COLONEL SPRAGUE'S REPORT. HEADQUARTERS FIFTY-FIRST MASSACHUSETTS Regiment, Adjutant-General William Schouler, State In obedience to department General Orders No. 77, and brigade General Orders No. 31, I reported with my command, seven hundred and seventyeight rank and file, on the Trent road, in light marching order, at seven o'clock on the morning of Thursday, eleventh inst., remaining with the brigade en route till the afternoon of Friday, when we were detached in company with two pieces of artillery, under command of Captain Ransom, to guard the Beaver Creek bridge, the main road to Kinston, and the road to Trenton, in rear of the advancing column. Receiving orders from Major-General Foster at half-past one o'clock on Sunday morning to join the main force without delay, we marched at sunrise, having in charge twenty-one prisoners, (taken by the cavalry on the main road to Kinston,) which were turned over to the provost-marshal upon our arrival at Kinston on Sunday evening. We advanced with the brigade on Monday morning, arriving at the scene of action at Whitehall, about eleven o'clock A.M. on Tuesday morning, and though not participating in the engagement, were within range of the enemy's guns on the right of the artillery which was engaged. At this point, in obedience to orders of MajorGeneral Foster, Lieut. Sanderson, with a detachiment of men, was detailed to examine the river below the bridge, to ascertain the practicability of fording it. After a careful examination of the river for nearly a mile, he reported that it was not fordable. REPORT OF COLONEL AMORY. HEADQUARTERS OF FIRST BRIGADE, FIRST DIVISION, NEWBERN, N. C., December 21, 1862. MAJOR: I have the honor to submit the following report of the part taken by the brigade under my command in the several actions of the fourteenth, sixteenth, and seventeenth instant. The first brigade, consisting of the Seventeenth, Twenty-third, Forty-third, Forty-fifth, and Fiftyfirst Massachusetts regiments, (the last three being nine months' volunteers,) marched from Newbern with the army under General Foster, on the morning of the eleventh instant. The brigade numbered at this time nearly three thousand five hundred men; of these about one hundred were sent back on our second day out, being mostly convalescents from hospital, who were found unfit to continue the march. On our arrival at South-west Creek on the thirteenth, I was ordered to form my brigade in two lines on the left of the road, detaching one regiment to line the bank of the creek, the passage of which was disputed by the enemy. I sent forward the Twenty-third Massachusetts, which crossed at the mill-dam, the bridge having been destroyed. This regiment remained on the opposite bank and reënforced my command on the march next morning. The Fifty-first Massachusetts had previously been detached, with orders to remain at Beaver Creek, guarding our rear. This regiment rejoined my command on the evening of the fourteenth. In approaching the battle-field of Kinston on the fourteenth, by order of the Commanding General, I detached the Twenty-third and Forty-third Massachusetts to the right and left of the road respectively, in support of batteries. Tuesday afternoon, passing up with the main teenth was sent to the extreme right to support The Eighcolumn on the left bank of the Neuse, we bivou- Colonel Heckman, Ninth New-Jersey, in advance. acked at night about twelve miles from Golds- While superintending this movement on the boro. On Wednesday we were detached to guard right, the Twenty-third and Forty-fifth were the baggage train, from which duty we were re-ordered forward in the centre and opened fire in lieved in the afternoon, when the baggage train the woods, gradually advancing, as did the entire and troops were countermarched, after the burn-line, driving the enemy to the bridge. On the ing of the railroad bridge by the advance. Keeping our place on the return on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, we encamped on Saturday night near Deep Gully, and arrived at our barracks on the Trent at eleven o'clock on Sunday morning, my men considerably jaded and footsore. The orders in regard to pillaging and foraging were enforced, and the men suffered in consequence of an insufficient supply of meat. right I posted the Forty-third to cut off the forces of the enemy on the river road from the bridge, and a portion of these-some sixty in number shortly after surrendered to Major Chambers, Twenty-third Massachusetts. In this action the Forty-fifth suffered most severely, as indicated by the return of killed and wounded hereto annexed, together with the reports of the regimental commanders, to which I beg leave to refer for Taking into consideration the fact that this re- particulars. The different regiments of my brigitment had been but a week in the field, and re-gade were, during most of the action, scattered ceived their arms only two days before they re- through the woods or separated in support of ceived marching orders, I have the honor to report batteries. All who came under my observation that they behaved well during the entire march. conducted themselves with commendable steadiNone were killed, two wounded, and none miss-ness and gallantry. ing. