HEADQUARTERS CLINGMAN'S BRIGADE,
December 21, 1862.

CAPTAIN: Before detailing the particulars of the affair of the 17th (Wednesday) I ought perhaps to state that I arrived at Goldsborough early on Tuesday morning, the 16th, accompanied by only the Eighth North Carolina Regiment, commanded by Col. [H.M.] Shaw. From Major-General Smith orders were received to pass to the south side of the Neuse River and take a position intermediate between Goldsborough and Dudley's Depot, on the line of the railroad. I selected a point where the railroad is crossed by the road from White Hall, along which the enemy were expected to approach, and which is about 1 1/2 miles south of the railroad bridge. During the day I was re-enforced by the Fifty-first North Carolina Regiment, of my brigade, commanded by Lieut. Col. [William A.] Allen, just up from Wilmington. In the course of the night following the Fifty-second North Carolina Regiment, of Pettigrew's brigade, commanded by Col. [J.K.] Marshall, arrived with orders to report to me, but to be held in reserve in the rear of the other two regiments.

On the morning of the 17th, being informed by one of General Smith's staff that he desired particularly to hear from me, I returned with him on the locomotive to Goldsborough, and was instructed by General Smith to report to Brigadier-General Evans and with my brigade to accompany him in making a reconnaissance in force to ascertain the position and strength of the enemy. Within a few moments after receiving this order a dispatch was placed in my hands from my adjutant-general stating that the enemy were reported by our scouts as being in 3 miles of my position. This was read to General Evans while he was in the presence of General Smith, and he at once ordered me to go on and fight the enemy, saying that he would follow with his brigade to support me. On returning to my command I found that the enemy in heavy force, both of infantry and artillery, were advancing from the southeast across the open fields and also from the south along the line of the railroad, while their cavalry were seen approaching along the county road which passed in my rear. It ought to be stated that the county bridge is about half a mile above that of the railroad, and that the road crossing it was nearly parallel with the railroad. Between the two is a swamp, but infantry can pass along the bank of the river without much difficulty, and 1 1/2 miles from the river the two roads are connected by a cross-road through a plantation. It being impossible with only three regiments to hold both the bridges and at the same time fight a large army, Colonel Marshall with the Fifty-second Regiment was stationed in front of the railroad bridge and Colonel Shaw with the Eighth, supported by a section of Starr's battery, was placed in the field in front of the county bridge; Colonel Allen with the Fifty-first was between the two to support either in case of need. The enemy soon opened heavily, both with artillery and musketry against Colonel Marshall, evidently with a view of reaching the railroad bridge. I therefore carried the Fifty-first Regiment to his support and placed it on his right flank. So heavy, however, was the fire from the large force of the enemy that these regiments were broken and fell back. They were soon rallied and taken back to their positions. The increasing volleys of musketry and the rapid falling of shells from the numerous batteries of the enemy, in spite of all my efforts to keep them longer in position, caused them to give way a second time. It being obvious, indeed, that so small a force could not long maintain a contest against such heavy odds, they were formed in the rear and carried back in good order to the county bridge and with the force stationed there recrossed the river. To defend the bridge the two guns of [J.B.] Starr's battery, [Company B, Thirteenth Battalion North Carolina Artillery], under the command of Lieut. [T.C.] Fuller, were placed near it, and Colonel Marshall's regiment lined the river bank below and Colonel Allen's occupied it above, while Colonel Shaw's was placed in the rear as a reserve. For the defense of the railroad there was placed in position on the north side of the river Colonel Pool's battalion with several pieces of artillery. After the above stated disposition has been made, possibly an hour later, one of General Evans' staff informed me at the county bridge that he desired to see me. On my going back to the field where he was posted he told me that it was all important to hold the county bridge and that I must do it. I replied that I was satisfied the dispositions made were sufficient, and on my asking as to the defenses of the railroad bridge he declared that all was secure there, but renewed his order to me to hold the county bridge. Not long after my return to it I was informed that the railroad bridge was on fire. After it was burned the cannonade of the enemy ceased.

