Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-03-21

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! speed, under cover of the darkness, made
| good their escape Sergeant Putnam soon
reported from the left that he had found the
camp, and that the enemy had fled The
skirmishers were now drawn in, and Co. X,
under Lieut.. Forbes, ordered to pursue the
rebels. But after following nearly quarter
OF a mile, and perceivng that they would
not make stand, and in fact were not to be
found, they returned to the camp, which was
riiicd and destroyed, with a right good will.
Their company tents, several log barracks,
quantities of new knapsacks, several boxes of
new clothing besides arms, ammunition, and
the personal effects of the men, with the mus
ter rolls of the two companies here encamped,
thus fell into our hands. All that could not
be conveniently carried away was committed
to the flames. From the rolls, it appeared
that the infantry force at this camp consisted
Of 100 effective men, of the 45th North Caro-
lima troops, Colonel Morehead commanding.
Our forces were then concentrated and
marched back to our place of bvouac, where
they arrived by o'clock A. NJ. on Saturday,
having accomplished march of sixteen miles
at least, one OF it being at double quick, and
that, too, after marching eighteen miles the
day before.
1t seems little short of a miracle that not a
man Of the 25th regiment received scratch,
though they were under fire an hour and a
hall. 1t was bold and risky movement, re-
qnirng far more pluck than if the enemy
could be seen, though the danger of being hit
by their bullets was propOrtionally diminish
ed. Both officers and men behaved like true
soldiers, and deserve all the praise that can
be awarded to forttude, bravery, and steadi-
ness under fire. The cavalry charge was
splendid, and sustained the high reputation of
the 3D. New York regiment. In fearlessness
and dash they 'can't be beat
DIR. Mecorney, assistant surgeon of the 25th,
accompanied the expedition, and dressed the
wounds of Capt. Jacobs men. Five prison.
ers were taken, several horses and mules, and
a variety Of camp equipage The house oc-
cupied by their cavalry reserve was burned
and the flames were reddening the sky within
twelve miles of Kinston itself, while our weary
but iubilant troops were leisurely marching
back to rejoin their associates at the Trenton
| fork.
We lay here quietly through the day and
night, watching the movements of the enemy.
Our cavalry auxilaries lett US and returned to
town. Being now wholly unsupported, we
pushed out single company upon each road,
holding the enemy at bay, and thus masking
our own force. Occasional shots were inter-
changed with hostile scouts during the day,
and private Seagrave OF Co. II had the top of
his cap perforated with rifle ball, but no one
received personal injury. The next day.
Sunday having communicated with Tren-
ton, and found that Gen. Prince, who was
there the day before, had left again, Col
Pickett received orders from town to fall
back behind the blockade. We did so qui-
city, and we bivouaced mt the Pollocks-
vile forks, threw out pickets and awaited fur
Their orders. There we lay till Sunday after
a noon, when flag of truce from the rebels
i came down to our line. We exchanged civil
= tiles with them, gave them of the best of our
coffee and provisions according to the laws OF
! war, took their letters and messages, got
e late Richmond paper and sent them back
II again. They talked rather dctianty but al
!, lowed thaI tney weIC pvTIUUty sur sJrised two
nights before. One of their sergeants de.
cared that he worked Fright smart on the
gi9 We had ,qaPtprGd and h.
: able request tor him to make, but which we
respectfully declined.
= Up to Sunday night the weather had been
: perfect, and we slept as well under the holy
g watchers that meeky bent over us from the
/ azure heavens, as we ever did upon canoped
- couch at home. But this evening the distant
muttering thunder, which We at first mistook
TOR the roll OF artillery, came nearer and bel
/. lowed louder, until at midnight it cracked
and echoed about our heads most teartullv.
The floods came and the winds blew But we
had no houses TO be undermined, and thanks
to our rubber blankets. our persons were toll
erably well protected On Tuesday at two
. o'clock p. NJ, orders came for the regiment to
return to town. In an incredibly short time
the men fell into line, and although the mud
reminded one forcibly of ''Bidad the Shoe
height, and Of 'kneehigh- vet our bows
went throught as gay as larks, and were never
more cheerful in their lives The woods
rang with GLORY Hallelujah," ''Pet Lambs"
and marching along making the time pass
| merTlly, until, at p. NJ, we arrived in camp.
Here the 46th and the 9TH Mass, who are
brigaded with us, and encamped very near
received us with rounds of cheers and the
music of the bands and drum corps. ra-
ton of whiskey was Immediately served, over
which each one seemed willing to place
an exterior body-gdard. Our quartermaster
Brown, prince of Q. Ms, had every tent
: warmed and full rations ready. And thus
, ended III joy and delight our five days expe-
dition, with the usual good-luck of the grand
old 18th, who never complain of hard fare or
short commons, and never get killed in action
S if they are smart enough to strike the enemy
e first Among all the regiments and batteries
: that went out on either side of the Trent at
about the same time, we do not learn of any
: tgtng except our brilliant little action in the
3, early morning of the 18th inst, for planning
: and executing which our cool and clear
q headed Col. Pickett deserves special praise.
If good number of us had been killed, it
Il would doubtless have been more satisfactory
!. to the country. But it was our singular for
4 tune to go into great danger, and do our whole
= duty, and to escape unframed We bow TO
our destiny.
Capt. Fitzgerald of Gen. Fosters staff, ac-
companied us, and by his gentlemanly cour-
tesy and wise counsel greatly aided and
cheered us.
l close this long letter by saying that
all the troops have returned that started in
various directions at about the same time
Onslow county has been overrunas far as New
river, but no resistance has been offered and
no force of the enemy has been discovered
A new and larger expedition has been dis
patched to Hyde county to sweep off the gu
errillas that lnfest that region. Newbern is
quiet, Roanoke is not taken, and all await
news from Port Royal with GREATNESS anxiety
Yours truly, Co. Q.
MARCH IA, 1868.
p S-This is the anniversary of tho hattIa