Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1864-01-14
CAMP DErAcaMEsr, 3D. N. @. CAVALRY,

| Near GreeIVllle, N. u, an. 8, 1864.
MEssRs EDITORS :A-Having seen several statement
OF the late skrmish below Greenvile. on the Soutl
side of the Tar, all Of which incorrect especially
those written by Kinston correspondent &" of tht
Raleigh papers, l deem it duty in Justice to Majo
moore and his command to give the true particulars Of
the affair
On the night of the 30th of December 1863, Major
Fontain, OF the 57th Va Regiment, commanding this
post, received information OF the advance of the enemy
Cavalry Artillery and Infantry from Washington
lie Immediately ordered Major Moore, OF the 81 N c.
Cavalry below, with small portion of his command
consisting of small detachments of Companies q, Z,
and h, and piece of Artillery frsm Starts Battery
commanded by Lieut. Myrover to reconnoitre and fight
them necessary Major Moore proceeded about nine
~ miles below Greenvie, when he discovered that he
in the enes rear they having taken another road
| Counter marching bis command Maj Moore advance d
yery cautiously with his advance guard five hun
ded yards in front of bis command and donble vi
dette five hundred and the other thousand yards
ahead Of the guard" Suddenly both the vdette and
guar" came upon the enemy already formed to re-
ceVe Us, they having heard Major Meore's command
cross small bridge some fifteen minutes before A
portion of them had dj2mounted and ambuscaded them
selves both sides Of the road We were upon them
ere we knew it. Major Moore ordered Lieut.. Smith,
Go. o. Acting Adjutant to order the artillery
fourth Of mile to the real, but Lieut.. Smith, finding
Lieut. Myrcver already prepared for action, reported to
Major Moore, who to save the artillery ordered Lieut.
MyroVer TO hold lis piece in position having in the
tine ordered the cavalry to charge the enemy
which was instantly obeyed, Co. e, Scotland Neck
cavalry leading the charge" Maj. Moore soon dis
covered the enemy too strong for his little band, and
dered them to fall back soae in the rear of the artillery
Before the men could form in rear OF the artillery the
enemy had surrounded US from the ambuscade in the
woods, capturing the artillery, their main column
d" charging" our front. Maj Moore seeing that he
out-numbered ten to one, ordered his to draw
eli, which they did, the enemy not daring to pursue
one hundred yards The enemy, before the engagement,
had succeeded by the aid of good pilot, and from the
nature Of the country, in surrounding and capturing
our outpost pckets after considerable pursuit and with
loss of one OF their horses consisting OF three men,
Zone OF whom made his escape IN the hght) and came
ID within four miles of Greenville, 10 Rel Bank
Church, where Co. K, 57th Va, were picket duty.
They (Co. X made their escape in the woods. The
enemy burned the Church, formed in the light of the
fire, ard marched off without having but the
two guns of the vidattes fired a. them. The
others of the infantry, lying o few yards Of
concealed failing to fire into them Tor some reason
unknown, notwithstanding they had the cover OF the
woods and dark night to shelter them The enemy's
strength not less than four hundred and fifty 45O)
well m0lnted men, with picked position Our loss
was only two killed, Lieut. D. G. Camp, and Private f.
B, Ferrall three (3) prisoners from Co. o. four ~
from STAIRS Battery, and one man OF the 81 tn Va
captured at the Church, one piece OF artillery, eleVen
horses and three horses wounded With the exception
Of and two horses which we took, OF The enc
my's loss know Only what We get from the citizens
They report six killed and fifteen wounded. The enemy
admitted that iau GUY S1lilCii VIC al vi
the gaIlanry Of Lieut.. Camp and Private Ferral too
much cannot be said Lieut. Camp commanded the
first platoon and ELI leading it turiousy on to the
charge" Ferra was shot at the bead OF the column
and in the very act of striking Yankee with his
bre We their comrades and triend', r'curn
their irieparable loas, ard their names will
ever be fresh and indelbly Inscribed upon. the
tablets Of our memory. Maj Moore, from
his conduct upon the occasion, merits and receives
the fullest confidence of both and officers, as COM
AVID dor In fart all hot men
aud officers behaved with the utmost gaantry and
GOODNESS. Lieut.. Myrover and his 'noble artIerynen
standing by their gun to the very last
Had it not been for the exceeding darkness OF the
nght-so much 80 that it impossible to distinguish
friend from foe-Ro doubt but that Mai Moore would
have completely routed the entire force Having given
you this statement, trust you may correct all IAs-
representations of the affair given by kinston Cor
Respondent" any other newspaper general who like
drowning always L" catching at straws,' but
whose headquarters will always be found considerable
distance in the rear, ut least never near the of
danger T.