Newbern progress., 1863-01-21
official Report of sgai. Gen. Foster.
HEADQUARTERS,

GENERAL Referring to my letters of Decerr
Der 10th, 14th and goth, have the honor t
report that [ left this town at A. NJ. of tn
11,h, with tie following forces:
Gen. Vessels brigade of Gen. Peck's divi<
ion, kindly loaned to me.
Col Amory's brigade.
Col Stevenson's brigade.
Col Lees brigade.
In all about - infantry.
Batteries Third New York artillery.
Belger's battery, First Rhode Island.
Section of Twenty-four New York 1nde
pendent battery.
Section of Twenty-third Independent bat
terry, having a total Of - guns.
And the Third New York cavalry, of abou
men.
We marched the first day on the main kins
ton road about fourteen miles, when, finding
the road obstructed by fclled trees for halt 1
mile and over bivouacked for the night, anc
had the obstruciions removed during the nigh
by the pioneers.
pushed or the next morning at daylight
Ny cavalry advance encountered the enemy
when about four miles from the bivouac of The
previous night, and after sharp but brle
skirmish the enemy were routed with some
loss.
On arriving at the Vino Swamp road, l or
dered Capt. Hail. with three companies Of
cavalry, to push on up the main kinston road
as a demonstration, while the main column
proceeded by the Vine Swamp road to the left,
thereby avoiding the obstructions and the
enemy on the main road Capt Hall encoun-
tered the enemy in some force; but after a
severe fight whipped them, taking eighteen
prisoners and killing number. The march
of the main column was somewhat delayed by
the bridge over Beaver creek being destroyed.
This was rebuilt, and l pushed on, leaving a
regiment (51st Massachusetts, and a section OF
artillery (23d New York; at the bridge to hold
it, and to protect the intersection of the main
road and the road was on, to support Capt.
Hall, and to prevent any force driving him
back and occupying the crossroads IN our rear
The main column pushed on about four
miles, and bivouacked for the night. There
was some cavalry skirmishing during the day.
On Saturday, the 18th, we again started,
leaving the second main road (the one L was
on) to the right, and leaving at this intcrsec-
ton the 46th Massachusetts and one section OF
artillery (the oath New York; to hold the pc
sition and feint on the second main road.
We reached Southwest creek, the bridge
over which was destroyed, and the enemy
posted on the opposite bank, some four hun
dred strong with three pieces of artillery.
The creek was not fordable and ran at the foot
of deep ravine. making very bad position
for US. / ordered battery in as good posi-
tion as could be obtained, and under their fire
the 9th New Jersey, which had the advance,
pushed gallantly across the creek-by swim
ming, by fragments of the bridge and by
milldam-and formed on the opposite bank
at the same time the s5th Pennsylvania, OF
Gen. Vessels brigade, forced passage by
the telling of trees and ford;ng, about half
mile below the bridge, and engaged the enc
my's left, who thereupon retired and deserted
his breastworks. had ordered the Esd Mas
sachusetts. of Col. Amory's brigade, to cross
at the mill to support the 9th New Jersey, and
also crossed. the remainder of Gen. Vessels
brigade. Col. Hickman, with the 9th New
Jersey, advanced, and fired upon when
about one mile from the creek, with canister
and musketry. The regiment charged at
double-quIck, drove the enemy, took some
prisoners and captured a six FOUNDER gun,
caisson, &C., complete. General VESSEL
bvouacked on the further side of the creek,
with the 9th in advance. The balance of the
with the artillery, remained on this
side of the creek. The 9th New Jersey; Co.
K, Sd New York cavalry, and MoFrlson's bat
terry, Sd New York artillery, had quite skir-
mish with the enemy, but drove them, and
camped for the night. From the south side Of
the creek | sent a company of cavalry to strike,
and proceed up the Kinston road No. 2. l was
on No. 8. The company proceeded up the
road toward Kinston, and found the enemy
posted by bridge, which was prepared to be
ucStTCycu. L lie CO,Dpany C'ldIScu lHetI, anu
they retired with some loss, destroying the
bridge. The enemy's force at this place was
estimated at one regiment and four pieces OF
artillery. Major Garrard, with three companies
of cavalry and section of artillery, pro-
cecded on a reconnaissance on a road leading
to Whitehall. After following this road about
ten miles, and having met with no opposition,
they rejoined the main column.
Sunday, the 14th instant, | advanced the
111-bo nh Ila JOS
ton encountered the enemy in strong force.
They were posted in strong position in the
woods, taking advantage of the ground, which
formed natural breastwork their position
was secured on the right by deep swamp,
and their left was partially protected by the
river.
The Ninth New Jersey were deployed as
and Gen. Wessetts' brigade, with
Morrisons battery Third New York artillery,
were ordered to advance to the right and left
of the road, the battery being sent to our ex-
treme right, supported by one of Gen. Wes-
sells regiments Colonel Amory's brigade
was then advanced, the Seventeenth Mass,
being sent to support Colonel Hickman on the
right, and two regiments (Twenty-thlrd and
Massachusetts, advanced up, the
road. My artillery Ohree batter1es) posted
in large field on the right of the road and
about three fourths of mile in rear of line of
u Nlhe OtiJ pOSII'O'l SO''iN ~ Pi'eS~N
in.) l then ordered Colonel Stevensons bri
gade, with Beger's Rhode Island battery, for
ward. The Twenty fourth Massachusetts,
supported this battery, and the Fifth Rhode
Islam l., Tenth Connecticut and Forty fourth
Massachusetts were ordered forward, the two
former on the left of the road, and the latter
on the right, to support the regiments there IN
pushing the enemy and turning that flank.
The Tenth Connecticut advanced steadily to
the extreme front, relieving two reg. of Vessels
brigade who were short Of ammunition, and,
after receiving horrible fire for some twenty
minutes, made a most gallant charge, in con
junction with the Ninety>sixth New York
Volunteers, of General Vessels brigade
which, with the advance already made (Slowly
but surcIy) of the whole line, forced the enemy
to retreat pr-cipitately from the bridge, over
the Neuse, which they crossed, firing the
bridge which had been prepared for that pur-
pose. Several regiments were so close, how
eyer that about four hundred prisoners were