Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1863-06-04
from the Raleigh Progress.

Particulars of the Gum swamp Affair.
EDrToR PRoGREss Dear SIR IL propose to give
you the particulars OF the recent fight at Gum Swamp
Gum Swamp crosses the railroad some nine miles
Southeast of Kinston At this point also the Dover
road crosses the railroad. Several days preceding
the fight, the 56th N. c. T., COL Faison, sent to
Gum Swamp on Ipicket. His headquarters were just
this side, the Dover road On the other side of the
Swamp are earthwoks for Infantry, while on this are
earthworks with embrcsure for piece OF artillery
COL Rutledge with the 25th n. G. L, and section OF
STAIRS battery held Wises Fork, four miles in
of the Swamp, as support to the regiment do
ing picket. Col. FaisOn had his pickets more than
mile to his front and left, and nearly two miles up
the Swamp the right. On the afternoon of Thurs
day, the 2lst, intelligence was brought by scouts of
the approach of the enemy. Our Colonel Immediately
doubled the pickets liz front and on the right flank
and sent about half the regiment into the trenches
lest tie enemy should attempt surprise at night.
About dawn, the next day, our plckets were driven
in. Between and a. w., the enemy formed hue
of battle in fon ard shortly thereafter attacked
u.s. After brief fight of half hour, they retired
Stacking, but still keeping up their fire. for about an
hour, when they renewed the attack but after a
short fight retired as before. From this time until
nearly IL o'clock, desutory fire was kept up on
both Sides We firing at every Yankee body Of
Yankees that appeared in range. and they whstlihg
their bullets close around COL Faison and Others who
were con tnualy passing up and down the lines fur
nlshIDG tine marks to their sharpShCOterS who were
concealed in the bushes or behind trees. As as
the presence of artillery with the enemy discovered
Col Faison sent to COL Rute1ge asking him to move
down to his support with The Goth and pisce of artl
lery T bis COL Rutedge did, arriving about O'Clock.
LEAVING his reg ment ths other side OF the Swamp,
he came into the breastworks in front. The evident
hesancy on the part of the enemy in front struck
the attention of COL Faon and led him to suspect that
the enemy were endeavoring to flank him. He there
fore sent three companies the right reinforce the
.IYctcf from n
eyond them to give information Of any movement OF
the enemy in that quarter. They reported, however,
everything quiet. Between and 10 o'c,ock, firing
heard Immediately In cur rear. Col Fnlson went back
TO learn the cause When he reached the inner breast
works, be saw the enemy coming down the Dover road
fr the direction OF klnston lie came back and ordered
the cumpaits in front, (six in numher to follow him he
led them up the railroad order to pass through the
envy and unite with the 25th at the next crossing Of the
railroad, threefoul tbs OF a mile IN the rear. As
soon the enemy in front leave the breaswoks,
they closed n upon US, firing voey after vosy the
rail and D.ver roads, while the three regiments which
had gained poured destructive fire from front
and lett into the little column it moved steadily up
the railroad The enemy had already gained the breast
works this side OF the swamp, capturing the pieces OF
artillery there and used the works against pass
ed within 40 yards OF them. The fire for bait hour
was exceedingly severe. Oar men keeping in ranks and
perfectly COOL reurel the fire aud loaded and Fl ed as
advanced. Marching distance up the railroad
Col. Fason saw Col! RutIedge, with Of his companies
General r 1nsom, who had arrived just before the
Yankees discovered Ia rear had csc pped to-
wards Knstop, leaving olders for the 25th to save
themselves, which they did, five companies which we're
staff oned south OF the railroad escaping through the
swamp the left, the three With Col Rutledge on The
railroad through that he right The expected juno
ton being impossible, Colonel Faison ordered his
companies into the swamp along with the three of COL
Rutedge. The enemy were so close upon on
all sides that lost 49, most of them supposed to be
captured and many wounded. We now know of but
IA wounded among them 1t. d. s. Ray or Orange,
mortally. The behavior OF the officers and men en-
gagged deserves the highest praise. 1t aglOrious
sight to see three or four hundred, who having
fought the enemy for four hours in front, marched
under tour fires to meet an enemy in the rear many
times their numbers, with steady step and in as
good order as though drill But most conspicuous
was the galantry of COL FaisoD as he directed their
movements. His love him for bis cool courage If
for nothing else.
The unfortunate results OF this aflir are nothing
more than might have been expected Col. Faison |
had often expressed bis dsapprobaton of keeping any
other than cavalry picket at Gum swamp; because,
the swamp be crossed at any point, AMI it is i'm
possible for picket force TO extend its tanks far
to meet the enemy at any poat he may select or bis
crossing without weakening too much the force at the
station ITSELF In this instance, the enemy crossed with
three regiments, some miles to right, retaining
three 10 front to hold our attention there.
he firing on both sides was uninterrupted, with the
exception OF half an hour, from 27 to 10 3d. A. M
live hours. Had COL Rutledge and his Regiment be- n
permitted to remain and fight he and they wished
DO, until could make junction with him. the result
would probably have been different. The order for
their retreat compelled oar retreat ard qQcnt loss
Getting around the Yankees by passing through the
swamp we met renforcemtns four miles below Kius
ton. The enemy driven before u.s. Gen. Hill! car
lying Us by next afternoon to their entrenchmehts,
niles from Newbern, where sent them with seventeen
pieces of artillery, Yours sruiy,
AN EYE WITNESS.
We continue our extracts from Northern papers OF
The Goth inst
vALL4ANDIGHAM.