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, A. B. R. SPRAGUE, VOL. VI.-Doc. 17 In the action at Whitehall, on the sixteenth, my brigade being in advance, three of the regiments-the Seventeenth, Twenty-third, and Forty-fifth-were immediately engaged, with what effect could not be ascertained, as the enemy was posted in intrenchments on the opposite side of the river, which was not fordable. These regiments did their whole duty, remaining under fire as far in advance as possible, until I was directed to withdraw them, in order to allow the artillery to occupy their position, which was done, and the guns of the enemy soon afterward silenced. In resuming the march from Whitehall, I was directed to detach the Seventeenth to reënforce the advance-guard under Colonel Heckman, Ninth New-Jersey. The remainder of my brigade took position in the rear of the column. On the morning of the seventeenth, I was further directed to detach a regiment with the bat- | tery which was to hold Thompson's Ford, five miles above, which order I complied with, sending the Forty-third Massachusetts under Colonel Holbrook. In the engagement at Goldsboro bridge, the three remaining regiments of my brigade were not brought forward into action. Col. Heckman, of the Ninth New-Jersey, will doubtless report upon the conduct of the Seventeenth in that action. Their list of wounded proves them to have been completely engaged, and the successful accomplishment of the object of the expedition, in the destruction of the railroad bridge, is the only comment I need make on their efficiency. When all did their duty well, it seems unnecessary to mention names, but I feel compelled in this place to testify to the fidelity with which Dr. Galloupe, the senior surgeon of my brigade, discharged his duties. His efficiency at all times, and his care of the wounded, merit the highest praise. RECAPITULATION OF KILLED AND WOUNDED IN THE REPORT OF CAPTAIN RANSOM. Colonel James H. Ledlie, Chief of Artillery, COLONEL: I have the honor of transmitting the following report of the expedition in which one section of my battery took part. A.M. On the evening of the tenth instant, I received an order to join the expedition which was to move from Newbern on the following morning at four The battery horses were then at Morehead City, but were brought down by railroad during the night, and all was in readiness in the morning to move at the appointed time. The Twenty-third battery was attached to Major Stone's battalion. On the evening of the twelth, in connection with the Fifty-first regiment, Massachusetts volunteers, we were detached and placed to guard the bridge across Bacheldor's Creek, about thirteen miles from Kinston, where we remained until the morning of the fourteenth, when we were ordered to move in the direction of the main column. On arriving near Kinston we were assigned in connection with a portion of the Fifth regiment Massachusetts volunteers, the holding of a bridge across a creek. On the following day (fifteenth) at one o'clock P.M., I was ordered to join the main column, the rear of which was several hours in our advance. By rapid marching, pursuant to order, we pass ed about two thirds of the moving column. Early on the morning of the sixteenth, with four companies of the Third New-York volunteer cavalry, all under command of Major Garrard, proceeded to the head of the column. At Whitehall we came under the fire of the enemy's skirmishers. Unlimbering and firing eight rounds of shell and shrapnel, we silenced their fire for the time being. Although the bullets of the enemy flew plentifully about us, yet we escaped with but one battery horse wounded. From this point, under Major Garrard, we rapidly marched in the direction of Mount Olive, on the Wilmington and Goldsboro Railroad, twenty miles from the latter place. We reached Mount Olive at about ten o'clock P.M., to the complete surprise of the inhabitants, who evidently had no previous warning of our approach. After destroying the bridges on the railroad in the vicinity, and taking up the switch and portions of the track, and otherwise damaging the road, cutting and destroying