The Cecil Whig., 1863-02-07
Battle in North Carolina.
DEFEAT OF TIE REBELS.

a severe engagement took place near the
Biackwater, in North Carolina, on Friday
last between the forces commanded by the
rebel General Prior, and the Union forces
led by General Corcoran. resulting in the
defeat of the rebels, in which our loss was
2l killed and so wounded. An army cor
| respondent gives the following account of
the engagement:
| Col. Spear. whose perfect knowledge Of
the road rendered his services invaluable to
the command, led the advance with the 1lth
Pennsylvania Cavalry.
After proceeding short distance lie
deserted a party of men drawn across the
road as if to dispute his passage He i'm
mcdiate!y dashed forward and asked, who
are YOU" A volley was the response, and
Lieut. Roper retired to make report. Fol
lett battery was then wheeled into posi-
ton, and at 20 minutes to / o clock the
action commenced i'll earnest. Then en-
sued an exhibition Of artillery practice such
as has been rarely seen in this war. For
three hours and eleven minutes this artillery
duel continued, and the service Of the guns
on both sides is said to have been unex
ccIIublc. Daring this time the enemy was
slowly giving away before the superiority of
our cannonadin.. Their pieces were ali
silenced by I clock and they had been
driven two miles from the ''d.scrted house. >
Pryor had the advantage Of position, and
the direction OF his artillery was equal 20
ours. but bis infantry and cavalry proved
no match for ours. As the enemy's battery
seemed to Gecomc weaker and weaker. Cot.
Spear advised that the time had arrived for
a charge, and General Corcorun gave the
order to advance upon the position. It
must be confessed that the ordeal was
| fearful oae for untricd troops. The only
WY 20 advance was through y sort of gorge.
with heavy timber aud swamp land Oh each
side Of tbe road. 1t was indeed entering
lie valley Of the shadow Of death for
the enemy'a cannon swept the narrow d2tiis
AS with the bosom Of destruction.
But that was the road to victory there
was no other, and along that terrible path,
way our soldiers were required to pass. -
| The moment was one Of peril. To delay
was to lose the chance Of trumph and.
Iaithough death and danger marked the
| hour, il was the time to show the bravcry
of heart and the strength e: oar noble Union
soldiers. Shame to record IT, the lG7th
equal to the emergency. Like the vcgic>t
cravcUS that ever cursed noble cause,
! nearly every man OF this regiment sknii.cd
and all were rs deaf to the calls Of their
commanding general as lhey were inscu>i-
| bic to tho demands Of patriotism and th.
| ordinary dictates of manhood.
! The delay occaaioued by the supinerrss
! Of the Pennsylvania regiment lost us the
! golden opportunity to capture a large por
ton Of the cncmys cannon and many
! prisoners Time was afforded the enemy
to RESUME his relrogade movement and take
up new position. SkirmiShing continued
for some seven miles along the road. and at
about o clock the rear guard Of the rapid
ly sAedaddlng Rebels was over taken, aud
another sharp engagement between the
infantry took place about two miles from
Cnrsvlle. Night coming on, it was not
deemed cXpcdicnt to make further pursuit.
and the cmcny was allowed to make his way
to the Bluckwatcr without interruption.