THE SEVENTEENTH AT GOLDSBOROUGH.

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ing Kinston, the advance-guard, composed of the Ninth New-Jersey, and Wessel's brigade, were engaged with the enemy, the Seventeenth leading. The first brigade was next called; and I was ordered to report to Gen. Wessel, who sent me to support a battery on the right that was in great danger from an attack. We were afterwards again ordered forward to support another battery, and then, with the Ninth New-Jersey, to advance, and flank the enemy. At this point, the regiment was detached from the brigade, and ordered to co-operate with the Ninth New-Jersey; which arrangement continued until our return to Newbern. We advanced together, and were the first regiments to cross the bridge and enter Kinston, where we took many prisoners. We were then ordered on provost-duty, but subsequently received an order to rejoin the brigade, which had not crossed the bridge. On our way, I was met by Gen. Foster, who ordered me back, as the rebel general, Evans, had taken position on the hill beyond the town, and he (Gen. Foster) was "going to knock him out of it." We returned, but the enemy left; and we were again ordered on provost-duty. The next morning, the march was resumed towards Goldsborough, and the Seventeenth was selected for the advance. This continued through the next day, when, approaching Whitehall, we were engaged by the enemy, who were on the opposite bank of the river, and protected by earthworks and dense woods. After a fight of three or four hours, it being impossible to ford the river, and the bridge across it having been burned, we continued on our way, the Seventeenth yet in advance. The next day, upon nearing Goldsborough, I increased my line of skirmishers by adding Company C to Company F. They were in command of Capt. Fuller. They were soon fired upon; but they drove the enemy before them. The main object of the expedition was to burn a railroad bridge, destroy the track, and cut off communication. As the railroad bridge was then in sight, and occupied by a large rebel force, I turned to the left, through a wood which was occupied by a camp of rebels. We pushed onward, with skirmishers deployed, and gained the railroad, driving the enemy before us. I was then ordered to approach the bridge, leaving the skirmishers, under Capt. Fuller, to watch the enemy; but, on approaching the bridge, we were opened upon by a heavy fire of artillery in front, and musketry from the woods on both sides. We continued to advance, and arrived within ten feet of the bridge, using the banks of the road as a temporary shelter. The shells from our own artillery falling immediately in front of us, and not being willing to lose my men by our own fire, I sent to the officer in command of the artillery to change his direction; which had no effect. I then went myself, and represented that he was doing us more harm than the enemy: this had the desired effect. Upon my return, Morrison's battery came up, and took position near our flag, on the right flank. I pointed out to the captain the bridge and the depot beyond, where a train had just arrived with re-enforcements for the enemy. Giving his orders with coolness and judgment, he planted a shell directly among them, and kept up a steady fire in that direction. Meanwhile, the shot and shell from the enemy's artillery came thick and fast among us,

yet not a man quailed; and my orders were obeyed with as much coolness as if they were upon a battalion drill. I sheltered the men in a hollow, directly in rear of the artillery, and was then notified that two men from each of the two regiments were to be sent to fire the bridge. I called for volunteers; and Barney Mann, our late adjutant, offered to find them. A short time after, I saw him wounded, and then learned that he had gone himself, with another man, for the purpose: the two from the Ninth New-Jersey were also there, and the bridge was fired. I was then notified that the object of the expedition was accomplished; and Gen. Foster gave the credit of it to the two regiments.

The Seventeenth remained in Newbern, doing provost-guard duty, during the winter of 1863. Early in the spring, it was relieved, and, April 7, marched, under the command of Brig.-Gen. Spinola, to the relief of Washington, N. C., then besieged by Longstreet's division of the enemy, who was posted in a strong natural position, and in large force, at Blount's Creek. After fighting him two hours, and deeming it impracticable to continue the battle against great odds, Gen. Spinola returned to Newbern, reaching there on the evening of the 10th.

On the 17th, the regiment again left Newbern, under MajorGen. Foster, for a second attempt to reach Washington. On the same day, however, the siege was raised, and the enemy withdrew; so that nothing was seen of him except his rear-guard, many of whom were captured by Gen. Foster's cavalry.

On the 28th, a movement was made on the enemy at Dover Station by a force on the railroad, and one on the Neuse Road; the whole under the command of Brig.-Gen. J. N. Palmer. A skirmish took place; but the enemy retreated. The Seventeenth was engaged, but suffered no loss.

May 1, it returned to Newbern. July 4, left again, as a part of a force, under Brig.-Gen. Heckman, designed to support a raid on the Wilmington and Weldon Railroad. The object of the expedition was successfully accomplished; and the force returned to Newbern on the 7th.

On the 25th, the regiment left Newbern, as cavalry support, on another expedition against Weldon. At Mount-Tabor Church, it came suddenly upon a camp of the Twelfth North-Carolina Battalion (rebel), which it captured, with thirty-two prisoners. The cavalry, however, were not able to reach Weldon, but penetrated as far as Jackson, where a fight occurred. They took fifty prisoners, burned the rebel camp, and retired to Winton, whence the regiment re-embarked for Newbern. It remained in barracks

NEWBERN, WASHINGTON, ETC.

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on the Trent, when it was ordered to move into town, and relieve the Twenty-seventh Massachusetts.

