The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1863-05-22
HEAD QUARTERS, Co. G, l0lst +. V.
Newbern, S. c., May i, 1868.

DEAR FRANK -
Since you last heard from me. you have
seen papers with accounts OF what has been 60
ing on in this Department for the last month,
We have been in what you would call tight pa
pers for some time. The Rebelshad the town of
Little Washington surrounded and were asking
for its surrender from the officer in charge of
the little garrison there. They threw shells in
to the town every day, for about two weeks
Little Washington is q beautiful place and was
a town of four thousand inhabitants in peaca-
BILE times. Gen. Foster having gone up to this
place to sec how things were going on, could
not get back, on account of the Rebels planting
sand batteries all along the river, on command
ing bluffs. He was there tight enough and
could get none Of the troops up from here; but
he held out. He had neither rations nor am
munition. He put the troops there on quarter
rations Our regiment and another were sent
up on the transport Northener, to effect a land
ing but it could not be done. The gunboats
could do nothing with the blockade, it was SO
we'll constructed. We lay there day and q
night, looking at the gun-boats and them fight
ing. They put good many shots into the
boats. They would ne, er fire until they had
q sure thing Of it. It's pretty sight to look
at naval engagement after night. The next
day the old boat brought us back to Newbern.
At twelve o'clock that night we were ordered
off again. We crossedth Neuse R:verin boats
to the opposite side, where we watched for day
light. Morning came, when all was got in rea
diness for the move our brigade in advance the
the whole thing under Gen. Spinola, of New
York, who commanded brigade in this de-
partmcnt of Pa. Malta; our old General being
North and Foster tied up in Washington. Well,
we moved off, as / said, and got on Is miles
where we encamred for the night. The. next
morning we were up and off before daylight
We had got about ten miles, when Spinola found
ont he was about putting his foot on a hornets
nest from the singing music of those fellows that
run on heavy wheels. We were at a stream of
water called Blunt's creek and there was only
one way of crossing it, and that was by bridge
in front of us, which the enemy had protected
by artillery The skirmishcrs were sent out
and had small skirmish across the water
There were few killed and wounded on our
side. Our artillery was placed in position as
we'll as could be- for it could not be got off the
road for swamps on both sides. The enemy
had the range of the road and the second or
third fire killed lot of men at the pieces. and
six or seven horses in one battery, wounding
Col. Belger. After few more shots were ex-
changed, Spinola ordered q retreat. I do not
know how many were killed and wounded in
all, but there were good many We came
back to Newborn. After we got back, Foster
ran the blockade atnight in the gun-boad Escort.
They came very near knocking the boat to sliv-
ers. One shell passed through the Generals
bedroom He had been in bed and just got up
and went out of his room to give some orders
about the boat. If he had been in bed it would
have cut him in two right in the middle. The
night Gen. Foster got here, Gen. Vessel got
here from New York They ordered General
Spnola back with his brigade but he came back
as soon nearly as he went. Gen. VESSEL said
he could drive Gen. Hill and Pettigrew with
his nld b,-inada We wera thrnwn arrnsa. the
Neuse River again, with some nine months Re
giments that are here from Mass. We drove
old Hill and Pettigrew from their Notifications
aud rife pits, capturing and killing lot of their
men, took their sand bank batteries, left some
of our men in possession of them, went on and
relieved Washington and its little garrison. IF
ever there were glad men they were two com.
panies of the Frst North Carolina Regiment
doing garrison duty at that place, wher our old
brigade marched over the bridge across the Tar
River, into the Town, with our battle worn
flags floating in the breeze. We staid at Wash
ington until Spinola's brigade was brought round
on transports, to garrison the place, when we
returned to Newbern, where we are now. 1t is
from 35 to 40 miles from here to Washington
by land and water. 1t is pretty warm here
now. Tho health of the troops in this depart
ment is very good at present. We have orders
again to leave here, but don't know yet where
for. We have drawn seven days rations.
We lost one man out of our company, on the
expedition. Lieut.. Evans, of company d, has
resigned on account of his health. He was a
faithful and good officer. His men did not
want him to CO. Yours, &C., j. B. H.
CAMP 55th RECT, p. V.
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