Evening star., 1863-04-09
IMPORTANT FROM NORTH CARO-
LIMA

General Fosters Tom m un; cation Gut O f.
His Prrilous Position at Little Washing.
ton-A Battle RepoI ted to Have Been Go.
ing OH There for hrer Days.
New York papers of yesterday even ng have
the following information from North Caroli-
ma, brought by the steamer Ellen S. Terry,
which left Newbern on Saturday evening last.
On the 25th ult., General Foster, with a por-
ton OF Spinola'S and Princes bri sadeS, CON
prising the Pennsylvania regiments II t'H's.
Mckibbin, Dyer, Bear the l2th N. Y. the I51th
n. \ :, and the 1st North Carolina Volunteer,
started for Little Washington On the inaeti t.,
of the Tar and Pamlioo Rivers, wnere 1ey
entrencbed themselves. In the meantime, ths
rebels erected a very powerful artery Sw III
Point, some five miles below Wtshin 1t "a,
which command the channel, Viii. at I. II
point is very narrow and runs close in Shora
Thus the communication with tn base Of sup
plies, New bern, is completely cut eff, as no
other than iron clad vessels can pass this point
Gen. Magruder, with some SO u r-o-lS, al.
tackled Fosters position from the land side, and
thus completely surrounded him.
An attempt had been made 10 shell out the
rebels, but up TO Friday, the day before the
Terry sailed, without success. The firing be-
gan on Wednesday night, and continued at In
tervals until Friday night, when it ceased
The battery at Swan Point is erect-d on
very high bluff, and no vessel can approach to
Washington nearer than eight NILS. Still the
l0lst Pennsylvania and a Massachusetts rcgi-
ment were sent on Friday from Ne wberu to
Gen. Feser, but is doubtful whether they will
rea ch him. There is, however, no anticip ,tion
of a disaster, as Gen. Foster is thought 70 be
sufficiently strongly entrenehed to hold out for
ut least a fortnight, by which time the blockade
will be raised by the Navy.
1t was understood that battle between
General Foster and the rebels had also taken
place, but the intelligence upon this point, As
no direct communication exists, was not pre-
cise. 1t was rHmorpd, through rebel sources,
that the battle had been severely contested,
ard that one of our regiments, numbering four
hundred and fifty men, had lost nearly one
hundred in killed and missing There Is no
evidence, however, that any fight had taken
place, except between the gunboats and rebel
batteries, though the sound of firing, from its
direction, it is asserted, indicated At action
bad occurred at or near Little Washington
The rebel batteries which were engaged are
five miles from that place.
1t was said at Newborn, though without
authority, that the 18th New Tsrk volunteers
had lost Is men, dead, wounded and missing,
In these fights.
The rebels are constantly sending small col
umns down to Newberu, probably with 4 v'w
OF preventing the reinforcement Of the invested
garrison The Union officers. however, place
no importance in these demons tratiOns.
The steam guNboat HurchbacIS, carrying 4
hundred-pound parrot gun, and three other
gunboats, were about getting ready to force Il.
passage of the PamiicO hut there some doubt
as TO their access, they being wooden vessels.
General Fosters means OF detcHse are de.'m I'd
ample. He occupies the fort at Little WASH
ington, besides entertainments at that place,
and has provisions and ammunition sum cipnr
for his until the rebel batteries are pa ssed
or rentorcements arrive from Suffolk. A large
reinforcement is already In transports below
the batteries, awaiting the arrival Of some force
that shall be competent 10 take them TO their
destination.
There's no doubt that G en- Fosters command
is in precarious situation. Some Of the mill
tary men who returned in the Terry tear til 1t
he and his entire command will be captured
before reiBtOrceInents can be sent to him. On
the other hand, Gen Foster is understood to be
entirely confident of his ability to sustain him
self tor the present. He had, however, it is re-
ported on good authority. previous to the erac-
ton or discovery of the rebel bdtteries-wh hose
existence, it is to be remarked, is not explained
sent to Fortress Monroe for additional naval
force.
The town OF Newbern is well protected nv
Ferris Anderson and Spinola, the former on the
Neuse, and the latter on the south side of the
Trent rivers. The latter Is garrsonrd by the
l6-th Pennsylvania volunteers drafted men,