distract attention by making a noise. Nearly every ball and bullet went plump and harmless into the breast-work of earth rising six feet high before them. At length when the field of battle was covered with smoke, and the frenzy of conflict inflamed all minds, Colonel Clark, at the head of the Massachusetts Twenty-first, rushed across the open plain, through the deadly storm of lead, and entering on the full run one of the embrasures seized the gun. The rebels fled, astonished at such audacity. Instantly two rebel regiments came charging upon them, and the heroic little band were compelled to retire. But the next moment Colonel Rodman, with the Fourth Rhode Island, charged upon a battery of five guns. At the double quick they ran upon these death-dealing muzzles, pouring in a volley of bullets as they ran. The desperate adventure was a success. They seized the guns, and with the precision of veterans in compact mass, with bristling bayonets, bore down along the rebel line within the intrenchments. The Eighth and Eleventh Connecticut, and Fifth Rhode Island rushed instantly to their support. The rebels fled precipitately, and the Stars and Stripes were proudly unfurled over one portion of their ramparts. els had retreated, was in flames. A number of turpentine factories also were rolling up their billows of fire and smoke, which enfolded the city in a black canopy sublimely gloomy. Sev Animated by this sight the patriot troops, who were struggling through the tangled morass at the southern extremity of the enemy's line, made a grand charge upon that flank. Aided as they were by their comrades, who were al-eral transports had followed the gun-boats up ready within the ramparts, they speedily smote the stream, and in a few hours our whole army down all opposition, and the rebels tumultuous- of five thousand men were ferried across the ly fled. With exultation and rapture, which Trent, and were in undisputed possession of none can comprehend but those who have Newbern. The fires were extinguished, a strong passed through such scenes, the patriot troops provost-guard established, every liquor cask in clambered the ramparts, discharging their mus- the city staved, and by midnight quietude and kets at the retiring foe, disappearing in the dis-peace reigned throughout the conquered city. tance, and greeting the glorious old banner of the Union with enthusiastic huzzas. It was a splendid victory. Every regiment behaved heroically. The Fifty-first New York attracted especial applause. There is not a man of that regiment who will not look back with pride upon the battle of Newbern so long as he shall live. The rebel army was disorganized and Panic-stricken. It was important that they should have no time to recover from their consternation. There are many interesting incidents of this battle worthy of record. Lieutenant Fearing, of General Burnside's staff, was sitting upon his horse when a 32-pound shot passed under the horse's belly between his legs. The Lieutenant, apparently unconscious of his own danger, fondly patted his horse in commendation of the animal's quiet bravery. When the first battery was captured Colonel Clark, of the Twenty-first Massachusetts, had mounted one of the rebel guns, and was waving his colors, when two rebel regiments advanced upon him and his handful of men. The patriots leaped the parapet and fled. Captain J. D. Frazer, who had been wounded in his right arm, carrying his sword in his left hand, tumbled and fell into the ditch. He was seized and dragged back by the rebels over the parapet. A guard of three men was placed over him. A few moments after, when the Fourth Rhode Island made a charge, he drew a concealed revolver and captured all three of his guards. One of the noblest young men of our nation -a hero, a patriot, and a Christian, Adjutant Frazer A. Stearns, son of President Stearns, of Amhert (Massachusetts) College-fell in this battle. Young Stearns had already borne himself bravely at Roanoke Island. Here, in the thickest of the fight, a bullet pierced his breast, and he dropped dead. General Burnside, aware of the value of time, scarcely remained upon the battle-field long enough to bury the dead. The whole army was immediately put in motion for Newbern, which was about six miles distant. The gun-boats continued to follow along the river, capturing the water-batteries with scarcely a shadow of opposition. Early in the afternoon the troops reached the eastern bank of the Trent opposite the city. The magnificent bridge, seven hundred and fifty yards in length, constructed both for railroad and carriages, across which the reb The fruits of this victory were six forts, thirty-four heavy guns, six steamboats, and public property to the amount of two millions of dollars. The rebel troops at the battle-ground were almost entirely protected by their ramparts, and our bullets did them little harm; and, on the other hand, they did not dare to expose themselves by taking aim, but loading under cover raised their guns over their heads and fired almost at random, thus throwing