Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-01-02
ioFffidtiifxiI,:.REri'6RT OF THE FIGHT. IL NoRTH
1 =, . CAROLINA go: !.
Gen. scoGFEn, ~ w. ).
=, ,v.1 HTADeulEiiEiERs .Goipsn0noh, n, e.; [;
:; 80 : - December 20. 1882 :

L : = o..
l.. ,v.t. HIADeUARrEks .GoLRsDgno', NJ "; I; i:
IL q, =. = .UccemooE ~: looz.:) -
Gen s., CooPER, :. = -. - -: y .
Adiltant and Inspector. General Richmond, va.
have ;the honor to enclose copies If the
of. Bf;oadier Generals. Evans, Robertson and
iSgmsn: irving an account of the various Affairs with
In This vicinity in their recent bridreburning
and nillieine expedition. from Ne.bern: Ne
% Biigader General Evans with two Thousand 2O0O).
msn:6eld them in, check at Southwest Creek beyond
K1ston on tho thirteenth and on the fourteenth de-.
layed their advance for some time and succeeded in
winphis force with small loss to the eft bank
of tho Nense Rivera Kihston lilo held them at bay
until when they advanced on.the opposite side
of the river and made an attack htehall bridge,
about eighteen u.s. miles below GoldsLoro ia which;
we're driven back BY General Robertson, with So
Yereloss. '''-f 49," -
Small reipforcements arrived from Petersburg and
Wilmington on l5thA one regiment Of which was;
placed III position to cover the RAILROAD bridge
Neuse near this place. A battalion OF artillery which
hadmade successful the works of the OBJ:
srGctions below KihstonS after the enemy occupied the
latter point in force vas stationed on this side OF the
river at the raroad bridge, and, about half mile
above, at the county bridge On the 18TH regiment
arrived from wilmington and one from both
placed under Gen. Clingmans command to project the
ltwO'Dridges:. :. - = : - "a
On the morning of the It'll having no cstlry, and
being unable. obtain information by other Iaeansli
directed
with two brigades and five pieces of artillery, 70
make reconnaissance for the purpose :of
the position and numbers ;of len Evans
brigade had then reached Goldsooro 6y ra and re;
mdnng board only awaited the clearing 81 the
anu watering OF 'ne ~ MY; y. ra 70 .ie P9
sitiOi already occupied BY General Clingman with his
three regiments, about one mile and half beyond the
railroad bridge The capaeiy'of the wateranks being
Inadequate for the amount Of accumulated
here at that time, the cars until after
o'clock Tor want OF water; pending which the enemy
aupelre0 in force before CngmanS three regis
ments and he withdrew acrossthe county bridge 70 this
side of the river The artillery Of the enemy was play
Ing upon tho ralrodd bridget and Evans brigade had at
last to move forward blythe county road, and cross II
ut all. the bridge ahalfnile above the railroad - =.
About two o'clock in the afternoon one bold and
d,rno incendiary succeeded in reaching the bridge
anil Covered by the wing wall Of the abutnent lighted
famc which soon destroyed the supetsrctufe, leay:
ing the inasbhty abuniens and pier intact AT that
Tnnd were hourly eSpected. 81. II s.. r9''i
T. vas verv mnoFtant for ,s now 70 save the county
brijye the only means remaining Of crossing the river
IN Sis vicinity Evans and ;Ci6rman,s brSades were
nrasod N cross snnnor,ed byPsIiurewi. bSgae. and
,%o W;ssiss;nn SrjgsSe lust In was ordered Ia
move mo forward At once. = d.
Tbs enemy were driven back poaitiop. on
tho Inc OF the railroad Lu. on teness
or te hour the nature of the ground and the fact that
our artillery cavalry and Of the reinforce