paroled by General Foster belonged
to South Carolina and Georgia.

The conduct of the Tenth Connecticut Regiment is spoken of in the
highest terms. They, with the New Jersey Ninth, were particularly
distinguished for their bravery, and suffered the most.

THE GUNBOATS IN THE BATTLE.

[Our New Berne Correspondence.]

NEW BERNE, N. C., Dec. 16, 1862.

An expedition, consisting of the gunboats Delaware, Seymour and
Shawsheen, of the navy, under the command of Commander Murray, United
States Navy, and the steamboats Ocean Wave, Allison, North State, Port
Royal, and Wilson, manned by the Marine Artillery and commanded by
Colonel Manchester, left this point on Thursday last, the 11th inst., to
proceed up the Neuse River to co-operate with the land forces under
General Foster in his advance toward Kinston, or more properly to effect
a diversion in General Foster's favor. Owing to lack of water the
gunboats were unable to go up the river more than fifteen or eighteen
miles, and were compelled to stop and allow the affair to be carried on
by the Marine Artillery flotilla alone. Colonel Manchester assumed
command of the expedition from that point, and resolutely pushed up
toward Kinston, determined to reach the village and participate in its
capture. The low state of the water alone prevented Commander Murray
from carrying his heavy gunboats to the town.

Colonel Manchester met but little resistance going up, a few scattering
shots being fired at him by guerrillas on the banks. He experienced
much difficulty, however, in getting ahead rapidly, because of the bars
and shoals, upon which the boats grounded. But all obstacles being
overcome, they reached a point within two miles of Kinston on Saturday
afternoon, when they suddenly found themselves under the fire of an
eleven gun battery, which opened on the Allison, the leading boat, as
she rounded a point of land and appeared full in view of the enemy's
formidable work, and not over 1,200 yards distant. The river was here
only about one hundred feet in width, with shoals on either side of the
channel, and it was found to be utterly impossible to turn the boat. To
back out of the scrape was the only resort, and as soon as that could be
effected it was done; but not until the Allison had been twenty minutes
under an exceedingly hot fire, in which she was repeatedly struck by
shell and shot.