telegraph poles and wires, and also burning a quantity of rosin and cotton, after nightfall we took up our line of march for the main camp, where we arrived after midnight, having marched upward of forty miles. At daylight on the morning of the seventeenth, with the force of the previous day, and still under command of Major Garrard of the Third New-York cavalry, we moved toward Johnson's bridge across the Neuse River, nine miles below Goldsboro, and at or near Hill Springs. As the cavalry in advance had been fired into by a rebel battery near the bridge, I was ordered to fire a few shots in the vicinity, as feelers for the enemy's whereabouts, but without getting a reply. For some consider able time the firing was continued at intervals of five minutes. Having been directed by Major Garrard to place my pieces further down the river, and toward the bridge, I proceeded to select a suitable point to place them, but after I had advanced about five hundred yards, I was fired upon by the skirmishers of the enemy from the opposite bank of the river. I immediately shelled them from the opposite bank in that vicinity. The enemy's battery soon after this opened a brisk fire upon us; and now having ascertained his whereabouts, we vig orously replied. About this time a contraband who had just escaped from across the river, stated that he had seen five dead and a number wounded of the enemy, and also eight artillery horses that had been killed by our fire. Soon after the enemy opened his battery upon us, I was joined by four pieces of Captain Angels's battery, which came gallantly up to our support. In less than thirty minutes the enemy's battery and the fire of his skirmishers, were so effectually silenced as to give us no further trouble during the remainder of the day. I have no definite means of knowing the loss of the enemy, but it must have been considerable, as we had a good range of them, while their shell either exploded harmlessly or fell short of us. It was ascertained from several shells picked up in front of our battery, that the enemy cut his fuse less than two seconds, while the distance between us was between one thousand and one thousand one hundred yards. Soon after midnight on the eighteenth, we left our camp to join the main force about five miles distant. Three days' march brought us to our camp at Newbern, on the evening of the twentieth inst. In conclusion, I beg leave to state, that all under my command behaved with commendable coolness while under fire, and proved themselves zealous in the discharge of their duties. I am, Colonel, with great respect, your obedient servant, A. RANSOM, Captain Commanding Twenty-third Battery New-York Volunteer Artillery. NEWBERN "PROGRESS" ACCOUNT. NEWBERN, Deceinber 18, 1862. On the morning of the eleventh instant, MajorGen. Foster left Newbern with an adequate and well-appointed force, and proceeded toward Goldsboro. Among the killed was Col. Gray, of the Ninetysixth New-York, who felt at the head of his regiment, while leading a successful charge. Capt. Wells and Lieut. Perkins, of the Tenth Connecticut, were also killed. Loss of the enemy not definitely ascertained. We took upwards of five hundred prisoners, among whom were two colonels and several other officers, and eleven pieces of artillery, besides other captures. Col. Heckman, Ninth New-Jersey, and Col. Hunt, Ninetysecond New-York, are to be recommended for promotion to brigadier-generalships, for distinguished gallantry. The strategy of Gen. Foster in the conduct of the expedition was most masterly, and thoroughly successful. Our troops fought well without exception. They were greatly elated, and clamorous to be led on Raleigh. The rebels felled trees across the road and burnt bridges, in order to delay the progress of our forces; but the efficiency and skill of H. W. Wilson, the Civil Engineer of the department, with his well-trained corps of mechanics, soon overcame these obstacles and kept the army in motion. The situation of the ground upon which the battle was fought was such as to render it very difficult to bring any considerable body of troops into action. The rebels having the opportunity to select the battle-ground, of course had decidedly the advantage in position. The Tenth Connecticut sustained a heavier loss than any other regiment engaged, and deserve especial notice for valor and good discipline. They brilliantly maintained the reputation won in former well-fought battles. The Third brigade, Gen. Peck's division, Gen. H. W. Wessells commanding, which was sent down to accompany this expedition, effectively supported the advance and materially contributed to the success of the movement. Gen. Foster earnestly desires that