Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-12-27

lew Oh UHt vi our MASSACHUSETTS, HUt
knowing that they were only to make feint,
actually swan across the river and got on the |
opposite bank Our artillery was so admirably
posted and CALAMITY worked that we silenced the
enemy's fire, and drove him, infantry, artillery
and all, away far back from the river bank. After
this we could, of course, have crossed the river;
but the scope of Gen. Fosters plans tended still
more to deceive the enemy. Under cover of in
fantry firing and the working of two sections of
artillery we passed on without further molesta-
ton, and went into camp for the night several
miles the other side of Whitehall.
MOUNT OLIVE STATION, Dec 16.-On leav-
ing the main column we pressed rapidly on until
reached Il swamp Here we struck Il iur-
pentine path, and came out at this station at
three O'Clock P. NJ The ticket agent selling
tickets, passengers were lettering around waiting
for the cars, the mail for Wilmington laid ready
the platform, and a few paroled prisoners
were in readiness 10 go 10 Wilmington, probably
to ighl again Major Garari put every body un-
der arrest. The telegraph wire was Immediately
and afterwards Ctfectually cut and destroyed.
Capts. Wilson and Pond, with their respective
commands of the third New York cavalry, were
sent seven miles in the direction of Wilmington,
to destroy an extensive bridge and restle work
This they accomplished with great labor after a
few minutes skirmsh, and joined our main
force by dusk In connection with the destruc
ton OF these bridges they also destroyed the
track and set fire TO the cross ties in several
places.
a company and one piece of artillery, was sent
three and half miles in the direction of Colds
borO', on the line of the railroad, 10 destroy the
track, some culverts, and bridge. just as
Capt. Jacobs reached the three and half miles
point the mail train from Goldsboro' came rat
Ting down. The engineer on the train, i'll
coming around Il short turn, observed ahead
a heavy dark smoke and Immediately backed off
towards Goldsboro' The work of destroy ing the
road completed 1.
RV This time "a Mount Olive station had
ken up large extent of the track, destroy ed the
switches, and did ali the damage We could then,
about eight o'clock, we set out for change of
base, made several Strategical movements
through woods and swampS, and reached the
camp about midnight. On leaving Mount Olive
| paused for moment to behold the sight pre-
scented 10 our view. | saw the railroad appar
emily on fire for miles in extent, huge fires of
ties and warping rails, and the blank amaZement
that was but too evident in the face of our now
released prisoners. We had hardly left Mount
Olive station over an hour when the enemy came
down near as he could with so-called "Mer-
rimac railroad car" and shelled the woods for
quite while.
THE BATTLE AT GoLDsBoRo BRIDGE.
WEDNESDAY, Dec. H.-To-day we marched
to the bridge over the Neuse at GoIdsboro We
got on high hill in I'LL sight of large force of
the enemy drawn up in line on the railroad.
| Having the advantage Of poSition-being on
| hill, over mile from the railroad, with an en-
tirely open country before us, the river on our
| right snd dense wood to the left-we opened
| on the enemy with shell. Fora very short space
| OF time the rebels stood their ground; but so
accurately did We get the range of their position,
| rapidly throwing Ill the shells, that The enemy
| broke and commenced Il pre.ptate retreat
| across the river on the railroad bridge Wekept
| up our firing with considerable raplditv, and by
that means cut off the retreat of TWO rebel regi-
| nIents, who fell back into thick woods on the
| other side of the railroad
Col. lpdleV then moved battery to within less
than half mile of the euemyS position The
| 9Vh New York was sent to support the battery
across open field and afterwards hey Ond it,
until the regiment got close 10 the right of the
railroad bridge and short distance from the
enemy aud the river. The nth Massachusetts
under command of Lieut.. Col. Fellows moved to
the left, into the woods, waded through mill
stream, and came out on the railroad line direct
| ly in 'front.' of the enemy. BY this time and
| while the 18th was slowly advancing, the enemy
commenced rapid fire of shot and shell from a
! battery concealed in the woods across the river,
to the left of the bridge, looking from our posi-
ton, as also from their iron-cad rair9ad Gar ,aG5
| DBnit they also had sharpshootvIs, who tried
fIatu, out did not well succeed in picking off our
| men.
By the time the action had become toerably
heaVy we heard the whistle of an approaching
traln and soon after learned from prisoners thst
the rebel Gen. Pettigrew had lust arrived with
relnforcemeniS in the way of his brigade One
ol our shells was seen TO pass along a platform
car, tl;reby creating so much confusion as to
DELAY Cen Pettlgrew from coming Immediately
mo action. Having got the range of the train
we threw the shell i'll SO fast that IN a little while
itmoved farther off and out of the range of our
| guns.
Gen. Fosters object was not to occupy Colds
ooro out to destroy this railroad bridge He
| now gave orders TO burn it. Col Hickman who
got the order, called for volunteers to carry into
effect the generals desira. Many volunteered
from the nth Massachusetts and 9th New jersey
regiments, SO the colonel selected some from each
| regiment TO 20 and do the work Several adj
Vances were made for our men TO fire bur orr
men were driven back. In one of these advances
FORMER adJutant of the 18th was dangerously
wounded. Finally, Lieut.. Graham, OF the rocket
battery, aching aid TO Col Hickman, and VIM
T. Semons, private in the 9th New JERSEY, adj
vanced under the enemy's heavy firing and fired
the Drudge AS soon as we saw the bridge in
names, the general gave orders to have the rail-
road track destroyed. Two Massachusetts regi-
ments, who bad been lying in reserve, stacked
arms and rushed on TO the track wi h veil and
cheer, and did the work of destruction at short
nolcc The rails and ties were thoroughly de-
sUoyed ny physical power aud the effect OF fire
zen. Foster having successfully accomplished
all ms plans and more, to-day determined TO
Withdraw MS force from the field, and fall back
TO tue first convenient camping place for the
! hlGht; and we had advanced considerable dis
lance probably TWO miles,, with the supply
uan' &c, IN front, when the rebels, seeing the
49, '''7'uNi NOl' l@ec > ABOUT 10 move, and some
distance from the artillery took courage. and
rushed out OF the woods on the woods on the
other side OF the railroad. Immediately after.
| W4fd, TWO South Carolina regiments who had
come from Franklin, fired volley and charged
win the bayonet on Morrisolis battery The
| enemy were allowed TO get rather close to the
battery, when the guns opened them with
canister, Belger's battery put in pc yerful cross
hre, andlCol. Lees brigade wheeled into line and
ana excellent execution. The rebels made this
oayo charge with great dash and courage. but
they were repnlsed with great loss of hfe and an
amusing amusing ana astonishing precipitancy. They
lost $50 men by this movement
" course, this latter movement had the effect
OF hating our column. Not knowing bat that
the enemy might be in strong force this side of
the river, we made every preparation to enter in
to regular engagement. However, after a re.
newed hght, lasting nearly two hours, we again,
! silenced the enemy's fire. About nine o'clock p
| NJ. our army Divouacked for the night between
| Whitehall and the Goldsboro railroad bridge.
During this fight our cavalry completed the de-
structlon of the railroad between Goldsboro'
bridge and Mount Olive station, and also several