Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1864-05-19
From the Raleigh Confederate.

The people ought "alWays to feel grateful to u.s. for
we have been in among the soldiers end TIE bayonets
We had several motives for desiring to accompany Gen.
Hoke on his expedition to Newbern, ard having OBJ
tanned his full consent accepted the invitation of
our friend Col Jno A. Baker, and became guest of
his Headquarters.
AS his cavalry moved in front, we had full opporu
nifty of observing Gen. Hoke's dispositions and plans
We do not deem it proper to present outline OF
the movements, from which indie alton might be |
drawn Of the contemplated plan Of attack we feel at
liberty to say however, that the project OF
success ard before this day. General ioke would have
occupied Ne~bern but for the necessity which caused
his withdrawal. All his preliminary purposes were
| accomplished and the work before him was mere
matter Of time
AS it is, the enemy holds Newbetn by sat1eranco.-
Eastern North Carolina is virtually redeemed Hoke
and Ransom with the aid of their brethren from the
other States, have restored to their mother her lest
treasure and all that is NEEDED but few spare days
| to finish up the ob'
Tie first meeting with the enemy on the late exped
ton, occurred near deep Gully where Col. Lewis
commas ding Hokes brigade, ard Col. Whitord, came
upon party OF bis pickets n OF having auy force at
hand 10 drive them il, Col WhitoEd employed three
cavalry 10 loldug their pieces while be dscharg
them, and thus he engaged the enemy until III could
call forward the sharp,shooters of his comma l. These
advanced 10 the humber Of twenty, at double quick,
under the command CT Lieutenant Ohm GuiOn. ga
reaching their position tey discharged VoIcy into
the ems qs inte when the tier at CcontlGeuty
took to flight aud no candidate for Governor ever
went teas ng" down the road with fury, thon
they did before the little squad OF sharp shooters who
hung upon their tracks. lie enemy numbered about
sixty more but akc ugh tut u-e 70 three Lieut.
! Guion with hia sq1ad gave chase and ran them into
their works at r ,cky Run. ih2 affair was g2aotIy
conducted by this ing Cfi; and hS sharp shooters
o. tie Otter /, I'D we fist he foe at his wOGhs
at Evans MIL where he had bICckncuse supported
| by rcd }ubt ntng paca, elevated pci1t,
well suited 10 enable small baod to bold in check
large for all purposes Cf delay. We rode I'D witt
Gen. Hoke aud bis Staff reconnoltge, when the group
OF hor9euen attracted the mys attention. and very
pu? d smoke announced tie salute intended Tor
U.s. and aI;D ST. insantaueOueiy twelve IouLd SOLID
shot rcochetea in front at few feet above our Leld9
to seek the earth some distance IL the rear.
! IOl. Baker WIS ordered Immediately to dismouDt
skrmishers and deply them through the woods, with
| view flank the ork if deer med advisable or TO pre-
vent the attempt by sharpsho 10 pick cit cur ar
! tliteryman Rapidly Cap. Cummir s. OF Coi. Starr
/ Battalion brought two Napr0rs action, in a
open field lew hundred yards front Of the enemys
works. The latter innnt arey fred, without tfcct,
and the duel began. Tn9 battery OF two pieces IN
very lew moments by we'll directed fire, produced
CONSERVATION ia the racks, and ct this m0ntn, Col
Bakers administers haNi 6 worked their way through
the almost impossible bog, made their opPearauce.-
This than tie Yankees could stand, and these,
like their fellows, took to their heals.