these veteran troops be retained in this department. The new Massachusetts regiments engaged displayed great coolness and courage under fire. Little Rhody, Burnside's State, was well represented by the Fifth Rhode Island regiment. Company K, Third New-York cavalry, Captain Cole, charged across four deep ditches, eight feet wide, and took seven pieces of rebel artillery, and brought them off in triumph smoking hot. An inconsiderable skirmish occurred at Trenton, at noon on Friday, in which Capt. Moshell, company B, Third New-York cavalry, charged upon and put to flight a body of rebel cavalry, and two companies of infantry. The advance reached South-west Creek, the bridge across which had been destroyed, at eleven o'clock A.M. The Ninth New-Jersey made a detour through the woods, crossing the creek at a point above, and seized the rebel battery stationed in the middle of the road on the opposite side of the stream, Captain Chesney, company A, first reaching the guns. At about dusk the rebel advance, some two thousand strong, made another stand about four miles this side of Kinston. The Ninth New- General Foster gives Captain James C. Slaight, Jersey, and Morrison's battery, were sent up to Chief-Quartermaster of the department, high praise feel their position, and engaged them briskly for for the ample arrangement made for transportasome thirty minutes, when the enemy fell back tion and the vigor and promptness with which again. Our forces then bivouacked for the night. it was brought up, and to this fact the celerity Sunday morning, the fourteenth, the main army of the movement is in a great measure attricoming up at about nine o'clock, our advance-buted. the Ninth New-Jersey and Morrison's battery- Col. Ledlie, Third New-York artillery, Acting moved on about a mile, when a general engage- Brigadier-General, handled his batteries with ment with the enemy, seven thousand strong, great efficiency and skill, and will, we undercommenced, continuing from half-past ten A.M. to stand, be promoted also. two P.M., when the enemy, who were closely pressed, retreated over the long bridge across the Neuse River, and our army victoriously entered Our loss in killed, wounded, and missing will not exceed one hundred and fifty. Kinston. One of the three special correspondents of the Herald, the only paper represented in the department, came very near being killed by a charge of grape from a rebel battery during the engagement. Gen. Foster defeated the expectations of the rebels in every particular. As we go to press we learn that Goldsboro and Weldon have fallen, and that our victorious ar mies are still in motion. NEWBERN, Dec. 23, 1862. In our Thursday's issue we gave an account of the battle at Kinston, and there left the victorious troops. We now proceed to give an account of what followed. On the fourteenth instant, after saving the bridge at Kinston, which the rebels endeavored in vain to destroy, the Federal army, under Gen. Foster, crossed over the river, and formed in two columns, advancing almost at right angles with each other toward Kinston, which is situated a short distance from the river. They found the enemy drawn up in line of battle at the farther extremity of the town, with a battery planted on Washington's Hill, in such a position as to rake the main street. Upon this, the columns halted, and a flag of truce was sent to General Evans, to demand a surrender of the town, and of the rebel forces under his command, which courteous request was declined. Soon after this, a flag of truce was sent to General Foster by Gen. Evans, requesting the removal of the women and children, as he was intending to shell Kinston immediately. While the women and children were being removed to a place of security, Gen. Evans, in violation of military etiquette, moved his command to a new and safer position. The Federal batteries opened upon the rebels for about an hour, shelling them across and over the town, when the rebel fire was silenced. But few people were found in town. main column recrossed the bridge at Kinston, and advanced up the left bank, taking the river road. After all the Federal forces had been safely crossed, the cavalry had been withdrawn, and transported to the left bank, the bridge was destroyed to prevent an attack upon the rear-guard and wagon-train. By nightfall on the fifteenth, the Union army encamped three and one half miles from the village of Whitehall, on the left bank of the river. During the evening of the fifteenth, a battalion of cavalry, with two guns, under command of Major Garrard, was sent to Whitehall to destroy the Neuse River bridge, and a gunboat, said to be building at that place. They charged into the village, found