History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5; prepared in compliance with acts of the legislature, by Samuel P. Bates.

286 FIFTY-EIGHTE REGIMENT. 1862
was deployed, his pickets discharged their pieces and fled. The column moved
by the flank, on the Princess Anna Road and upon approaching his intrenchments, it was discovered that they were deserted. The troops immediately
took possession, and bivouacked for the night. In the meantime, the Mayor
and city councils of Norfolk came out and formally surrendered the city, which
was followed by the possession of Portsmouth, Newtown, Gosport, and the
Navy Yard. The flag of the Fifty-eighth was taken to Norfolk, and unfurled
upon the Custom House, where it floated in triumph while the regiment remained. The camp was early aronsed on the following morning by the blowing
up of the Merrimac, causing the solid earth to tremble. After performing provost guard duty in Norfolk for a few days, the regiment marched to Portsmouth
and encamped near the Navy Yard, performing guard duty in Portsmouth,
and picket on the intrenchments. Subsequently, it was moved upon the intrenched lines, and was encamped near the "Marine Hospital,' where it was
engaged in guard and picket duty.
On the 18th of August company G, Captain Winn, was ordered to proceed
by the Great Dismal Swamp Canal, to South Mills, North Carolina, near to one
of the battle-grounds of Burnside, to break up a rendezvous of rebel recruits.
Having accomplished its mission, it returned to camp without having encountered any hostile force. On the 11th of October, the regiment was ordered to
Suffolk, where were some fifteen thousand troops encamped under command of
General Peck. On the 24th the regiment made an expedition in company with
the Ninety-ninth, One Hundred and Twelfth, and One Hundred and Thirtysecond New York, a battery and a regiment of New York mounted rifles, to
the Black Water, meeting and skirmishing with the enemy at Zuni. Again, on
the 12th of December, the regiment moved with an expedition to the Black
Water, and in a skirmish which ensued two men in company C were wounded.
During the month of November, the Fifty-eighth furnished large details for
fatigue duty upon the fortifications, and for picket.
On the 5th of January, the Fifty-eighth embarked with a force under command of Major General Foster, for Beaufrt, North Carolina, arriving at noon
of the following day. Proceeding to Bachelor's Creek Station, eight miles
west of Newbern, the regiment encamped, and with the Twenty-fifth Massachusetts, and a company of North Carolina Cavalry, all under command of Colonel
Jones, held the outposts of General Foster's command, extending from the Neuse
River on the right, to the Trent on the left. A fine block-house was constructed
near the camp, so situated as to command the bridge, which was protected by a
stockade and intrenchment provided with chevaux de frise, and another, at a
picket station a mile in advance, where the railroad crossed at right angles a
public road, which formed the outer picket line. The camp was in addition
strongly fortified with earth-works. During the first month the pickets had
frequent encounters with rebel scouting parties. These beginning to be troublesome, on the evening of the 12th of February, Colonel Jones led his regiment
in search of their camp. Arriving at Cone Creek, he left company E to guard
the bridge, and sending companies A and D to the right, on the Neuse Road,
with the balance of his force struck into the woods to the left, and marching all
night around the head waters of Cone Creek, crossed the railroad at daylight,
and soon arrived within sight of the rebel camp-fires on Sandy Ridge. Companies B and K were immediately sent to right and left to flank the position,
while the rest of the command charged full upon its front. The rebel force was