In connection with our movements to-day I may add that the enemy was completely outwitted. From the fact of our having fought hard to save Kinston bridge, and then crossed to the opposite side, occupying the town, the enemy prepared to meet us at Mosely Hall—a small town adjacent to the line of the Goldsboro and Kinston railroad—supposing that we intended proceeding to that town along the right bank of the Neuse. Instead of that, as will be observed by what is above, we passed up on the other side, leaving Mosely Hall, with its armed force, far to the right.
SIXTH DAY.
Whitehall, Dec. 16, P. M.
The column again moved at an early hour this morning in the direction of Whitehall. As we neared the town an open space revealed our approach to the enemy, the latter being concealed in a thick woods on the opposite side of the river. Heavy skirmishing immediately ensued between the Ninth New Jersey and three regiments of rebels. Major Garrard who was in advance of the column, with three pieces of artillery and a squadron of cavalry, passed over a high hill behind the skirmishers, in full sight of the enemy, until he got to the left of those in action, and then opened with his artillery. In a few minutes other artillery came up, when the Major ceased firing. Although his cavalry force was in a position of great exposure, under a heavy fire for quite a while, still the loss was quite trifling.
Under cover of action on both sides, Major Garrard, with his command, pressed on past Whitehall, and made a rapid march (a distance of over twenty miles) to Mount Olive Station, a small place situated on the line of the Wilmington and Goldsboro railroad. While Major Garrard was away, in order to cover his operations, General Foster entered into a regular engagement at Whitehall.
The enemy, having destroyed the bridge over the river, showed that he labored under the impression that we would attempt to cross at this point; whereas, if he had not been so fast, he would have discovered that it was our intention to burn the bridge on the previous evening. The engagement at Whitehall lasted for over three hours. The enemy operated against us with a force of about five or six thousand infantry and three batteries of artillery. The Ninth New Jersey Volunteers, General Wessell's brigade, and a couple of Massachusetts regiments, were engaged in the fight. A few other regiments were brought under fire; and, as they lost a few men, I suppose they claim to being in the fight also. My accounts of the killed and wounded will explain the engagements in which the regiments participated. Neither in the battles of Kinston or Whitehall was over half our forces engaged at one time, especially not in the latter.
The better to deceive the enemy, General Foster made feint of rebuilding the bridge under fire. A feint was also made to cross the river; and a few of one of our Massachusetts regiments, not knowing that they were only to make a feint, actually swam across the river and got on the opposite bank. Of course they were forced back. Under the direction of Colonel Ledlie (acting brigadier-general), our artillery was so admirably posted and gallantly worked that we silenced the enemy's fire, and drove him, infantry, artillery and all, away far back from the river bank. After this we could, of course, have crossed the river; but the scope of General Foster's plan tended still more to deceive the enemy. Under cover of infantry firing and the working of two sections of artillery we passed on without further molestations and went into camp for the night several miles the other side of Whitehall.
Mount Olive Station, Dec. 16, 1862.
On leaving the main column we pressed rapidly on, on regular and by-roads until we reached a swamp. Here we struck a turpentine path, and after a full gallop of a distance of over four miles, came out at this station at 3 p. m. This action was a perfect surprise to the people of the place. The ticket agent was selling tickets; passengers were loitering around waiting for the cars, the mail for Wilmington laid ready on the platform, and a few paroled prisoners were in readiness to go to Wilmington, probably to fight again. As a matter of course, for the time being, Major Garrard put everybody under arrest. The telegraph wire was immediately and afterwards effectually cut and destroyed by Captain Wilson, of the Third New York Cavalry. Mount Olive is seventeen miles from Goldsboro, and as I have specified before, immediately on the line of the Goldsboro and Wilmington railroad.