On the battle field at Whitehall, Colonel Ledlie (chief of artillery) received a very slight wound on the hand from one of the rebels' shells.
During the progress of our operations there were brought into action, at various times, Belger's battery, batteries A, B, C, D, E, H, I, F, and K, of the Third New York Artillery, and the Twenty-third and Twenty-fourth (independent) New York Batteries. The whole of our artillery was worked admirably.
Captain Morrison's battery of the Third New York Artillery had three men wounded, and lost the same number of horses. Captain Morrison took at the battle of Kinston forty-one prisoners, including two commissioned officers. At the battle of the railroad bridge he took seven more prisoners. When his battery was charged by the South Carolina regiments he kept up a steady fire until every round of his ammunition was gone, and then gave way to Captain Belger. Captain Riggs' battery was also engaged in helping to repulse the charge of the South Carolina brigade. In the battles of the 16th and 17th Captain Ammon's battery did good execution, and without sustaining any casualties in the company. These three batteries while in action, were under the immediate command of Major Kennedy. At Mount Olive Station, among the private papers of the postmaster was found the following:
"Whereas, we, the people of the counties of Wayne and Dublin, have seen a proclamation from the black republican president, Abraham Lincoln, calling for seventy-five thousand men, (and a call made on North Carolina among the rest), for the purpose of subjugating our Southern brethren of the Confederate States, who are asking nothing but for their rights to be respected and their institutions let alone, the interest of North Carolina being identified with the said Confederate States, we, as her citizens, deem it highly necessary to express our views to the world, irrespective of former party ties; therefore
Resolved, That the example of our patriotic forefathers is too plainly set before us to be unmindful of our duty. We know the cause of the Confederate States to be the supreme interest of North Carolina; therefore, we pledge our fortunes, our lives, and our most sacred honors in the maintenance of the said cause.
Resolved, That, for the aid and furtherance of said cause and the defence of our homes and our rights, we will form a military company for the purpose of drilling that we may be the better prepared to defend our homes and our country.
Resolved, That we call upon all good citizens to sustain us and give us their aid for the support of our company.
Resolved, That the manly and patriotic courage of His Excellency, John W. Ellis, in ordering our forts taken and held by troops of this State, and his independent denial of troops to Abe Lincoln to sustain him in his diabolical policy, meets the entire approbation of this company and this community."
Our total loss is between four and five hundred. In all we took over five hundred prisoners.