! A bridge was soou placed across Bryces creek a0d
the troops passed ovlr advanced skirmisher5 hay
ing III the mean time occupied and ansacked the an
ke premises a0d possessed them OF the stores of valua
HES lett by the enemy by of his hasty Hight
! Here considerable OF commjssary supplies for
Injured late found, and the fortunate discover
ers RECALLED themselves acc0rdngy; large portion OF
them were tUuad buried n p*(caC3 OF gr0uGd ar0ul
the works. If the Yankees hope to eIQde Cur boys IN
that way, they made greater mistake for
knowing their underground dealings, these the
i very places 10 watch search would be directed
| While tiese events were going Gu: Gen bearing,
with other portions ct his brgate consisting OF Folks
n. O. regiment and offers, approached the Railroad
and commenced the work OF de3lructlyr. 1t s unne
cessary to say how much of this aCc0mpis ell
| At Croatan 5 atiol G n. D. upon body OF Van
kees numbering about sixty, ii q BlOCEhouSe, with
one piece OF artillery. He Immediately dlsmounted
his and ButrUUGdtd tpe work. Hut his command
had bayonets, being only cavalry, and the House
wes perforated for mu=kets. He therefore summoned
the garrison 10 surrender, wi;h after little pariey
it did, and the prisoners marched to tue
Gen HOke, btlug thus Ii possession ct TIE enenlyB
line of communication with Morehead City, comnen
| cet to approach-himse, lea5ing--wlth view to a
| thorough Reconnaissance. H1riDg thursday afternoon
he engaged in thi7, aud III Advancing bis lines,
which the entmy discovering Lis gunboats d sCeud
| the river and commenced furious 64e-ng
firing repeated broadsits feon their and two hut
dred FOUNDERS he total ineficPucy OF these monsters
more thOrCu y demonstrated than then ; Tor
with exposed lie fire upon, and opportunity ior
both cross and eiiaGe ire, kept up IOc oue or two
hours, they only succeeded in killing, ou5 OF several
| thousand, i've men, a ID wouDdfnS thirteen.
| Ga thursday night General HOke had matured his
plans, and had entirely succeeded in pertectIng every
arrangement and By Sunday morning looked with con-
idepce to the oc upatlon of Newoecn, with the cap
1ure of the eneEys garrison But during the night
the ecessity for lis withdrawal presented Itself aud tie
coveted prize was withheld from his hands.
The public is aware of the Cause of the situation OF
| the Abemarie," and how worthy her Commander
struggled agaiast bis hest Ct assistants. The heavy
firing Ia the Sound distinctly heard by Us, AMI
many eager eye watched the water tor the approach
| Of ely.
After he commenced to move Of, Gan. Hoke .playel
one round lor the game which nigh being sue
CESS ii demand a SURRENDER Of ten Palmer accom-
panied with prempory tOudIti0ns he startled gar
took three b. OF drlIhtration IL cQunc Of
before giving La the meantime their Cav4l
returned TO rgCOnn0itre and discovered That our
| forces Withdrawing. WheCeupUn the "pae AID
depr ssed council d. Glued TO surrender, alleging that
they thought Gen Hoke only pGacticng ruse "
The TACT is, there no !ht il their ter
apparent and vt have nc+ Golbt that forty
eight hours would have given US tie place, with bu
little LOSE Mrs. T., the W!G OF Gen. Palmer, the
only person heard Of who uudauntcd. We III
dcrstoo from re.ab source, that she had refused to
leave the city, declaring that she wished see SO.m
aid that she uit ala? ii that TIE reUel5 would
her any han even II ,hty took The pace.
We had the pleasure OF 70 etlng with Gen. Raas0m,
whose Splendid operation at Plymouth has contributed
TO the Success OF tie movement. Gen. Il. has
earned brilliant reputation aud his bIi- ade includes
fine specimens OF soldiers army b0asts.-
n. Carolina will not fail to cherish the remembrance
OF bis invaluable services Ia te projection OF
pests, aud history will Iepr Odlc3 III ting representa-
tl0n, the DESPERATE and daring charge OF his troops,
which swept Toe at Plymouth irou street to street
through his abandoned CruicatlOUs
We under great obligations to COL Baker for
his, and the extended by Lis command
We iIYeIV recollection Of