Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1863-01-09

elias.
HEApaUERrEEs, qoLDsBoRo, n. C.,
Dscsmber %, 1862.
esssIal s. Cooper, Asjutant sad Inspector General,
Rohnoad, Va
GENERAL: have the honor 70 enclose copies Of the
reports Of BrEGen Evans, Ro3srtson and Clingman,
ssng an account Of the vaFious affairs with the enemy
y Us vicinity II their recent bridgs burning and pillas
ing expedition from NeEburn.
brlg Zen Evans, with two thousand GOOD men, held
tsni 10 oheck st Southwest creek beyond kuston,
the l5th and the 18th delayed their advance for soe
ue ana succeeded in withdrawing his force wish SINAI
loss to the lsft bank Of the Neuse liver Kinston. he
o mem A. bay until the l6th when they advanced on
ne ne opposite side Of the aud made attack On
~ hIssnAh bridge about eighteen miles below Colds
son, with severe ioss.
Small reinforeemsnts arrived from Petersburg snd
Hiiningten, on The i5rh, one regiment Of which was
placed IN pesto to the railroad bridgs over the
Neassi near ts place battalion OF artillery, which
hsd made successful Fetrsat from the works Of the
obstructOns below Einsoa after the enemy occupied
'e latter point IL force stationed on this side Of me
riYer' At he railroad bridge and about hall NILE
aooFe g tbe eeEnty bridge. On the 18th reg naehi
szr.Yed rom Wilmington, and one from Petersburg,
ooth e which were to the right bank Of the river
Sna placed mder Gen. Clingmsns conmandi 70 proteci
the two bridges.
On ths morning Of the 17sh. having no cavalry and
being unable 70 obtain information by other means,
directed Lieut. Col Stevens Of the Enginssr with two
OIlgades and hys pieces Of ar ilery make areean-
noissance for he purpose Of ascer aiming the p5it
aud numbers Of the enemy. Gen Evans brigade had
then reached GodsborO BY rail aud remaining on bear
the engines TO BY rail to the position already
euped ~ Gen. ChngmEn with his three regiment about
one mile and haH beyond the Tailroa bridge. TIE
eApeeJ q the water tanks being inadequate Tor tne
amount of trsnspo aon seeuutsd here a. that time
me cars were delayed until alter u o'clock for want Of
ssteI pending which the enemy appeared in force be-
lore Cen ClDgmsna three regn ents, and he withdrew
sioss tae country bridge to this side Of the river The
aftlsrT OF the enemy playing upon the railroad
brIdge and Evans brigade had at last to move forward
oy the country road, and eg0ss if Al al the bridge
half nile shove the railroad
00HaF, III A. fs.o
ineendary Succeeded In reaching the bridge and cover
Cd by the wing walls OF the abutment, .iightd flame
"nien soe2 destroyed the sapertrueture leaving .e
masonry abutnents spd pier intact At that ane rein
torcements which had ordered from Ricnmond were
hourly expected
Il very important for as now 70 save the county
bridges the only remaining Of crossing the river
in this vicinity Evans and CngmRn's brigades we're
ordered cross supported BY Pettgreys brigade End
the AlsssHppi brigade Just coming N, was ordered 10
meve forward.
The enemy were driven back from fheir position on
the line Of the railroad but account Of the tene
Of the hour and the nature OF the ground and the fact
that artillery, cavslTy, and sFgs portion Of the
reinforeements had not yet arrived it not advisable
10 attack their second strong position ths evening
During the night the enemy made kuTred retreat to
their foreatious and guRbOats, moving with such ce-
lerity that useless to attempt pursuits with any
ether than cavalry Of which, at that tae unortu
passed over tie railroad from the Neuse bridge to
Wilmington, the 24h, and returned last night The
bridge is fast boing repaired At present. we are suO
iected to the temporary inesnvenisnce Of ts shipment
the county bridges; but very few days this
will be resdsd, and everything restored TO the former
condition.
Irsgrst that this grand army Of invasion did not
main in the interior long enough for rs to get t them
As is, they burned the sapetrueure o two bridges
which cost originally less than ten thousand dollars and
b replaced at once and hEYe utterly failed TO at
tempt TO take advantage OF the TEN POraTy md partial
interruption Of railroad line for the purpose Of
striking deeisive blow at any important point before
we could thoroughly re-establsh our Communication
with it
beg leave to call your attention to the reports OF
LeutensntColonel Stevens, Confederate States engr
neers and 70 Lieutenant Colonel Poole, IS well as %
those Of the three bragadier generals previously Rsed
Our less s reported at ssventyOne killed and two
hundred and sixty eig5t wounded, and about four aun
drsd missing M0s the latter taken prisoners at
Eiogson bridge and have since been returned paToled
am fensrsl, very respectfully your obt ssryt,
lSignedl G. ". SMITH,
AF.so- ror s45rt~