Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1863-01-09
FROM NORTH CAROLINA,


FROM NORTH CAROLINA.
HRADo'Rs s5th RRG'r Pa. VoLUxraERso
,55, :. NRwBBRX, n. c., Dec. 27, 1862
Editors Inieltgeacsr:
Thinking that letter from nm old friend
would be accepted, seat myself to pen
q lev lines concerning the 8Sth Penn
sylTauia, of which am a member. The
hrst of this month our regiment encamped
near the town of Suffolk, on the Seabonrd
and Roanoke Railroad. We had built our
winter quarters thinking we would get to
stay there all winter. Perhaps we would.
but on the 4th of this month orders came
into camp to prepare three days rations
and pack them away 10 our hAversacks,
and pack up. all necessary clothing and
leave them in camp-in all we were to be
IN light marching order. In the morning
we were walked up at four o'clock, and
took up limo Of march out on the Somer
ton road, two or three miles, stacked arms
and waited for the rest of the brigade to
come up. While we were waiting it began
to rAin,and continued all day We marched
tWentytW miles and put up for tho night.
We soou kiudled our fires aud not supper,
then we put up our shelter tents and layed
down to resti but we did not sleep much,
for the rain wet our blankets and made il
very [disagreeable. The next day We
marched ten miles, and then we put up
Tor the night, and waited for some trans.
port that they said we were to get ou.-
Now VIC began to have nn idea where we
were going, 1t Was either to Plymouth or
NeWbern. The next day we walked about
three miles through slush aud water, and
got on transports and was on them two
and half days. When we arrived at
Newbern, North Carolina, We got off Mt the
dock and marched out back of Newbern
one mile, and eneamped. Here we were
ordered to prepare three days ratious for
our haversacks, aud to take seven days
rations in our wagons and march with
Gen. Fosters army on an expedition The
next morning We took up our line of-march,
the 9th New Jersey ir the advance, then
our regiment. We took the GoIdsboro
road the first day. We came up with the
enemys picketS, drove them in and ad-
vapced on some distance, and came to n
place where the road was blockaded, and
We went into camp for the night, and sent
out pioneers to clear out the road. The
next morning wewere again on the mnrch
by daylight, but did not march far before
Maacame up With the enemys pickets =
Here our cavalry killed and captured
several gray backs.
We then went on to within eight or nine
miles of Kingston and eucamped for the
night The next day We marched on 10
within five miles of that place, where our
artillery shelled the woods, and our reCi-
ment was ordered to cut its way through
swamp. Companies B and were order
ed ont as skirmlshers, under command of
CaPts. Hooker and Phillips. They ad-
Vanced on through the swamp and engaged
tue enemy, while we were Telling timber
across the creek to get over While we
were doing this the 9Th New Jersey came
around to the left OF us and drove the reb-
els and captured one piece of artillery. We
then pushed on two miles further and en-
camPed for the night. This night we were
only permitted to build fires to boil our
coffee over.
The next morning early we started for
Kingston, but had not gone far before we
beard our skirmishers firing down in the
woods some distance in front of US, Our
regiment Was ordered on to the left of the
road, and as We passed Gen. Vessels he
said, "bOys, push them down to the river
before you stop" We were then formed
in line of battle aud advanced into swamp
where We were ordered to halt, the mud aud
water being SO deep, and the underbrusb
SO thick, that was impossible for US to ad-
vance and keep our line correct; but we
were ordered to move on slowly and keen
sharp look out on the left. Our company
had been deployed as skirmishers and was
formed on the left of the regiment. Our
Lieut.. Colonel, H. A. Purviance, was run
ming from one end of the line to the other
encouraging the men. One thing heard
him say, R R.member, boys, there is to be
n falling hapR eyifh bn
commanders as him and Colonel Howell
we knew We could fight, at least we were
willing to try.
We then advanced out of the swamps
into an open corntield, and thence into
woods aud halted. Here we could see the
Gray Backs going towards Kingston bridge
on the double quick. We were ordered to
charge, but two regiments on our right
charged at the same time, and being nearer
to the bridge than US of course was there
first. as we advanced towards the bridge
the rebels opened on US with grape and eau
lister, wounding some of our men, butthey
had to leave their artillery, which fell into
our hands. We then moved forward and
found the rebels drawn up in line of battle
back of Kingston. They did not stay to see
US, but broke and run again. We then
wentinto town Rnd the boys got plenty of
tobacco. We encamped that night one
mile back of Kingston. The next morning
we marched back across the river aud took
the road leaIing to Newbern, and arrived
here on the 2lst of this month with empty
haversacks.7 Hoping that they will soon be
rePlenished, lam yoars, etc, ]. F. Nc.
" mi
Cleveland and Pittsburgh RAILROAD.
The New York Ercning Post, in speak
So, 81 tE,n 81; !