many of their bullets away. As the rebels were retreating the slaves along the route, who had been taught to believe their masters omnipotent, could hardly credit their senses, and were quite unable to repress their joy and exultation. As one of the slave-holding rebels, breathless with terror, spurred his horse by his own door, not venturing to stop, an aged slave stood by the side of his cabin gazing in unutterable astonishment upon the flight and fright of his master. Just as he disappeared in the woods a shell from one of the gun-boats, with its unearthly scream, careering high above the tree-tops, followed the path of the fugitive. The gray-headed old man, clapping his hands, rushed into his cabin shouting, "Wife, wife, massa is running, and the wrath of God is after him!" The next day was the Sabbath. By order of General Burnside all the churches were thrown open, the army chaplains officiated, and thanks were returned to God for the signal victory he had granted the patriot arms. The rising of Several months passed away, during which the Union troops fortified themselves at Newbern, and extended their conquest to several important places in the vicinity. On Tuesday, the 9th of December, 1862, a division of the little army received orders to put three days' rations in their haversacks, and prepare for an immediate march; but where they were not informed; neither was it supposed to be any of their business to inquire. Blind, unquestioning obedience is the law of the army. the sun on Thursday, the 11th, found these troops vigorously on the move from Newbern directly west, toward Goldsborough, along what is called the Trent Road—a road running a few miles west of the River Trent, and almost parallel with it. The force consisted of four brigades, composed of nineteen regiments. The line of march was formed by two hundred cavalry in advance; then followed the several regiments of cavalry, infantry, and artillery, while the rear was composed of one hundred and fifty baggage wagons. The entire line, in easy marching order, extended about five miles, filling the whole road. It was a splendid wintry morning, mild and serene. As the vast array was beheld from an eminence moving along the winding road, with the fluttering of innumerable banners, and the gleam of burnished arms, the sight inspired the most phlegmatic with enthusiasm. The army numbered in all thirteen hundred infantry, eleven hundred cavalry, with fifty-one pieces of artillery. The troops that day marched eighteen miles over a heavy, sandy road, with occa | sional sloughs to wade, and, as night approached, they prepared for their encampment in a large plain of about three hundred acres, which they found opened in the forest. As the twilight faded away hundreds of campfires, brilliant with the blaze of the resinous pine, lighted up the scene with wondrous beauty. The soldiers drank their hot coffee from their tin cups, ate their frugal supper of hard bread, and the camp resounded with jokes and laughter as most of them threw themselves down for a shelterless bivouac, with the sand for a mattress, and a knapsack for a pillow. Wearied with the long day's march the reign of silence soon commenced. Many of the officers | ed. The rebels, however, fearing this moveblankets, which they ment, and yet not daring to vacate their inOver that a woolen trenchments on the main road, had sent forward a small force and burned the bridge. They had also placed two 12-pounders on an eminence on the north side of the creek, to prevent the reconstruction of the bridge or the floating of pontoons. Here the Union troops were brought to a stand. While the advance of the column waited for the artillery and the wagons to come up, pioneers were sent forward, under strong protection of artillery and musketry, to attempt to rebuild the bridge. The creek was here but a few rods wide, with somewhat precipitous and densely-wooded shores. The road from that point to Kingston, a distance of about fourteen miles, ran all the way through an almost unbroken forest. A few pieces of Union artillery were sent ahead, to engage the attention of the rebel battery, while the Ninth New Jersey regiment secretly forded the stream above and below, and rushed upon the hostile cannon from either flank so impetuously and unexpectedly that guns, horses, and men were all taken, almost before there was any consciousness of danger. At five o'clock the next morning, Friday, the 12th, the drum-beat-the reveille-roused all from their slumbers. It was a bitter cold winter's morning-so cold that the water in the canteens of the soldiers was found frozen. The icy ground seemed solid as a rock. The fires, from piles of pitch-pine, were immediately brightly blazing, the ever-welcome coffee was boiling, and after their breakfast of hard bread the soldiers were again upon the move. Marching rapidly along a level country covered with pine forests, and where few dwellings were found, at noon they reached a road turning nearly at right angles to the north. This road led directly to Kingston, one of the