At a later period General Evans again sent for me, and on my going back to his station he ordered me to advance across the bridge with my entire command and attack the enemy and feel his strength. The Sixty-first North Carolina Regiment, of my brigade, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Devane, having by this time arrived, it with three already under my command and the two field pieces above mentioned were moved across the river. Skirmishers were thrown forward in all directions and the enemy ws found to be posted from the river for 1 1/2 miles along the railroad in line of battle, well protected by the high embankment of the road in front of them. The regiments of Shaw and Devane and the two guns were moved along the county road while I carried as rapidly as possible the regiments of Marshall and Allen down the river bank and placed them in line within less than 300 yards of the enemy's right, but in a position where they were pretty well protected from the artillery. They were instructed to lie down, to make no reply to the enemy, and no attempt to pass the open field between them and the enemy until they should hear our attack on the right. As soon, however, as that occurred they were ordered to rise and with a shout to move forward at a run and carry, if possible, the embankment behind which the enemy were posted.

Rejoining the other two regiments I led them along the county road and from it by the cross-road through the open field against the enemy's left wing. I formed them in line of battle, the right of Colonel Shaw resting on the cross-road while his left and Colonel Devane's extended toward the enemy's center. One of the field pieces, unfortunately, from the giving way of the bridge, fell into a ditch and was not gotten out in time to take part in the action. The other piece moved along the road on the right of our line and was itself protected on its flank by skirmishers who covered the ground for several hundred yards. Before we reached the railroad, however, the enemy abandoned it and we occupied it without a struggle. The two regiments stationed near the river likewise advanced on it without loss, and, as I subsequently learned, General Evans' brigade soon filled up the center. After retreating from this position the enemy occupied a higher field in our front with a large number of cannon and heavy bodies of infantry drawn up in two lines with an interval of 100 or 200 yards between them. As soon as Lieutenant Fuller opened on them with his gun their artillery, which had previously directed its fire against our left where the regiments of Marshall and Allen were stationed, was shifted and its concentrated volleys were poured upon our right. Their position approached within 400 yards there, while from our left it was more than a half mile distant. With the large number of pieces they had in play it is a wonder they did not succeed in disabling a single gun. Notwithstanding the disparity of force and the loss of several of his men, Lieutenant Fuller, with the greatest gallantry, continued to reply until darkness put an end to the contest. During the evening the regiments of Colonels Marshall and Allen, by General Evans' order as I have since learned, made a charge against the enemy's position on the hill. They advanced most courageously, but were repulsed by heavy showers of grape and musketry. As they had to move across an open space of 1,000 yards, swept by heavy batteries supported by large masses of infantry, it was barely possible that they could carry such a position. Their prompt and daring attempt furnished the highest evidence of their courage and readiness to obey orders. Immediately after dark the enemy retreated with his entire army, and soon after we recrossed the river, the troops under my command following General Evans' brigade and bringing up the rear. The entire force at my disposition that day was rather below 2,000 men.

The loss was:

Command.	Killed.	Wounded.	Missing.
Marshall's regiment	11	58	10
Allen's regiment	6	43	8
Shaw's regiment	3	6	...
Devane's regiment	...	...	...
Total	20	107	18

I cannot give the casualties of Fuller's section precisely. I learn that the loss in the two first-named regiments occurred mainly in the charge above referred to; but for this we should have had the satisfaction of knowing that we had, with vastly inferior force, driven the enemy from a strong position and obliged his whole army to retreat almost without loss on our part.

In conclusion I take pleasure in saying that the officers and men in all the regiments behaved in a manner creditable to veteran troops.

Capt. Edward White, my assitant adjutant-general, and Capt. A.M. Erwin, my aide-de-camp, were energetic and prompt in carrying orders to all parts of the field.

Very respectfully, yours, &c.,

T.L. CLINGMAN,
Brigadier-General.

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