Fighting in Eastern North Carolina--Successful attack on the enemy — their advance from Newbern.
A portion of the 17th regiment N. C. Troops' (Col. Martin,) two squadrons of the 63d regiment N. C. Troops, (Col. P. G. Evans's Partisan Ranger,) commanded by Lieutenant Colonel S. B. Evans, and a section of artillery, commanded by Capt. Moore, the whole commanded by Lieut.-Col. John C. Lamb, 17th regiment, attacked the enemy near Plymouth, on Wednesday morning last, at 5 o'clock A. M., drove them into the town, and being fired upon from houses, the artillery battered them down. Our forces captured 25 Yankees and 75 negroes. Capt. John M. Galloway, of the 63d regiment, from Rockingham county, was severely wounded while leading a charge. Three privates of Moore's battery and three of the 17th regiment were wounded though not severely. We lost none in killed. One gunboat was seriously damaged by our artillery. Some two-thirds of the town was burned, and was still burning.A letter from Kinston, N. C., dated the 12th inst., says the enemy were advancing from Newbern in that direction, by way of Trenton. It adds:
‘ "A courier has just arrived from the picket lines. He brings a dispatch from Maj. Nethercutt, saying that he (Nethercutt) is pressed by the enemy, and is falling back towards Kinston. The Abolitionists are advancing in large force, number not known.
"A report on the streets says that the Abolitionists mentioned in Maj. Nethercutt's dispatch number 17,000. It is also reported that Maj. Nethercutt lost eight men on yesterday evening, killed and captured by the advance guard of the enemy.
"I have just seen Lieut. Whitford, of Capt, John N. Whitford's Partisan Rangers. He reports the enemy in large force at Newbern, numbering at least 20,000, if not more, and an advance is expected in this direction daily."
’
Still later.
Repulse of Foster's forces.
The following dispatch was received at the War Department yesterday:
Kinston, N. C., Dec. 14th.
Gen. Foster attacked Kinston yesterday, with 18,000 men and nine gunboats.
I fought him seven hours, and have driven him back to his gunboats.
His army is still in my front.
