arge quantities on fire.

Our entire movement was greatly facilitated by Captain Sleight, to whose
energetic course of action was due the keeping of our supply, etc.,
trains. General Foster highly complimented Captain Sleight for the
ability with which he conducted his department.

I forgot to mention in my account of the engagement at Goldsboro
railroad bridge that the enemy, on finding that our troops were
outflanking them by wading through a mill stream, hoisted the gate at
the mill and let the water rush down with astonishing impetuosity. By
this means one or two of our men were drowned, while others still pushed
on, with the water up to their armpits, regardless of the difficulty.

We learn by flag of truce, from the rebels at Kinston, that their (the
rebels) loss is between eight and nine hundred, and that the two South
Carolina regiments that charged Morrison's battery, lost in that charge
about three hundred and fifty men; their color bearer was shot three
times.

BRILLIANT CONDUCT OF THE UNION TROOPS.

KINSTON, N. C., Dec. 15, 1862.

An important movement has long been on foot looking towards the capture
of Goldsboro and Weldon, and the severance of one rebel railroad line of
communication connecting the cotton states with the capital of the
so-called confederacy; Preparations have for some time been carried to
enable the force which was to engage in the attempt to push it to a
successful issue. The time has now come when the object and the means of
execution of this movement may be safely revealed. The object of the
expedition was to capture Kinston, and then to take Goldsboro, thereby
cutting the Wilmington and Weldon railroad, which would isolate
Wilmington and effectually cut off its supplies and reinforcements.
That, I believe, was the object of the expedition. The first portion of
the work has been accomplished--the capture of Kinston; and the other
portion is in a fair way of being carried successfully out to the
letter.

The forces under General Foster left New Berne on Thursday, the 11th,
and moved up the Trent road, along the Trent River, about ten miles,
when the division halted for the night. On Friday the march was resumed
at sunrise, the Ninth New Jersey having the extreme advance, followed by
Wessell's brigade, one of General Peck's brigade, recently sent from
Suffolk, with Company B, Third New York Artillery, Captain Morrison.