The Seventeenth was on provost-duty until Feb. 1, when it went to the asistance of the One Hundred and Thirty-second NewYork Volunteer Infantry, whose pickets and camp, nine miles from Newbern, were attacked. The enemy carried the bridge at Batchelder's Creek, soon crossed over, and, their force numbering fifteen thousand men, succeeded, under cover of the woods and fog, in flanking our little force.

The fog was so thick, that their movements could not be seen.

Finding resistance useless against the overwhelming force the enemy brought against this little body, numbering only a hundred and two men and thirteen officers, the order was given to fall back to the crossing of the railroad and Trent Road to make another stand. At this time, the remainder of the Union force had retreated, leaving the Seventeenth alone to check the advance of the enemy. Soon after, Lieut.-Col. J. F. Fellows, Surgeon I. F. Galloupe, Adjutant H. A. Cheever, who was severely wounded, Capt. J. K. Lloyd, First Lieuts. B. N. Mann, L. B. Comins, jun., J. B. Hill, and J. W. Day, were taken prisoners, together with fifty-eight enlisted men. Three were killed, and three badly wounded. Lieut. Cann succeeded in saving the flag of the One Hundred and Thirty-second New-York, which they left flying in their camp when they retreated, and, with twenty men, partly succeeded in destroying their camp.

The enemy, under command of Pickett, marched, with little opposition, nearly to the works in front of Newbern. After waiting three days, the enemy withdrew without assaulting the works. While the enemy were in front, the Seventeenth were at the breastworks, and doing the advance picketing.

On the 18th of April, 1864, eight companies left Newbern in transports for Washington, N.C., which was threatened by the enemy. After capturing Plymouth, he moved on Washington, which was evacuated April 30; and the troops returned to Newbern, May 1. In the fighting at Washington, the Seventeenth lost two men killed.

The next day, the regiment was relieved from provost-duty, and changed its camp. Until July 16, skirmishing, garrisoning Fort Spinola, and holding other positions, occupied the men; when the troops whose time had expired embarked for home. Those whose time of service had not expired were consolidated into three companies, forming a battalion, under command of Capt. Henry Splaine.

On the 27th, these men moved to Newport Barracks, twenty-six miles from Newbern, on the railroad to Beaufort, N.C., where they remained until

Sept. 23, when all of the veterans received a furlough of forty days in Massachusetts, and embarked at Fort-Spinola Wharf on the steamer "Dudley Buck." Arrived at Fortress Monroe on the 25th, New York on the 27th, and at Boston on the 28th. They were received by the Boston Cadets, and escorted to Faneuil Hall, where, after partaking of a collation, the men were furloughed until Nov. 7.

They left Boston on the 10th, arrived at Newport Barracks on the 20th, and were on picket-duty.

Col. Thomas J. C. Amory, who had been commanding the sub-district of Beaufort, N.C., for several months, died at Beaufort, Oct. 7, of yellowfever.

Capt. Splaine's battalion was engaged several months in outpostduty, and guarding railroad lines between Newbern and Morehead City. Meanwhile, four hundred and fifty men were transferred from the Second Massachusetts Heavy Artillery to the Seventeenth, March 4, 1865. It was then transferred to the third brigade, second division, District of Newbern, under command of Gen. S. P. Carter, of Tennessee. Lieut.-Col. H. Splaine, who had been promoted, commanded the brigade, and Major W. W. Smith the regiment. The forces then moved to Gum Swamp and Wise's Forks, and fortified their position. The next morning, March 8, an attack was made by Gen. Bragg with fourteen thousand men, capturing the second brigade entire. Companies of the Seventeenth showed great bravery in attempting the recapture of a gun which had been taken from the second brigade. For three days the fight continued with varying fortunes, when the rebels were repulsed by a gallant charge, in which the Seventeenth bore its port. The regiment entered Kinston and Goldsborough on the 20th; and on the 25th a junction was made with Gen. Sherman's army. After an encounter with Wheeler's cavalry, the regiment entered Raleigh on the 10th of April; and the next day the Seventeenth marched alone towards Greensborough. It was employed there as provost-guard, winning respect by its excellent conduct, until July 11, when it was mustered out, and the men returned to Readville, Mass., to be paid, and return to their homes.

CHAPTER XII.

EIGHTEENTH AND NINETEENTH REGIMENTS.

The Mustering of the Eighteenth Regiment, and its Officers. March to the Front. - In the Campaign of the Peninsula. From the Chickahominy to Boston. teenth. Colonel Hinks and his Heroic Command.

The Nine

EIGHTEENTH REGIMENT.

IGHT companies of the Eighteenth, recruited chiefly from the counties of Norfolk, Bristol, and Plymouth, were mustered into the service of the United States, Aug. 27, 1861; leaving the two companies necessary to complete the organization of the regiment to be added subsequently. The next day it left the State, under orders for Washington, with a full complement of officers, and eight hundred and ninety-one men. Field and staff

On reaching the capital, the regiment was ordered, Sept. 3, to cross the river, and report to Gen. Fitz John Porter. It was assigned by him to the first brigade of his division, commanded by Brig. Gen. J. H. Martindale, and encamped near Fort Corcoran. Here it was engaged in drilling, and in working on the intrenchments then constructing for the defence of the capital. Sept. 26, the army advanced; and the regiment moved forward with the division, and took position at Hall's Hill. During the months of October and November, the two companies in which the regiment was deficient were added; making the number of enlisted men nine hundred and ninety-five.

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