Newbern progress., 1863-01-21

batteries L and l. Third New York artillery
to shell the enemy with their twenty FOUNDER
PARROTS, from the opposite bank, and crosses
II Col. Amorys brigade with all despatch but
before | could attack the enemy had retired
and, it being by this time night, | was unable
o to pursue, and moreover, my object was &C
complished. The troops bivouacked in the
fields beyond the town that night, provost
guard vas established for the protection Of the
town, and all necessary precautions were taken.
sent Company X, Third New York cavalry,
down the NeuSc, to work commanding the
river They reported it deserted, with six
guns in position, and the work to be of great
strength. | sent the company back with teams
to bring up the guns and blow up the maya
zine-the two heavy guns one eight inch
columbiad and one ty-two-pounder which
the men unable to remove. Captain
Cole destroyed the magazine and brought off
four field pieces complete Besides these, we
had two others, deserted by the enemy, and
the one taken by the Ninth New Jersey. |
left a strong guard in the town, under Major
FtzSilnmons, to make demonstration on the
Goldsboro road on that side of the river. Col.
Lcdlie, Third New York artillery, renamed to
destroy conmissary and quartermasters' stores
and to burn the bridge. Major FitZsimmoRs
advanced some nine miles in the direction of
Godsboro, when. hearing the whistle of a loco
motive he fired three shots in the direction of
the sound, upon which the train Immediately
returned in the direction of Goldsboro. Col.
Ledlie before leaving KiAston, destroyed
/ locomotive, railroad Monitor, &c.
l advanced without opposition to within
three and half miles of Whitehall, when |
halted for the night. l sent Major Garrard,
with three companies of cavalry, to make
reconnaissance to Whitehall. He found one
regiment and four guns on our side of the
bridge over the Neuse; but they quickly re-
treated as he approached, firing the bridge
effectually.
The next morning Q6th) 1 ordered Major
Garrard, with five companies, Third New York
cavalry, and one section of artillery Crwenty
third New York; to proceed to Mount Olive, a
station the Wilmington and Weldon rail-
road, fourteen miles below Goldsboro In
passing Whitehall, en- route for Mount Olive
his command was fired upon from the opposite
side of the river He placed his guns in posi-
ton and returned the fire till the main column
arrived, when he limbered up and proceeded
towards Mount Olive, which point he reached
without opposition. Here he destroyed the
railroad track for about mile. He then pro
ceeded along the line of the railroad for four
miles, and destroyed the bridge over Goshen
Swamp. The track between Mount Olive and
the Goshen Swamp bridge was torn up and
burned in five places.
The column having arrived at Whitehall, |
and finding the bridge burned and the enemy
in some force, with infantry and artillery on
to Goldsboro determined to make strong |
feint as if to rebuild and cross. The Ninth
New Jersey and Colonel Amory's brigade were |
sent forward and posted the bank of the |
river to engage the enemy. l then ordered up
several batteries and posted them a hill
overlooking the enemy's intrenchments. They |
opened, and silenced, after an hours firing, |
the enemy's guns.
The enemy still maintained their admirable |
position with sharpshooters but deenling my |
object accomplished moved the command fer |
ward towards Goldsboro, having sharpshooters
in the rear to continue the fight. We bvouack- |
ed that night eight miles from Goldsboro, en- |
countering no further opposition.
On the morning of the 18th advanced on |
Goldsbsro. I ordered Mar Fitzsimmons, with |
two companies of cavalry to make a feint in the |
direction of Dudleys Station and Everettsville, |
They scattered small force of enemy there in |
every direction, burned two trestework culverts,
destroyed train of four railroad cars, water sta
ton, depot &c, well as some small arms which |
they were not able to carry of, and captured a
flag of the enemy. They then returned by a
short cut to the main column. l also ordered |
Major Garrard, with four companies of cavelry |
and one section of artillery, to make feint in
the direction of a bridge over the Neuse on our
right, called Thompson's Bridge. He found the |
enemy in force, supposed to be one regiment of |
infantry and four pieces of artillery, and the |
blidge already burned l then directed, in order |
to make the feint complete and to further
distract the enemy, one reg iment (Forty-third
Mas achusetts) and Angels battery CFhird New |
York artillery to the support of the cavalry and
to engage the enemy, which they did, silencing, |
after an hours brisk engagement. the enemys |
fire.
Col Lees brigade was in the advance of the
main column, and came upon the enemy in small
for .e on the edge of the woods lining the rail- |
road track. Riggs battery (Third New York
artillery were placed in position and opened up
on them. when the enemy retired
The 9th New Jersey were ordered to strike the
raj fr3c follow direct bridge |
which they were to burn. Three regiments of
Col. Lees brigade were ordered to their support |
(27th 18th and Sd Mass }. The remaining reg
iment was thrown on the left to protect flank |
in that quarter. General Vessels brigade was
advanced and formed on the hill overlooking the
track, &c. Three regiments were thrown 10 the
left and the remaining regiments III line, to be
available at any point My artillery was brought
forward and placed in position. firing the front
and left principal at the bridge. The enemy
replied with artillery from the other side of the
river.
Col. Hickman advanced steadily up the track
fighting the enemys infantry posted at the
bridge, and receiving fire from the artillery in
Monitor car, on the track of the bridge. After
two hours he reached the bridge, and under
heavy fie Lieut.. Graham 23d New York battery,
acting AS a'd-de camp to Colonel hickniap' hred
the bridge All who had attempted it were
picked off, wounded Lieut.. b. NJ Mann,
18th, Mass, who accompanied him.
l brought all my artillery to bear to prevent
any eflOrt TO save the oFluEe, anu "heil Lhe ME
was doing its work ordered counterniarch for
New bern, leaving Col. Lees brigade 10 form the
rear guard. Col Lee was forming his brigade |
to leave the field. deeming the fight over, when
three regimental celors seen across the rail
road track, the protected by the embank~
ment on which the track laid Col Lee |
placed Morrison's battery in position and recalled
his regiment to line. The enemy advanced with |
cheers across the railroad steadily in line upon +
Col Lees brigade Morrison's battery opened
on the advancing line with spherical case, WHICH !
did good effect but they advanced steadily ua
til within three hundred yards Of the battery, |
where, unable TO stand the fearful loss they were
sustaining from the battery, they broke and re-
treated. Their retreat WAS unexpectedly covered
by masked battery in the woods on our left /
Belger's Rhode Island battery, which had been
brought back, opened iu reply to the battery and
Ii view SInnnrtIur