the bridge in flames, and learned that a regiment of South-Carolina chivalry, who had arrived too late to join in the battle at Kinston, had retreated across the bridge but a few minutes before their arrival. After a reconnoissance on the river-bank, the gunboat was discovered on the opposite side of the river, on the stocks, with her woodwork two thirds completed. She was being built for two guns and was to be plated with heavy sheet-iron, so as to render her impervious to musketry, was flat-bottomed, of light draught, and intended for reconnoissance duty. Finding that they could not cross the river at Whitehall, and knowing the enemy to be in force on the opposite side of the stream, some two thousand barrels of turpentine were set on fire, to the right and left of the bridge, in such a position as to throw the reflection of the light upon the enemy. A tree was felled across the stream, hoping by its help to cross and burn the boat, but the tree was too short. Two shots were fired by the enemy, who were discovered in great force on the opposite bank. Some seventy or eighty bales of cotton were No other way being left, volunteers were called set on fire by the rebels in the middle of the for, to swim the stream and burn the boat. A street and partially burned. Some cotton was private named Butler, volunteered. A brisk fire captured in an undamaged state. The Provost-of shell was now opened on the enemy to the Marshal took possession of the town, and used reasonable precaution for the protection of property by placing guards. On entering the town, nine guns were captured, and the troops were encamped for the night at Kinston. During the night, two houses were accidentally destroyed by fire. About four hundred prisoners, mostly South-Carolinians, were here captured and paroled. On the morning of the fifteenth, a battalion of cavalry and two pieces of artillery moved up the main road for Goldsboro, and had a smart fight with the advanced force of the enemy. During this fight the whistle of a locomotive was heard, bringing reënforcements for the rebels. Although the train was not discernible, the fire of the artillery was directed in that direction, which had the effect to cause the train to fall back to Mosely Hall, where in strong intrenchments and great force they waited to give the Federals battle, thinking General Foster designed to march on Goldsboro by that route, thus making the diversion completely successful. While this by-play was going on in front, the right and left of the bridge, and several rounds of canister, at short-range. Butler in the interim stripped to the task, plunged into the water and swam to the opposite bank. Running up the bank to the flaming bridge, to procure a brand, several shots were fired at him, and two of the enemy darted from their hiding-places, near the bridge, attempting to catch him. Quick as thought, he turned, and swam back, and though several shots were fired at him, returned safely and unhurt. On his return, the Federals again shelled the woods on the opposite bank, and threw solid shot and shell into the boat, inflicting all the injury possible under the circumstances, and then returned to camp. On the sixteenth, the main column advanced to Whitehall. As they came up, a brisk engagement ensued, and as the work began to grow warm, the artillery came up, and the fight waxed warm. The battalion of cavalry and two guns swept past Whitehall, and went rapidly on to Mount Olive Station, some seventeen miles from Goldsboro, to cut the railroad at that place. In the mean time General Foster entered into a gen eral engagement at Whitehall, to cover the cav-yards of the battery. While making this charge, alry movement, bringing some thirty guns into the battery opened with canister, mowing them active operation. The enemy had four batteries down-literally annihilating the two rebel region the opposite banks and eight thousand infantry. After an engagement of three and one half hours, the enemy's guns were silenced. During this engagement Gen. Foster attempted to build the bridge under fire. Some of the Massachusetts troops, not understanding this feint, and thinking a passage of the river was intended, swam the stream and ascended the opposite banks. This being reported to the General, they were ordered back, when the whole column moved on, and encamped for the night. Major Garrard reached Mount Olive station at three P.M., and cut the telegraph, captured a mail, and destroyed trestle-work a quarter of a mile long, three bridges, and the track at intermediate places for a distance of ten miles, including both ways, and returned to the main column during the night. On the seventeenth the Federal