Newbern progress., 1863-01-24

start Win, was unwilling 10 sacrlilce my men
and waited for my artillery to cross. l ordered
batteries E and |, Third New York Artillery
to shell the woods with their twenty FOUNDER
PARROTS, from the opposite bank, and crossed
e Col. Amory's brigade with all despatch; but
before could attack, the enemy had retired,
and, it being by this time night l was unable
to pursue, and, moreover, my object was &C
complished. The troops bivouacked in the
fields beyond the town that night provost
guard was established for the protection of the
town, and all necessary precautions were taken.
| sent Company K. Third New York Cavalry,
down the Neuse to a 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
Zne-the two heavy guns, one eight inch
columblad and one thrtytwo FOUNDER which
the men were unable to remove. Captain
Cole destroyed the magazine and brought off
iour field pieces complete. Besides these, we
had two others, deserted by the enemy, and
the one taken by the Ninth New Jersey l
left strong guard in the town, under Major
FItZSimT1onS, to make q demonstration on the
Goldsboro road on that side of the river. Col.
Ledlie, Third New York Artillery, remained to
destroy commissary and quartermasters stores
and to burn the bridge. Major Fitzsimmons
advanced some nine miles in the direction of
Goldsboro, when, hearing the whistle of To-
connective, 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 Kinsten, destroyed a
locomotive, q railroad Monitor &c.
l advanced without opposition to within
three and a half miles of Whitehall, when
halted for the night. l sent Major Garrard
with three companies of cavalry, to make a
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 ef
fectually.
The next morning Q6th) I ordered Major
Garrard, with five companies, Third New York
Cavalsy, and one section of artillery, (rwenty-
third New York; to proceed to Mount Olive, a
station on 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 a mile He then pros
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
the other side, and this being the direct road
to Goldsboro, determined to make q strong
feint, as if to rebuild and cross. The Ninth
New Jersey and Colonel Amory's brigade were
sent forward and posted on the bank of the
river 10 engage the enemy. l then ordered up
several batteries and posted them on 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 deeming my
object accomplished, moved the command for
ward towards Goldsboro, having sharpshooters
in the rear to continue the fight We bivou-
acked that night eight miles from Goldsboro,
encounterng no further oppositio..-
On the morning of the 18th 1 advanced on
Goldsboro. l ordered Major Fitzsimmons, with
two companies of cavalry to make a feint in the
direction of Dudiey's Station and Everettsville
They scattered small force of enemy there in
every direction, burned two trestework culverts,
train of four railroad cars water sta
ton, depot, &c, rs well as some small arms which
they not able to carry oh, 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 cavery |
and one section of artillery, to make feint in |
the direction of bridge over the Neuse our
right, called Thompson's Bridge. He found the |
enemy in force, supposed to be one reg iment of
infantry and four pieces of artillery, and the |
bridge already burned then directed, in order |
to make the feint more complete and to further |
distract the enemy, one regiment (Forty-ihird
Massachusetts, and Angels battery (Third New |
York artillery to the support of the cavalry and
to engage the enemy, which they did, silencng,
after hours brisk engagement. the enemy's |
fire.
Col Lees brigade was in the advance of the |
main column, and came upon the enemy in small
force On the edge of the woods lining the rail.
road track. Riggs battery (Third New York |
artillery were placed in position and opened up
OH them, " hen the enemy retired
The 9th New Jersey were ordered to strike the
railroad track and follow it up direct to the bridge
which they were to burn. Three regiments of
Col. Lees brigade ordered to their support
(27th, 25th and Sd Mass }. The remaining reg
ment was thrown the left protect our flank
in that quarter. General Vessels brigade was /
advanced and formed on the hill overlooking the
track, &c. Three regiments thrown to the
eft and the remaining regiments in line, to be
available at any point My artillery was brought
forward and placed in position firing to the front
and left, principal y at the bridge. The enemy
replied with artillery from the other side of the
liver.
Col, Hickman advanced steadily up the track
lighting the enemy's infantry posted at the
bridge. and receiving fire from the artillery in
Monitor car, on the track of the bridge. After
wo hours he reached the bridge, and under
heavy fie Lieut.. Graham, 23d New York battery.
acting ald-de camp to Colonel Hickman, fired
he bridge All who had attempted it were
picked off as was wounded Lieut.. b. N. Mann,
18th, Mass, who accompanied him.
1 brought all my artillery to bear to prevent
my effort to the bridge, and when the fire
vas doing its work ordered countermarch for
New bern, leaving Col Lees brigade TO form the
ear guard. Col. Lee forming his brigade
o leave The field deerDing the fight over, when
lree regimental celors were seen across the rail-
-oad track, the men protected by the embank~
nent on which the track was laid Col. Lee
placed Morrisons battery in position and recalled
MS regiment to line. The enemy advanced with
cheers the railroad steadily in line upon
Col Lees brigade Morrison's battery opened
on the advancing line with spherical case. which
lid good effect; but they advanced steadily un-
il within three hundred yards of the battery,
where, unable TO stand the fearful loss they were
sustaining from the battery, they broke and re-