GOLDSBORO.
There was no time
this morning to cook coffee, so we started on a cold-water breakfast, after
another cold night, with little good sleep, and marched without incident until
four P.M., when we heard the usual cannonade at the front. As soon as the noise
of the cannon was heard, then commenced the usual straggling. All have some of
course. The attention of our boys was called to a scene upon which we looked
with surprise, and which many of our company will never forget. As we passed
from the main road to take position on the hill, we saw a man, or what was
dressed as a man, in Uncle Sam's clothes, importuned by another to join his
command. He would not budge; and the concluding words we heard as we passed by,
were: "Damn it, man! just look here: look at this regiment going in; there
is not a man there; they are all boys with no hair on their faces, and you
afraid!" We pitied the fellow, and often wondered if he joined his
company. His pride had evidently gone on a furlough. We halted on a high hill,
from which we could see all that was going on, and soon found we were in
reserve, which pleased us all. After getting turnips and sweet potatoes,—of
which we found a plenty (all planted for us),—we straggled to the edge of the
bluff and watched the fight. In a tree close to where we stood was a signal
station, and by that we supposed Gen. Foster was near. On the left we could see
the railroad which leads into Goldsboro, and the fighting over it; to the
right, the bridge; while in front, close to the river, there seemed to be a
continuous sheet of flame from our advance and the rebels. Some of our men
worked their way to the mill; and a story was told by one of the 17th Mass.
Vols., who reached the bridge on his own account, that he saw a train of cars
stop there, and, just as it halted, a shot from one of our batteries struck the
engine in the head-plate, smashing the engine badly. He could see men jump from
the cars in all haste. (This story was told several years after the action; and
the fact of those men coming as they did, and perhaps others behind, may have
been the reason we left so suddenly, and went to New Berne.)
About seven o'clock
Gen. Foster rode past our line, saying: "The object of the expedition [the
burning of the bridge and partially destroying the connection between the Gulf
States and Richmond] is accomplished. We are going to New Berne."
We were immediately
formed, and started on the back track with cheers for the general; but we had
not gone three miles before we found we were not "out of the woods."
Orders came to countermarch, so we turned about, wondering what all the
artillery firing meant. We tramped back about two miles or so through the
woods, on fire on both sides of the road, turned to the left down hill, and
formed line in silence, waiting. We were not allowed to speak or light our
pipes, but waited, it seemed, for two hours. The regiment was formed in
division column closed in mass; the company behind us being only a few feet
away, and in front nothing but the pickets and supposable rebels. After staying
here a while we heard the artillery go along the road, and soon followed. We
reached camp about ten o'clock, tired and hungry, but no chance to get anything
to eat, and a man missing. He turned up afterwards, having settled himself for
a nap when we were in the woods. Not finding any one near when he awakened, he
concluded to strike out for himself—happily remembering that old broken caisson
beside the road, and recollecting on which side he left it on going in, he soon
came Russelling" into camp with the rest of us.
SOURCE: John Jasper
Wyeth, Leaves from a Diary Written While Serving in Co. E, 44 Mass.
Dep’t of North Carolina from September 1862 to June 1863, p. 27-8
