GOLDSBORO, KINSTON, and GOLDS BORO BRIDGE, Engagements at. On 11 Dec. 1862, General Foster, in command of the Department of North Carolina, set out from Newbern for the purpose of taking Goldsboro and breaking the railroad that connected Rich mond with the railway system of the South and Southwest, and then forming a junction with the Union forces at Suffolk and Norfolk, Va. He had four brigades of infantry, a regi ment of cavalry and seven batteries and two sections of batteries, in all about 11,500 men and 40 guns. He reached Southwest Creek on the 13th, to find the bridge destroyed and his passage disputed by about 400 Confederates, with three guns. The 9th New Jersey and 85th Pennsylvania soon routed this force, capturing one gun, and Foster pushed on toward Kinston, skirmishing heavily on the way, and when within, a mile of the place, 14 December, en countered a force of 2,000 men under General Evans, posted between the Neuse River and a deep swamp. After a sharp fight Evans was driven across the river, firing the bridge behind him; but the fire was extinguished and 400 prisoners and six guns were taken. Evans re treated through Kinston, reformed his com mand two miles beyond and withdrew toward Goldsboro. Foster followed, had a successful
engagement on the 16th, at White Hall and, when nearing Goldsboro 17 December, was checked by a heavy force under Gen. G. W. Smith at Goldsboro Bridge. Foster succeeded, however, in destroying the bridge of the Wel don and Wilmington Railroad over the Neuse, also several other bridges, and about six miles of railway, and retreated somewhat rapidly to Newbern, having lost, during his eight days' campaign, 92 killed, 487 wounded and 12 miss ing. The Confederate loss was 71 killed, 268 wounded, and 496 prisoners. The latter were paroled.
After the capture of Wilmington by Gen eral Scofield, 22 Feb. 1865, his next objective point and final destination was Goldsboro, where it had been arranged that he should unite forces with General Sherman, who was march ing north from Savannah. Forces were as sembled at Newbern, and the march began on 1 March. Kinston was occupied 14 March, after some days' sharp fighting. The railway and bridges were repaired, and Scofield entered Goldsboro with little opposition on the 21st, and two days later Sherman joined him. Con sult Official Records, Vol. XVIII; Cox,