cuted the orders of the commanding generals.

We advance for Goldsboro at daylight to-morrow.

On the road, just after crossing the bridge, we found the following
letter (it evidently had been dropped during the course of the enemy's
hasty retreat):

GOLDSBORO, Dec. 14, 1862.

_General Evans_: All the men I have here have been sent to you.
You received them last night. Rogers is nearly with you, 400
strong. I understand from rumors that three other regiments are
on their way here from Petersburg.

J. A. J. BRADFORD.

We learn that the Rogers force arrived just in time to retreat.

The rebels destroyed some eighty or ninety bales of cotton. This we
found burning as we entered the town. Most of it belonged to a Scotchman
named Nicolo.

During the evening a house accidentally got on fire, when the flames
communicated to three or four others, all being destroyed. Energetic
measures were taken to subdue the flames.

The provost guard arrangement works admirably. Little or no damage is
being done. The good conduct of the troops is remarkable.

FIFTH DAY.

IN THE FIELD, DEC. 15, 1862.

We moved out of Kinston at a very early hour this morning, and marched
up the line of the Neuse River on the side opposite to that place. The
road lay through a section of country hilly and comparatively poor.
During the day we came upon the enemy's pickets and drove them in,
taking three or four prisoners. By sunset we had marched seventeen
miles. We then bivouacked for the night. This day's march was considered
a very good one, considering the fatigued condition of the troops. On
marching out of Kinston and recrossing the river the bridge we so
fortunately saved the day previous was totally destroyed, in order to
defeat any design on the part of General Evans to follow up and attack
us in the rear. When the main column halted for the night Major Garrard,
with his battalion of the Third New York Cavalry, and a section of
Captain Jenney's battery of the Third New York Artillery, were sent
forward to dash into and take a small town on the Neuse, known as
Whitehall. To do this we had to go a distance of three and a half miles
from the main column. This we accomplished at a full gallop; but,
notwithstanding we pushed forward so rapidly, we found