Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-03-28

would be an impossibility, they were 10
make the attempt 10 blow them up -
they could do so. \ boat was Sap. 49,.
NV tbis expedition. but not without
severe resistance.
The month OF February Of last Al
rived. camp was broken. and the loI-
ward march again resumed. as tbe p"t-
terry. with the infantry and other arl"-
lery took the road toward the llue So
port town OF the Old North state lHe
boats above spoken OF. with their crews
the latter being in high spirits ana pro-
posing 10 give a good account oil then-
selves, moved OF quietly down stream
UNKNOWN ROAD.
None OF the men OF the land forces
knew anything of the road upon which
tbev were travelling. They did not
know what was in front OF them or now
many OF the enemy they might en-
counter before they reached the godl
the government at Richmond seemed 10
be so DESTROYS Of possessing me
forces had travelled three days ana hau
not obtained sight Of a single man
declxed out in blue. On the night Of the
third day there was a halt, orders were
quietly issued that there were TO be no
camp-nres. and all talking must De uohe
i'm a very low tone.
The guns stood In line in the middle
of the road with the horses sull hitFhed
to them, and the men lay on the grouhu
TO get Il possible, a few minutes rest
for they fully realized that they were IN
the enemy's country, and knew not what
was In store for them on the next Day
OF how severe a struggle they might
have to go through.
The morning broke with thick iog
or mist hanging low, and the men couId
not see a great distance ahead OF them
A forward movement was ordered the
men again being reminded to be as quiet
as was possible. Probably not more than
half q mile had been traversed before
another halt was ordered, the command
given to unlimber the guns. and for the
third time was the company reminded TO
be very quiet In executing orders
After the guns had been unlimbered, TO
the surprise of the cannoneers and the
non-commissioned officers. the command
was given to move the guns forward by
hand. All orders were executed to the
letter but in carrying out the last com
mand 90 move the guns by hand) the
distance proved very short, for the men
found themselves on the crest of an In
cline which led down to a small stream
of water, which was afterwards learned
had been planted, orders were given TO
prepare for action, the guns were loaded,
and their fire directed on a block house.
or fort on the opposite side Of the creek,
the outlines of which could barely be
distinguished owing 10 the fog or mist,
The firing was very rapid, solid shot and
canister being used. which made It very
hot for the Federal soldiers who held
the fort.
Finding that the enemy still held on IN
spite of tho heavy fire, and would neither
vacate nor surrender, movement was
made by the Fayette Artillery which had
never been attempted before during the
war; nor was Il done BIZ this company az
forwards, or by any other so far as was
ever known. A charge was made on this
block house or fort by the artillerists. they
moving the Guns down the incline and
across the creek by hand, stopping occa-
sionaIly 10 fire a shot at the fort and
loading as they advanced.
ARTILLERY CHASE.
As the company crossed the creek and
secured a position within about 70 feet
or the fort, and before they could fire a
shot, q section Of artillery was driven out
and started rapidly down the road to-
ward New Berne. The horses Of the
Fayette Artillery were brought up, hitch
ed 10 tho guns as quickly as possible and
the battery started in pursuit OF the emo
my, which was kept Up for six miles
ahead Of the infantry. During this pUr-
suit neither party fired a shot
Tho horses Of the Fayette Artillery
having 10 DO brought from tho hill where
No battery first went into position, ard
the guns having 10 be limbered up, this
and the good condition OF the enemy S
horses gave the Federals great advantage
over the COnfederates. The flying section
reached the junction OF tho railroad and
country road running to the town several
minutes ahead OF the pursuers, went into
position. fired upon u.s. limbered up, and
fairly few 10 New Berne, the Fayette
Artillery not having q chance 10 reply 10
their shot In running and chasing be-
tween the block fort and the railroad
Sergeant Major Robert L. Flemming, or
the Fayette Battery, succeeded IN cap
turing Colonel Fellows and his adjutant
and orderly.
on the right OF the county road ana
several hundred feet from the railroad
the trees had been cut down. leaving
stumps about knee high. In this place,
with hardly room TO move gun, the
commanding officer Of the artillery order
ed the guns into battery, 1t having been
learned through some source that train
was approaching loaded with troops des-
tined for the town 10 reinforce the gar
rison.
A few minutes after the guns had gone
into position the Confederate infantry
came up. and moving TO the right and
TO the left, formed a line OF battle near
the railroad.
The infantry had not been in battle
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