Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1863-01-14
The Late Battles in North Carolina.

The Late battIeS In NoIsa SdHotIud.
Personnel the able and popular CORES.
pondeut OF the Charleston Courier, furnishes
that journal with an interesting narrative Of
the events connected with the war, which
have lately occurred in North Carolina. We
condense his statement as follows:
His frst letter IL dated Kirston, n. c., Dec.
25th. He says that the noble deeds of the
late campaign rebound as much TO the honor
of the Palmetto State, as any that have yet
marked the annals ofths war.
The object of Gen. Fosters advance from
Newborn was the capture Of Goldsboro', and
TO rebuild the line CT railroad between these
places, which had been destroyed by General
Evans. The information Of the advance did
not reach us in time, and consequently our
forces were divided. The enemy's move
Iuents were, therefore, uninterrupted, until
Friday, Dec. lTtb, when theJ reached Tren-
ton. Here, Major Sethercu.t, of the Par
tizan Rangers, WAS reinforced BY Col. Baker.
uith two companies OF cavalry but, owing to
some lack OF prudence, or knowledge Of III"
country, our troops found themselves sudden
" surrounded By the enemy. They cut their
way out, however, Colonel Baker being woun
ded in the ear, in this Skirmish; but tho Y
were so scattered and disorganized as to be
sf no further use during the events that fol-
lowed
Gen. Evans was, ut that time, at Green
vile; but he arrived early or Saturday NOR
ming. During his absence, ,hs chief com
nand w.s assumed by Col. Radcliffe, grad
uate of the Citadel Academy, Of Charleston,
S. C.
On Friday night, our fir line Of defence
vos formed by Col Radcliffe, On what is
known as the Southwest Greek, and which
aner running near'y parallel with the heusc
river. empti,s into i, three miles below Kirs-
Ton. This line consisted of the lTth, 22d,
uud cid South Carolina Regiments and t!!e
6lst North Carolina. The artillery consisted
Of Bunting's Battery, North Carolina; Stars
Battery, North Carolina ard Bryces Bat
terv, of South Carulna-the whole force
Numbering less than l,7GO men, with sir
pieces OF artillery, and no. cavalry enough 10
act as cour;ers while TIE eaemy's force nun
besed 10000, with 1000 cava!sy, AND ~
piacas of artilIsfy7 with all :he necessary suP
plies.
On Saturday morning, the fight waa cptn-
ea--,he enemy evidently feeling our S:ref 9Th;
o series OF heavy skirmishes enbued, the brunt
of which was borne by the 18th South Caro-
lima and 6lss North Carolina. The pressure
Of the Abolit:onists wss SO great that Our
troops he'd to fall back from Hines Mill to \
position two miles nearer town, and tub:e-
ouently to rile and a quarter nesrer the
town, where we held tie eremy in check un-
iii dark. The Holcolnhe Legion, in the mean
time, and afterwards Col. Malets Nc-:h Car
olina Battalion, COO strong. had arrived, max.
ing our whole force 2,Ol4 bayonetsi
lt~.s thought during Saturday night that
The enemy we're retreating, but Sunday NOR
ulng found them ready for the fight sgain,
which commenced BY about nine o'clock,
4. H.
The discovery Of the enemy's position hero
was duo to q woman, who signalled our troops
BIZ paving white handkerchief or other OBJ
ject to our troops, and soon after disappeared,
and was not seen again.
The battle rsged with graf fury until |
O'clock P. M., when it became necessary for
cur troops to fall back, which vas according
ly done between ! and 9 o'clock P. N.
All the regiments crossed the brid ge safely.
except the Ho!co,nbe Legion, which did net
reach it until the flames which had been ap-
piled 10 j, bu.st firth This createi some
ooatuson, and caused the capture OF our men
as follows Holcombs Legion, u; 22l S,uth
Carolina, ol 18th South Carolina 8; 23l
South Carolina, l2 maains total Of los
South Carolinians aaa between Aaliets
Battalion and the 6lst North Carolina, sone
2l2 others we're taken prisoners.
Tnese men have been parolel and sent to
Ealeisn to await an exchange.
General Evans object was, next TO make
the Neuse River his second line Of defense !;
bat in this he failed, as the enemy c1tingush.
cd the aames Of the burning bridge, and kept
up sharp 6rs along the banks ottae stream
which created some Confusion IN our ranks
and caused further retreat. Capt. Bunting
lost two of his pieces in the retreat, his horse"
ha7ing keon killed in the battle.
Our loss in the brigade here was-kilsed,
Is wounded, ss; total lo4.
Gen. Evans retired about three quarters
of mile from tho town of Kinston, where
,e formed in line of battle, on slight eleva'
ton -slled Washington Hill, the enemy's line
olbat,e occupying the town.
Te here give Persunnc's account OF .hc
demand for the surre.der Of the town in his
ownwords:
A DEMAND FOR SURRENDER.
Abelt three o'clock. while Gen. Evans was
Il l