the Ninth
New Jersey were thrown out as skirmishers, and Wessell's brigade pushed
forward in pursuit. Our batteries were then thrown around to the right
of the road, and fired upon the retreating rebels, but with little
effect. The enemy fell back hastily nearly a mile, and crossed the
bridge leading into Kinston, the Ninth New Jersey following closely in
pursuit. As the last rebel regiment crossed the bridge the rebels
applied the match to it, and as it had been prepared for the purpose,
the fire gained some headway; but the Ninth New Jersey came up in time
to extinguish the fire soon before it had done much damage.

After crossing the bridge one rebel brigade retreated in the direction
of Goldsboro and the other in the direction of Snow Hill, on the road to
Weldon. General Evans, with his South Carolina troops, retreated towards
Goldsboro, our artillery throwing shells on the retreating columns.

Our division immediately crossed the bridge and occupied Kinston, the
rebels on their retreat burning a quantity of cotton, a locomotive and
some cars. Our troops held the town until yesterday morning, when they
left the town and moved forward in a northerly direction, after burning
the bridge over the Neuse River. We captured on the battle field four
hundred prisoners, eleven pieces of artillery on this side of the
bridge and three on the other, making fourteen guns in all, taken from
them. A large number of small arms, perhaps eight hundred, were taken.
Our loss was one hundred and sixty, killed and wounded. That of the
enemy about one hundred and twenty-five, as they were more protected.
The only officers killed on our side were Colonel Gray, of the
Ninety-sixth New York Volunteers; Captain Wells and Lieutenant Perkins,
of the Tenth Connecticut; we captured a lieutenant-colonel of a South
Carolina regiment, and several other officers. The Twenty-third
Massachusetts, Major Chambers commanding, captured seventy officers and
men of the Twenty-third South Carolina Regiment. The mudsills are a
little ahead of the chivalry this time.

Our forces are now on the march, and I halt behind to send off this
report. You will hear from me again by the first conveyance. Our troops
are in excellent spirits and eager to push forward and reap the fruits
of our victory. You may rest assured that General Foster will follow up
his advantage to a successful issue. I forgot to mention that Company K,
Mix's Third New York Cavalry, charged and c