Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1863-01-08
oFFI0INh REFofVT on aam HI0Hr IN rep-,
CAROLENA.
HEADQUARTERS GoLpspoao', N. O.
DecembeF 20, 1862.

Z sse -
Decem6eF 20, 1852.
s6xn. 5. CoorRR,
Adjutant and Inspector General
Richmond, Va
reports on Brig. Gems Evans, Rober,soa and EIONae
giving an account OF the various sairs with the tuo
ID this vicinity 10 their recent bridge burning ard ~
laying expedition ir, m Eewberu. Pu
Brig. Gen. Evans, with two thousand men, held fb.
In check at Southwest Creek, beyond Kluston ~ *
thirteenth, and the fourteenth delayed their We
for some time, and succeeded in withdrawing his s'
with small loss, to the left bank of the Neuse Ri1o
| Kipsto3. He held them at bay until the l6h nj al
they advanced the opposite side of the rive "uG
made an attack at whitehall bridge, about siat aud
miles below Goldsboro', 10 which they were d.
back by General Robertson, with severe loss 'so
| Small reinforceDents arrived from PETERSBURG -,
Wilmington, on the l5h one regiment of which u ua
placed in position to cover the railroad h;J
over the Neuse, near this place. A hatalion !;
artillery which had made successful retreat To 20
the works of the distractions below Kinston after n
enemy occupied the latter poiut in FORCE was station
IN the side OF the river, at the railroad bridge o,S
about half mile above, at the county bridge On ~
10th, regiment arrived frem Wilmington, and ous s
from Petersburg, both of which were sent 20 the ;L
bank of the river, and placed under Gen. Cinpn5ni
command, to protect the two bridges.
Ga the morning of the 18th, having no cavalry and
being unable to obtain information by other mesno
directed Lieut.. Col Stevens Of the Engineers with f.,
brigades and five (5) pieces of artiry, to make r.
connossance, tor1he purpose of aecertainng the pi
tiOn and numbers of the enemy Gen. Evans bre.ds
bad then reached Goldsboro, by rail- ard remainirS IN
beard, only awaited The clearing OF the rak and water
! log of the engine, to move by rail toIhe position al
ready occupied by Gen. Clingman with his thr,e regi
u,ents, about one mile and half beyond the RAILROAD
bridge. The capactyef the waIer-tanks being inade
qlate for the amount of transportation accumulated
here at that time, the were delayed until after y
O'Clock for want of water pending which the euemv
| before
ments and he withdrew across the county bridge 70
this 81 lie of the river The artillery of The enemy Wss
playiog upon the railroad bridge; and Evans brigade
had tt last to move forward by the county road and
cross, at ali, the bridge halt mile above the rail
road.
/ About two O'Clock in the afternoon one bold and
daring ncenday succeed in reaching 1he bridge and
covered by the wing wall of the abuiment, lighted
fame which soon destroyed the supelstructurp leaving
the masonry abutments and pier intact AT that time
achievements which had ordered from Richmond
we're hourly expected.
1t was very important for US to save the couu.
ty bridge, the only means remaining of crossing The
river 10 this vicinity. Evans and Clingmans brgades
ordered to cross supported by Petgrews brigade
and the Mississippi brigade, just coming in, order.
ed to NOV forward at once.
The enemy were driven back from their position on
the line of tie railtoad but account of the atenss
of the hour the nature OF the ground end the fact that
artillery, cavalry and large portion OF the rein.
forcements had not yet arrived, it advisable to
| attack their strong second position that evening
During the night the enemy made hurried retreat
thir Notifications and gunboats moving with such
celebrity that it useless TO attempt pursuit with any
other arm than cavalry, of which at that time, uG.
fortunately, we had none.
passed over the railroad from the Neuse bridge
Wilmington the Oath, and returned last night The
bridge is fast being prepared. At present. sub
cel to the temporary Inconvenience OF trans pment
across the county bridges but in very few days this
will be remeded, and everything restored to the former
condition.
regret that this grand army of invasion did not re-
main in the interior long enough for US to get at them
As it is they burned The supersrucure If two bridges
which cost originally less than ten thousand dollars aud
De replaced at once, and have utterly failed 10 at
tempt to take advantage of the temporary and partial
interruption of our railroad line, for the purpose Of
striking decisive blow at any important point before
we could thoroughly re-establish communication
with it.
beg leave to call your attention to the reports Of
Lieut.. Col. Stevens, Confederate States Engineer and
to Lieut. Col Poole, well as to those of the three
Brigader Generals previously named.
Our loss is reported at seventy-oue killed and two
hundred and sxtyeigbt wounded and about four hun.
dred missing Most of the latter taken prisoners
at Kpston bridge, and have since been returned par
oled.
l am General
Very respectfully,
Your Ob't servant,
(sSgnedl g.. w. SMITH,