Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1862-03-21
THE CAPTURE or NEWBEKN.

Gen. Burnside's victory at Newbcrn gives
him full control Of the Atlantic a y. Caro-
lima Railroad, and leaves Beaufort, where the
pirate steamer NashriH is lying, at his
mercy. Sixty miles. by railroad, brings
him to the important railroad junction of
Goldsboro. where be can intercept the main
coast line of railroad communication from
Richmond South Those are positions Of
great imrortlncc. The following particulars
Of the fight are Of interest
Our troops under General Burnside, landed on
Thursday evening near the mouth Il swan Creek
the west side OF Neuse river, Is miles below
Newborn. Owing to dense fc, the naval vessels
did not participate in the fight.
Early on Friday morning the fight commenced.
Our troops advanced along the country road, run
ming parallel with the Neuse river, but mile or
two il the The road was skirtcd on the
west side by a railroad and dense swamp. All
along the river sids were a series of batteries
which were taken by our troops, one after auoth-
er, in some bloody hand-to-hanI contests.
Our troops were divided into 8 briclies under
GenerIls Reno, Foster and Parks.
We advanced gradually, the enemy leserting
| their guns until we reached line Of earthworks
extending across the road from the river TO the
swamp on the west, distance Of some miles
These earth-works were very strong. They we're
| located about miles south Of NeWbern and be
tween these and the city the Trent river. The
country road and the railroad both passed
through these works and crossed into the city BY
bridges. In front OF these works the rebels had
felied large number Of trees, forming an almost
impossible sbattis. There the flying reoels we've
rallied and made for a while desperate stand.
nVr- 49, Ill =
munition was spent, when an order 10 charge
bayonet" was given and the works we're finally
taken at The point Of the bayonet, the enemy fy-
ing like frightened sheep, leaving every thing be-
hind them IN their retreat.
The rebels burnt the bridges communicating
with the town over both the country read and the
railroad.
As they had their trains Of cars in their rear
just across the bridges, they were OF course able
to carry Of their wounded and dead. Their loss
Is, therefore. not certainly known. bat It must
have been pretty severe.
Before troops reached the last work they
encountered another which was deserted before
they came up. 1t was in front OF this last fortif-
cation that our greatest loss sustained.
Our entire loss j. estimated by Major johnson
at ninety killed and four hundred wounded and
missing.
The force 81 tie rebels is supposed 90 have been
about eight thousand.
We Sptuleu huuber OF prisoners including
Col- Avery, who cursed his soldiers as cowarls
Just as the battle terminated the fog lifted and
enabled our gunboats, which had been impltieutly
waiting for an opportunity to participate in the
light, TO come up the river, aud our troops were
furnished with means Of transportation across the
Trent river to Newbern.
The rebels attempted to lre the town On their
retreat, but were prevented by the citilens. Who
e1tinguished the flames as fast a they were start
ed by the soldiers
None OF our Geaerals nor any Of our staf-oni-
GERS were killed wounded We captured from
80 to so cannon.
The officers Of the rebels left their private Trans
behind in their final retreat, and men threw every
thing.
The fight terminated at three P. NJ. on Friday.
when our troops remained masters of the position