ward, immediately followed by
General Foster; and while the fighting in front was going on, the
manoeuvering of our forces so as to outflank the enemy was begun.
General Foster ordered Colonel Heckmann to take his brigade to the
right, by the river road, and attack the enemy on their left flank; the
artillery, consisting of the Third New York Artillery, Belger's Rhode
Island battery, Schenck's battery, and two or three others, closely
following the infantry. After getting into position a terrible fire was
opened upon the enemy from the front and flank. This was withstood with
great fortitude and bravery by the enemy for about four hours, when a
dashing charge, made by several of our regiments, caused the rebels to
break and retreat in confusion across the bridge, over the Neuse, clear
to and through the village of Kinston and beyond. Some places they
crossed in their flight up the river, to the left, the water was so deep
that it reached the bellies of our cavalry horses while in pursuit. The
Neuse River bridge had been saturated with turpentine in places, and as
the enemy retired in their great haste they imperfectly set fire to it;
but the fire was easily extinguished by the aid of the artillery
buckets, used for watering the horses. It was here we met our saddest
loss, almost, as it were, by accident. Colonel Gray of the Ninety-sixth
New York was at work with his regiment, endeavoring to put out the fire,
when a loaded musket, thrown away by a flying rebel, caught fire and
exploded, the charge entering the body of the Colonel, and inflicting a
wound which caused instant death. His body was brought to New Berne by
Company K, and will be sent to New York.

The bridge was soon in condition to permit the infantry to cross with
perfect safety, our artillery having in the meantime opened from the
bridge upon the enemy, who had been rallied and was again formed in line
of battle about a mile beyond the village of Kinston. The enemy made no
reply but with artillery, but fell back behind a high hill out of sight.
About 2 p. m. General Foster ordered troops to enter the town, when it
was occupied, and three brigades sent about two miles beyond. Seven or
eight houses were burned in Kinston, some say by accident and some by
design, after our men got in. The rebels burned a great amount of corn
and cotton before leaving the place. The Ninth New Jersey, taking the
advance again, forced the rebels from behind the hill where they had