army moved on to Goldsboro Railroad bridge. While the main column was moving, a force was sent to Tompkins bridge, over the Neuse, below the railroad bridge, to destroy it. On arriving, they found the bridge in flames, and the enemy in force. Α smart skirmish ensued. The main column came in sight of the rebels one mile from the railroad, and found them drawn up in line of battle on the railroad, this side of the bridge, with an open country before them. From a commanding position the Federal batteries shelled them, causing them to retreat with great precipitancy across the river. A battery advanced and opened fire, again shelling them across the river. While this was being done, a couple of regiments were ordered through the woods, forded a creek, and came out upon the railroad. One of them advanced in column down the road towards the bridge, while the other advanced through an open field. The rebels now opened a heavy fire of musketry and artillery, from a battery stationed to the right of the bridge, and a general fire along their entire line. Added to this they had an iron-clad railroad car, mounting one or more guns, protecting the bridge, and the road within range. After nearly two hours' fighting, Gen. Foster gave orders to Col. Heckman to burn the bridge. Several attempts were made to burn it, but were unsuccessful, owing to the deadly fire of the rebel sharp-shooters. Lieutenant Graham, acting aid to Col. Heckman, finally succeeded in destroying the bridge. As the head of the Federal column commenced their return to Whitehall, Gen. Pettigrew's brigade, with artillery attached, arrived unknown to the Federals, slightly to the left of the column. Gen. Pettigrew observing Morrison's battery in what seemed to be an exposed situation, determined to capture it. Accordingly, two SouthCarolina, regiments rushed upon the track, the officers waving their swords and colors, and with cheers and yells, charged with fixed bayonets over a ditch and a fence to within four hundred ments. Almost simultaneous with that movement, another heavy force advanced out of the woods to the right. This latter force was repulsed by Belger's and Riggs's batteries, Belger opening with a direct and cross-fire. After two hours' hard fighting, the rebel fire was silenced. The Federal force camped for the night near the battle-field, having to pass through woods on fire, making the passage, at times, difficult and dangerous. Col. Mallett, the conscription officer, was captured and paroled. The troops arrived here on Friday and Saturday, having fully and literally fulfilled the objects of the expedition. The different regiments and batteries did nobly. To particularize would be invidious, especially where every body did well. We await the publication of the official report with eager interest. BOSTON " TRAVELLER" ACCOUNT. NEWBERN, N. C., December 22, 1862. Since the advent of Gen. Burnside into NorthCarolina, the capture of Roanoke, Newbern and Beaufort, but little has occurred in the way of aggressive warfare, up to within a couple of weeks back, save a few small expeditions having insignificant results, to claim an adequate share of public attention. One great reason of this was the fact that Gen. Burnside left but few troops here when he went to reënforce the army before Richmond, for it left Gen. Foster too small a force with which to attempt any thing of importance. In November, however, the new troops from Massachusetts began to arrive, and the work of brigadiering and drilling them for the field was carried on with vigor. The old regiments remaining here were worked in with the new ones, and through a system of patient effort and unceasing attention, the whole was worked up into a considerable army, which for efficiency and good discipline might well challenge praise, and reflect credit upon the working brigadiers and the commanding general. Preparations had been going on for some time for a large expedition; but how large and where its destination was wisely confined to a few who knew how to keep the secret. On the ninth of December the return brigade of General Wessells (of General Peck's division) arrived in Newbern, and preparations for the expediton were hastily completed. An order from Gen. Foster was read the same evening to all the regiments on dress parade, to be ready in thirty-six hours, in light marching order, namely, without knapsackscarrying only blankets and overcoats—with three days' rations to be carried in haversacks, seven days' to be carried by wagons. Were not the Yankees proverbial for guessing, it might be new to tell you of the various conjectures indulged in as to the destination of the expedition. Rumor, with her lying tongue, was |