most important towns in North Carolina, situated on the northern bank of the Neuse, about forty miles above Newbern. The soldiers by this time had supposed that Kingston was their destination. But much to their surprise, they found that they were not guided upon that road, but leaving it on the right, pressed directly forward in a west-bridge. Before the dawn of Sunday it was comerly course. The soldiers subsequently ascertained, that which the officers already knew, that half-way between this crossing and the town of Kingston there was a stream called Southwest Creek, where the rebels, in anticipation of an attack, had erected formidable intrenchments. General Foster, one of our most bold and efficient officers, sagaciously sent forward a small force of cavalry to deceive the rebels by the feint of an attack upon their elaborate works at the creek. At the same time the main body pressed vigorously forward on the road toward Goldsborough, and with the setting sun sought their second night's bivouac, having effected a march of nearly twenty miles. The wearied soldiers, after a hurried meal, again threw themselves on the frozen ground and slept soundly. Scarcely had the morning dawned ere the beat of the drum aroused the slumbering host. They replenished their waning fires, in haste prepared their breakfast of fragrant coffee with hard bread, and at six o'clock the tramp of armed men and the rumbling of carriage-wheels again resounded through the solitudes of the forest. All day long they continued their march, until about the middle of the afternoon, when, having passed several miles beyond Kingston, they came to another cross-road, which at a very sharp angle led back, in a northeasterly direction, toward that city. The head of the long column turned sharply round and entered this road. By it they could cross the Southwest Creek at a point farther up the stream by a bridge which was feebly defend It was Saturday night-the third day of the expedition. Again the troops bivouacked in the open air, but all night long working parties of engineers and pioneers were busy rebuilding the pleted, and at five o'clock the troops were again upon the march. As before, a body of cavalry led the advance along the narrow road, with pine forests on either side. They frequently encountered the pickets of the enemy, and in slight skirmishes easily dispersed them. The cavalry was followed by a strong body of artillery, who shelled the woods wherever there was any suspicion that the foe might be lurking. It will be remembered that the line of the army, filling the whole capacity of the road, occupied an extent of about five miles. At nine o'clock in the morning those in the rear of this long column heard the roar of artillery among the advance, shot answering shot. It announced that the enemy had been found, and it sent an electric thrill through the eager host. Every man pressed forward. The whole army soon found themselves in a clearing of the woods of about twenty acres, on the right-hand side of the road. There was here opportunity for the army to deploy and make ready for action. The enemy were so effectually concealed in the woods that not a man could be seen; and their batteries, commandingly posted under the protection of an apparently impassable swamp, were constantly pitching their shells over the treetops into the midst of our advancing troops. Six Parrot guns were brought forward by the patriots and placed in position to return the fire. It was a blind battle of invisible foes; but the two hostile parties had discovered each other's position, and bloody scenes were at hand. The Ninety-second and Ninety-sixth New York regiments filed into the woods on the left had met the foe. Our troops, keeping up a constant fire, steadily advanced, driving the rebels before them-who were fighting, Indianfashion, behind stumps and trees. of the road, to charge the rebel batteries on their | ketry, for the heads of each of these divisions right flank. The Ninth New York plunged into the woods on the right of the road, to advance upon the batteries under shelter of the thicket between the road and the swamp. The Fortyfifth Massachusetts rushed boldly into the swamp itself, and toiling onward through a tangled network of roots and stumps, and up to their knees in mire, sought to traverse it, that they might attack the batteries on their left flank. The swamp was densely covered with huge old trees, whose gnarled roots were twisted in all possible contortions beneath the ooze and slime of the bog. But a few moments elapsed before the whole forest was alive with the rattle of mus At length the Forty-fifth Massachusetts, who had penetrated the swamp, forced their way through it, and ascended a little knoll beyond covered with shrub oaks. But they had hardly formed in line before a shower of bullets came rattling in among them, a rebel battery having got their precise range. The Tenth Connecticut and One Hundred and Third Pennsylvania came up at the same moment, having followed through the swamp. The rebel guns opened RIVER NEUSE |