meanwhile, foster had made it back to new bern and immediately began organizing a relief effort. he ordered general prince to march along the railroad towards kinston to hold off confederates in the vicinity of goldsboro, while foster personally led a second column north from new bern towards blount's creek where general spinola had earlier been turned back. on april 18, foster ordered spinola to drive the confederates from their road block at swift creek guarding the direct road from washington to new bern. at the same time, general henry m. naglee attacked the confederate rear guard near washington capturing several prisoners and a regimental battle flag. on april 19 foster returned to the washington defenses and by april 20 the confederates had completely withdrawn from the area.