short campaign, which has
not ended as we had hoped and expected.
True, we fought four battles, and Whipped
the enemy handsomely each tint" as Gen
eral Foster reported, but that being done the
expedition marched back to Newbern. It
was hoped that the important rsilrOsd
junction at GOldsboro would be held until
reinfOrcements could be sent to it. The
General gave assurances in his dispatches
that he could do that and yet we find the
whole territory abandoned and the whole
fruits Of the four victories thrown aside
There are doubtless reasons for this move
which do not appear, but it must be con-
fessed that the North Carolins campaign is
barren Of any but temporary results.
After the victory at Kinston the army
moved for that point on the morning eff
the 18th, marching seventeen miles, dur
ing which several skirmishes were had
with the enemy's pickets. a cavalry scout
was sent out to small place called White
hall, three miles and a-half away. This
distance was made at quick gallOp, but
not quick enough to reach that point until
the rebels had fred the bridge over the
Neuse. A small force Of the enemy was
shelled spiritedly, and an effort was made
to FIRE small gunbOat which the rebels
had on the opposite side of the river. A
correspondent says:
"After brief deliberation, the Major
determined to call upon some one TO vol
unteer and swim the river; then, after
swimming it. TO board the gunboat and
FIRE it. odo this daring deed Henry But
ler, of Company C, Sd New York cavalry,
volunteered. Our artillery was ordered
up, and opened with shell to the right and
left Of the bridge. Butler then undressed,
ran down the bank, plunged into the river
and swan TO the opposite side. he then
started to get fire brand at the burning
bridge, when the enemy opened fire on
him. Butler instantly turned and ran for
the river, followed by couple Of the enc
my, (Who quickly sprang from their hid
ing places,) jumped into the water, was
again fired upon, and finally reached his
old position without injury. For this gal
liant act the Major highly complimentsd
Butler on the spot, and while Butler was
in situation not observable in civilized,
unwarlike society. We then gave the en-
envy a severe dose Of canister, and, fnd-
ing that we could not well get over to the
gunboat we battered it to pieces with
shot snd she'll The vessel was q small
one, fat bottomed, intended for fast river
navigation, designed for one or two guns,
built somewhat after the form Of the Mer-
imac, iron plating and all. We then re-
turned to camp, having accomplished our
purposes"
The next day General Foster with the
main force moved upon Whitehall and en-
gagged the enemy there for several hours,
the two forces being on opposite sides of
the river. Meantime, detachment of the
Sd New York Cavalry pushed rapidly on, q
distance Of about twenty miles, to Mount
Olive Station, on the GOldsborO and Will
mington Railroad, completely surprising
it. The ticket agent was selling tickets
and passengers were waiting for a train.
They were all captured and parOled. After
which an extensive bridge and tressle
work was destroyed. At the same time
another party, with one piece of flying ar
tillery, was sent in the opposite direction
to tear up the track. While doing it, the
mail train came rafting along and was
greeted with three shells, before the engi-
neer could reverse his engine and back
out. The party then set out on the return
to the main army near Whitehall, which
they reached in safety. Shortly after they
left Olive Station, MerimsO Railroad
Car" came down and shelled the woods
On the next day, the 18th, the march
was resumed for Goldsboro, meeting the
enemy at the=--HIIT0sd DrIuge over Ine
Neuse, about two miles south Of the town.
The main object Of the expedition was to
destroy the bridge, which, however, was a
work of no little difficulty under the fire
of the enemy. The account says:
"Finally, Lieutenant Graham, Of the
rocket battery, and now acting aid TO Col
onsl Hickman, and VIM. G. Semons, pri-
vate in the Ninth New Jersey, advanced
under the enemy's heavy firing, when
Lieutenant Graham got near enough to,
and did fire the bridge.
As soon as we saw the bridge in flames,
the General gave orders to have the rail-
road track destroyed. Two Massaehu-
sets regiments, who had been lying in re-
serve, stacked arms and rushed upon the
track with yell and cheer, and did the
work Of destruction at short notice. The
rails and ties were thoroughly destroyed
by physical power and the effect of fire.
The column then fell back toward White
hall, and subsequently to Kinston.
During the engagement, a chaplain of
one Of the Massachusetts, regiments, who
was on the field, seeing one of the men of
Battery B, Third New York ARTILLERY, be-
ing borne of wounded, said to him, "Were
you supported by Divine inspiration 2"-
"No p was the reply, 1--WE we're supported
by the Ninth New Jersey"
The federal loss in the expedition was
between four and i've hundred. We took
over Eve hundred prisoners. The snemy's
loss is estimated at between eight and nine
hundred. Great CONSERVATION was felt at
Raleigh at the advance upon GoldsbOro.
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