The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1865-03-18
From SchOfleld's Army.
Correspondence Cincinnati Commercial
GEN Cox's HEADQUARTERS, J
NEAR KINsToN. March 9

GEN CoXs HEADQUARTERS,
NEAR KENsToN, March 9
Gen COr's Advance lOithin t0elpe nailes Of
RinstOn-An Engagement at South-tOest
Crsek-Rsb<Ls Reinforced By s. D. Lees
Corps, of Hoods Army-D. IL Hall in
Command
The grand campaign in North Caro-
lima has fairly opened, and "a the col
umns of veterans marching under the
stripes and stars penetrate the interior,
the quakings of the Confederacy be-
come more and more violent. With
Sherman in the western, and Schofeld
in the eastern portion of the State, ads
vaneing in columns, sweeping the coun-
try of everything necessary TO subsist
an army, the people of this State will
surely realize all the horrors of the war
they have been instrumental in ineug
urating
The army Of Beaufort, under Major
General Cox, rests tonight within few
miles of Kinston, and almost within
sight of the Necse rivee, Their march
from Newbern has been rapid and al
most without interruption Through
the dense pitch-pine forests, that line
the roads from Newbern to the interior
they have forced their way, overcoming
every obstacle, penetrating swamps
crossing creeks and ponds-the men
struggling on with their loads over the
sandy roads that are here to be found
With but little transportation, scarcely
sufficient to transport necessary hos
pital stores, this army has moved stead
| ily forward, until its advance guard
halted almost within range of the Neuse
river.
At this point, as we telegraphed you
this morning, the advance was for the
first time contested, and spirited little
engagement was the result. AS the
State of North Carolina is undoubtedly
to be the scene of the most gigantic
operations that our armies have yet
participated in, we would remind your
readers of the necessity of a careful
study of that country, that these Oper-
ations may be better understood and
appreciated At the point of the en-.
gagement yesterday, the Neuse river
turns and courses nearly east and west
Running into this river some eight
miles below Kinston, coursing in a di-
rection nearly due north and south, is
the Southwest Creek, q deep little
stream, with banks lined by gum
swamps. On the east bank of this
Creek, at Jackson's Mills, on what is
known as the Dover road, our advanced
pickets were stationed on the morning
of the 9Th Some distance in the rear
of this, and just beyond Wise's Corners
1.-THE junction of the Dover and British
roads,) the division Of Brigadier Gem
eral Carter was in position. Further
to the right aud beyond the railroad,
was the division of General Palmer
Between these two divisions was a gap
of about one mile. In rear Of this gap,
and in reserve, was the division Of
Brevet Major General Ruger.
At daylight on the morning of the
Sth the rebels, under D. II. Hill, six
regiments strong, crossed from their
works on the west bank of the creek,
and with creditable vigor attacked, in
rear ard flank, our outposts, driving
them IN with some confusion. These
troops we're detachments from the 18th
New York cavalry and 18th COnnecti-
cut infantry, both old regiments but
filed with conscripts. Unprepared for
such visitors they came back in haste,
not without offering some resistance
however, but with the loss Of quite q
number IN prisoners and some In killed
and wounded One piece Of Battery l,
New York Artillery, sent out to sup
port the skirmishers, was here cap
tured. General Carter, taking 200 men
from the 17th Massachusetts, and, as
sisted by Major 0ratz, of his staff gal
iantly charged and recaptured the
piece. The horses, having al been
shot and the men too hasty ia their re-
treat to bring of the piece By hand, IL
was again captured and is still in their
possession. General Carter perceiving
that his men were not offering that re-
sistance that was desirable, dismounted,
and taking command Of such portions
of the 18th New York cavalry as were
present rallied them and succeeded in
| Temporarily checking the rebel ad-
vance While thus engaged his horse
vas shot and the General himself mar
rowiv escaped. While these events
were transpiring, Generals Sehofeld
and Cex arrived on the field, Gen. Cox
at once making such dispositicns e. the
necessities demanded
General PalE1er was ordered to close
70 the left with his command, while
| Gen. Ruger was brought from the re-
serve 70 push out through the gap be-
tweeus Generals Carter and Palmer.
While these dispositions were il pro-
ersss, the rebels, finding the gap,
poured their skirmishera through i,