Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1862-03-26
THE GREAT VICTORY!
The Capture of Newbern
DESPERATE FIGHTING /!
NEW YoRK, March 19.

The following are the details of the
battle at Newborn
Commodore Rowan was in command
of the fleet of gunboats, and had sunken
vessels, torpedoes, and other rebel OBJ
structions to overcome and pass, but sur
mounted all with but slight damage to
only two of his fifteen vessels. Two
briggs, three banks, and ten sehooners
were sunk by the rebels, above two rebel
batteries. The latter were sllenced, the
sunken vessels passed, and our flag hoist
ed over the silenced batteries as our force
went along. This was on Saturday P.
M, and night closed in.
Sunday morning a heavy fog set in,
but lifted, when our gunboats passed up
safely and silenced Fort Thompson with
its two heavy Columbiads. Then Fort
Ellis with nine guns was captured after
pretty brisk fighting, but the rebels fed
soon in panic, and our flag waved over
another fort. Only one fort was left to
be engaged and Newbern would be at
the mercy of our troops !; this was Fort
Lane--the rebels having enough of the
boats, offered little if any resistance and
fled. The rebels then fired large num-
Der of scows filed with rosin and tur-
pentlne, intending to float them down
and burn our gunboats, but they got
stuck and burnt away furously. The
gunboats then shelied the depot and
track, but our troops had then crossed
aud white flag was hoisted. Our navy
did not lose q man.
Operations on land were briefly as fol-
lows: Our troops landed twelve miles
below New erne, Gen. Renos brigade in
the advance. Most of the troops we've
SO anxious to land that nearly every regi-
ment jumped into the water aud waded
ashore. Ia less than two hours, after
marching two miles, they found deserted
rebel camps, with fires burning, and hot
rebel breakfasts untasted. A breastwork
was only passed and the division biyou-
acked for the night, and early in the
morning sklrmishing began.
Fosters brigade, comprising the Mas
sachusetts Oath, 25th, Goth, 23d, with
tho 10th Connecticut in reserve, were in
line, and engaged twenty gun battery
Of the rebels on their left flank, who
showered grape, canister and shell upon
them, also heavy musketry from their
infantry.
The second brigade, comprising the
21st Massachusetts, 5lst New York, 51st
Pennsylvania and 9th New jersey en-
gaged them on the right, and General
Clark's third brigade took 4 position in
front. The 1st brigade bore the brunt
of battle and the gath Massachusetts soon
had Maj. Stevenson and Lieut.. Colonel
Horton wounded, and the 23d Massa-
chusetts lost Lieutenant Colonel Merritt
by q cannon ball carrying away one side
of his body.
The 10th Connecticut were ordered to
support the 9th Massachusetts, which
had suffered severely.
The Sd brigade together with the Cd
executed q flank movement, and the Or
der to charge bayonets was given.
A hand to hand fight ensued of the
most desperate character, when our troops
drove the rebels out at the point of the
bayonet, chasing them out of sight.
The rebels took possession of rail-
road train and fled from Newborn, burn
ing bridges, the Washington House,
some private dwellings, and number of
whisky and turpentine distilleries.
Slaves had commenced pillaging but
were stopped.
A number of Unionists were found in
the city.