The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1863-01-06
THE LATE ABOLITION ADVANCE
FROM NEWRERN.

FROM NEWBERN.
Correspondence of the Raleigh State Journal.
GoLDsBoRo, Dec. n, 1862.
Mr. EDITOR: The exploits of the Yankee
aboItionists in North Carolina from the 18th to !
the 18th inst, inclusive, and how the rutiians
were met and logged at every point by vastly in /
ferior forces, are things which should not be
forgotten Notwithstanding the time have taken
TO collect facts, the details l have gathered are
still imperfect, but / will state what l have
learned currrnte cdldn1o.
On Friday the 18th, the enemy were found adj
yancing in force on the 'Trent Road, some Zo
odd miles this side of Newborn. Three compa-
MICS Of Major Nethercutts battalion, Capts. Foy,
Davis and Robinson, were slowly retiring before
them towards :Kinston. Capt Rinehart's company
of the Sd n C. Cavalry, Col. Baker commanding,
had gone down to reconnoitre Scouts were out,
who were soon fired on by the enemy and re-
turned at full gailop, closely pursued by large
force of the Sd N. Y. cavalry. Seeing this, Rine-
harris company were ordered to retreat, the
enemy's superior horses gradually gaining on
them, till at length they were overtaken, their
nursuers using their pistols and sabres freely, but
with little effect Col Baker received slight
wound from pistol shot in the lower part of the
ear. Other casualties, if any, have not been able
to learn precisely.
In the meantime Major Nethercutts men, who
had continued their march, seeing our cavalry
pursued, were deployed into the woods to ambush
the ruffians and save their retrcatng comrades.
In doing this, the were thrown into confusion,
almost necessarily, think, when the proximity OF
so large force is considered, and many of them
broke ranks and fed, efforts of their officers
availing to rally them. | speak it with shame,
some of the commissioned officers were the first to
run away. But Captains Foy, Davis and Robin
son, and Lieuts Davis, Buxnum and wilkins, and
about forty men were instantly in line; ard as
as they could do so without mourning the risk of
shooting Rinehart's men, who we're now mixed up
with the advance of the enemy, they poured a
voey into the rufians, unhorsing nine and throw
ing the pursuers into the widest confusion. This
| saved Rineharts men from capture death.
Some of the enemy who were endorsed and un-
hurt, clambered an adjoining fence and
attempted to escape a large open field.
Instantly Capts Davis Foy and Robinson, and
Lieut. Davis, and some six privates, the latter of
whom, | regret to say, | have learned only the
name of one Isaac Casey we're over the fence after
them and captured and broug ht off four prisoners,
who now in Richmond This was done in the
face Of the enemy, and is certainly one of the
rashest if not the bravest feats of the war. In
this little encounter four Yankees were left dead,
one wounded, four taken prisoners, besides some
eight or ten horses fully equipped, several fne
+ pistols, carbine and other trophies. This
! the enemy's first encounter with our men In the
series of skirm.hes which followed, and he was
disgracefully worsted by not more than forty men
| don't believe we lost a man killed, and if any
were disabled by wounds, | have not heard it.
| On Saturday morning the enemy had advanced
to bridge over Southwest Greek, when he was
received by Capt. Bunting with a section of his
fine battery. Capt Bunting expecting to fall
back having FIST destroyed the bridge ordered his
not to fire till they. saw the enemy. This
| brought them within hundred or one hundred
and fifty yards of his guns, when he opened on
them with deadly effect, causing them to scatter in
all directions, without firing gun. Capt. Bunting
piled them with grape and canister for some time,
when he was ordered to fall back to PARROTS
farm or vicinity, where the enemy, by two roads,
had advanced on Gen. Evans small force consist
ing of the 18th, 22d and 23d Regiments, Hol-
combe's Legion, and Boyce's hatterv-a South
| Carolina troops-and Col Radclifis Reg't, Glst N
| g. troops. With this small force did Gen Evans
| fight the redoubtable Foster, at the head of not
| less than $4,000, and some say 10000 abolition
Yankees, and keep them at bay all day Saturday.
| During the night Evans fell back to point
where three roads MET at Harriets Chapel about
half mile from the bridge across Neuse river,
when he was reinforced on Sunday morning by
Col. Peter Mallet, with about 400 or 500 men
On Sunday the battle was opened by the enemy
about o'clock a. M, and Evans. with his
musqulto army, again gave them battle, driving
them at points three times from their positions.
successfully holding bis own ground for nearly
seven hours and killing and wounding six or eight
| for every one he lost. His loss, learn was not
over forty killed and small number in proportion
wounded. | have heard the enemy s loss variously
| estimated at from three to ten hundred ONLY
when our forces were fanked and ovcrpowered by
numbers, did they yield inch of ground to the
invaders, and not until the bridge seen on fire
in their rear, with certain death or capture
before them, did a man leave his post. 1t was
here that Col. Peter Maet was wounded, CALAMITY
leading his men, and where he and Col Radcliff.
with some 400 of their commands were CAPTURED
Gen Evans, with his remaining force, retired be-
yond the town, few miles, the enemy taking nos
session, in consequence Of failure to burn the
bridge. They burned only two houses-the drug
store and house adjoining, but they stole every
thing possible and destroyed hing too heavy
to carry away. Negro and white mems PROPERTY
was subjected to the same fate There was no
public property in town except a few old wagons,
and them they partially destroyed, together with
the Geographic wires and posts for about two miles
from town. 1t is evident they did not have much
relish for another encounter with Evans and
hence they Iecrossed The Neuse ON Monday. burn
ing the bridge and placing the river between him
aud them. forgot To lay that on Sunday Col
, Rogers Regiment n, G. troops, reached kinston,
and was tof med on the bank Of the river about
midway between the town and the bridge, short