The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1871-07-01
fCoouuaea fgz last week
Incidents in Camp Iire-Eo. 2.

-
orders to reach NeEberne If possible and report the
condition Of TIE party to General P commanding
Knowing the chances Of their succeeding in getting
through the rebel lines 70 Be desperate, the messeng-
erz were given q verbal message 10 the eject that the
Lieutenant with bis men would endeATor to reach
the bank Of the Neuse river On their right, and If
boats could be xnt I'D from the naval force the party
couli escspe.
After sending Of these men, preparations we're
made for abandoning toe position Large holes we're
dug near the two guns, (the bayOnets and sabres
making capital picks and sbovels) and the ammuni-
ton from the limbers and e~assions, preserving q few
Of shell and case shot) Was piled in them, the
fuse Of the shells being cut AZ varying lengths,
cartridges packed around them and the whole ar
ranged a. a mine: loose powder was literally sprInkled
over the heap, and then all the dry wood that could
Be obtained was piled over al, ready 70 be ignited At
the proper time. The men were told on into email
parties. one 70 act as skIrmishers, another as scouts
10 20 ahead and find a road through the dense forest
that skirtsd the little creek running 70 the NeOse,
while the artillery men having only their E2bres and
pistols, were placed under Command Of their own
officer. who had his orders 10 carry cut All OF these
DISPOSITIONS being made, a council was held, and
Lieutenant B. finally decided that the men having
brought with them three days provisions, tWItbOut
which quantity no parties were allowed 10 le2Fe
eamp) il would be best 70 remain one night more IN
A1EAA - A-AS-@- - 80
the mouth Of the creek, which had been designated
as the rendezvous IN case the expedition was sent
cut. A few good men were ordered TO explore the
creeks course, and if not interrupted, 10 find their
way 70 the Neuse, and in case they discovered any
parties Of rebs TO return and report
OF the three messengers sent ont by Lieutenant b,
two we're captured, and the story gotten up by one,
(that he was a straggler who had been cut Of when
our advanced guard vas driven in) passed current,
the second one was more closely questioned, and his
answer excited 50 much suspicion, that a strong In
fantry and cavalry Srce was ordered out 20 90 over
the ground 70 the right and rear Of the rebel force.
The third reaching New Berne, lost no time IN
reporting to General P, and a request WAS sent to
the eommandant Of the naval force lying Of the
town, asking him TO ht out, and dispatch the boat
feet up the Seuse. This was done, and under cover
Of the night they moved silently past the town and
forts TO the rescue.
As the morning of the second day dawned, the
picket stationed by Lieutenant B.. on his front, came
in, aud reported a line Of skirmishers advancing
through the woods; ordering the men cut again, b.
advanced 10 the front to reconnoitre, and over a
rather open space discovered a number sof soldiers
moving forward cautiously. They we're clothed IN
the familiar light blue overcoat Of the Union troops,
and the Lieutenant's first thought was a reinforcement
or relief party had succeeded in reaching him, but,
in a moment he was undeeeived by the sharp crack
Of the rifles of the advancing force, and the IN
pleasantly close IS whirr Of the bullet by his ear;
that report was answered By a sharp fire from his
eTer-ready men, and several OF the blue coats went
down. And now, the woods in front of the little hill
swarmed with unmistakeable ." Johunie-grays and
: butter nuts and as they, in advancing. exposed
themselves more than the Union soldiers did, hidden
behind their carefally-seleeted shelter, they made but
slow work Of it. After a long half hour Of " bush
whacking,'' the FIRE of the rebs ceased, and down an
open glade was seen the hutter Of a white handker-
chief. The word was passed to 50 cease firing and
Lieutenant B. with one or two men advanced to
meet the coming flag of truce When they met, the
two parties looked at each other curiously for q mo-
ment, and then burst into laughter.
"Come Lieutenant said the rebel Major, g you
have done all that is necessary TO show your pluck,
and as you have no earthly chance for getting away,
(for We are pretty much all around you) you might
as well give il up"
Thank you Major answered B., you may be
right, but as [ am not the only commissioned officer
here,-though in commando cannot decide this
matter without consulting my brother officers
right was the response, "IHl give you ten
minutes to make up your mind. so be quick if you
please"
Leaving the party lounging under a tree B.
FASTENED back TO the encampment, and hurridly gave
his orders. "Lieut. X you will take your artillery
men and dispose of the horses and harness, leaving a
small detachment with a sergeant TO look after the
guns. Sergeant you will double load and shot these
guns, dsmount them, pile the carriages on top Of
those mines, get the guns on top of all, pile more
wood on and set it on fire Ito the other sergeants
and corporals) boys, take your men and go to
work, as soon as | tell you to; and now the ten min
utes are up, I'll 90 back and tell the Major that we
have concluded to hold out a little longer; when [ re-
turn, each one do his best to keep the rebs back, and
may we all meet at the river"
As he moved out to meet the Major, sounds of
fierce struggling, groans, snorting and sharp screams
told Of the work Of death going on behind the hill,
where the beautiful horses of the pet { : Bay section -
of the Attn Light Artillery were being sabred by the
men.
Half maddened by the cruel chance that made
their slaughter a work Of necessity, B. hastily told
the Major that he was not ready yet TO see the inside
Of Libby" or "Andersonyille,' and then FASTENED
back to his command.
Suddenly the woods again echoed with the report
of musketry, nearer and nearer drew the rebel line.
until the little hill was gained, and then, for q mo-
ment they paused, bewildered by the sight that met
their eyes; there at the foot of the hill, lay one hum
dred and ten horses, gasping their last, struggling IN
their fierce dying agonies, or already stiff in death.
On the hill and on either hand, blazed two nerce
fires, which, even as they gazed, and wondered,
were rent apart by a terrific twin explosion that
swept them of the hill, and hurled Kissing and ex-
ploding shells far into the air, while cass-shot' canis-
ter, round-shot. schrapnel, fragments OF burning gun
carriages and limbs of trees few IN every direc'hon'
Under cover of this Internal din, Lieut. q ana MS
intrepid men, hurried along the creeks course anu
when the noise of the bursting shells had ceased, the
rear guard of the retreating force found fe" oil 'neir
| pursuers opposed to them. What with tne conlSs.ou
produced by the explosion and the thickness Vi u
woods, the rebs hesitated before resumlng tne cnase'
Meanwhile 3. and his men made good ume' con-
siderinv the marshy character Of the ground, 70 Tue
mouth of the creek. Arriving there, nndins them-
/ selves unmolested, q muster was Daoe IN eIe NN
lowing result: Left behind killed, wounded and
missing, AZ; present wounded 10. Leaving out OF
two hundred and sixty all told, one hundred and
ninety-nine effective men on the BANK OF tne river.
Exhausted by fatigue, torn and oleedlng, out Win
| stout hearts, and bright hopes, they waited the boats
that we're now rapidly nearing the shore. Soon al
were safe on board. and by night once more in New
Burne. Verdict of the Court of Inquiry, No blame
attached to the officers in command, as the orders
were strictly complied with % Result of the expedi-
ton, nothing gained, lost 10 men killed, 10 wounded
Tin camp), 2 guns, cassions, limbers. and ammunition
destroyed, and the "Bay section" annihilated.