March 16, moved five miles. Came upon the enemy in a strongly fortified position. They fought with great fury, and being driven from one line of works fell back to another, which they held all night, when they decamped. This day, while standing with the general and staff a little behind the front, when the battle was raging furiously, a canister that dropped in among us sent a shower of leaden balls around. No one, however, was hurt, and the only notice taken was by moving a few roads on one side to be out of range. The losses on each side this day must have been nearly 600. March 17, moved about two miles. Built a log bridge across Black River, which was much swollen by the rains. Alfred Rhett, a rebel colonel of artillery, was captured and brought to headquarters this morning. March 18, marched eleven miles. Roads bad and creeks hight. Crossed Beaver Dam Creek. Forgaging very plentiful. Skirmishing in the advance all day. March 19, moved with the Seventeenth Corps on the Goldsborough road. Made twenty-five miles. Crossed Falling Creek. Trains did not get up, being stuck in the swamp. The general and staff were indebted to General Howard and staff for supper and bed. Camped near the cross-roads leading to Cox's Bridge on the Neuse River. Heavy fighting was heard on our left day. It was, as we learned at night, a desperate attempt of Johnston to crush the Left Wing by falling upon it with his whole army. All this day the woods on our left were swarming with rebel cavalry. The trains at times were seriously threatened. Many small foraging parties were captured, but supplies were never so abundant. March 20, moved early. The Right Wing moved up the Neuse River some ten miles and fell heavily on Johnston's rear. I rode with the general to the scene of conflict. The battle raged furiusly. Lones of works were taken and retaken. Thousands of our men fought through the timber and brush barefooted, but the greatest spririt of cheerfulness and resolution seemed to animate the men. At night the balance of advantage was in our favor. The firing continued briskly all night. March 21, we had expected to be in Goldsborough to-day and there clothe the army anew. This desperate attack of Johnston's prevented it, and as this morning the fighting was renewed with great ardor, it seemed uncertain when we would get there. The general therefore directed me to proceed to Kinston and forward shoes, socks, and hard bread to the army without delay. In company with Colonel Remick, chief commissary, I proceed to Kinston, reaching there by the afternoon of the 22d, distnace fifty miles. Orders were issued to all the corps quartermasters to unload their supply trains at specified depots and send them at once to Kinston. At Kinston I found supplies already arrived by barges from Morehead City. March 23, large trains from the army having reported, those of the Seventeenth Corps were loaded up and ready to start by night. Next day the trains of the Fourteenth and Fifteenth were got off and the Twentieth reported. By the 25th I had sent to the army 43,000 pairs of bootees, 21,000 pairs of socks, 28,000 shirts, 12,000 pairs of drawers, 13,000 pairs of pants, with a large quantity of other articles, in addition to which heavy commissary supplies were sent forward. March 25, General Sherman passed down on the first through train from Goldsborough to Morehead City. I commenced sending suppliesw to Goldsborough by rail, but as the amount of rolling-stock was very limited I thought it best to keep the wagon trains still running. I remained in Kinston until the 30th, when I rode up to Goldsborough. Captain S. W. Hoskins, assistant quartermaster, was left in charge of clothing and quartermaster's stores;