Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1862-03-26
THE WAR NEWS,
monty INTERESTING ptrAIts
Gen Burnsidet omrial Report.

"
S. Army Gcnoml-l have the honor 10
report that after cmharkinr the troops
with which intended to attack Ncwbern.
IN conjunction with The naval forco on
the morning Of tho llth rendezvous
was made at llattcas Inlet
Flag Officer Goldsborouph having been
ordered to Hampton Roads, the naval
fleet was left 10 command Of Com. Rowan.
Early on The morning of tho 18th the
entire force started for Newbern, and
that night anchored of the mouth of Slo.
Gums Creek, some lS miles from New,
bern, where had decided to make a
landing,
Tho landing commenced by seven
. clock the next morning, Ender cover Of
the naval iIeet, and was effected with the
greatest enthusiasm by the troops. Many,
too impatient for the boats, lcaped into
the water and wadcd waist deer to the
Shore and then, after a tolsome march
through the mud, the head Of tho co.'s
umn marched within q mile and q half of
the enemy stronghold at 7. NJ, a dis
tance Of twelve miles from the point of
landing, where we bivouacked for the
night, the rear of the column coming up
with the boat howitzers about three
o'clock next morning, the detention be,
ing caused by the shocking condition Of
the roads, consequent upon the heavy
rain that had fallen during that day and
the whole Of the night--the men often
wading knee deep in mud, and requiring
a whole regiment to drag the eight pieces
which had beer landed from the navy
and our own vessels.
BY signal agreed upon, the naval YES.
sells, with the armed vessels of my force,
were informed Of our progress, and were
thereby enabled to assist us much in our
march by shelling the road IN advance.
At daylight on the morning of the l4lh
| ordered an advance Of the whole diyi-
sion, which will be understood Jy the en-.
closed pencil sketch. Gen. Fosters lrig-
ade was ordered up the main county road
to attack the enemys left; Gen. Reno ND
the railroad TO attack their right, and Ger.
Parke to follow Gen. Foster, and attack
the enemy in front, with instructions TO
support either or both brigOdes.
| must defer, for want Of time, a detail
ed account of the action. 1t is enough to
say that, after an engagement Of four
hours we succeeded in carrying continS
uous line Of field work Of over u raile in
length, protected on the river hark by a
battery Of thirteen heavy guns, and on the
opposite flank by line Of redoubts of
over half mile in length for rihemen
and field pieces, in the midst of swamps
and dense forests, which line Of work was
defended by eight regiments of infantry,
five hundred cavalry, and three batteries
Of field artillery, OF SIX guns each.
The position was finally carried by a.
most gallant charge of our men, which
enabled us to gain the rear OF all the bat,
telics between this point and Newbern
which was done by rapid advance of the
entire force up the nam road and rail,
road, the naval fleet meantime pushing its
way up the river, throwing their shot in
to the forts and in front OF us.
The enemy after retreating ia great
Throwing away blankets, knap.
sack arms, &C.) across the railroad bridge
and county road bridge burned tue form
er and destroyed draw of the latter, thus
preventing further pursuit, and causing
detention in occupying the town by our
military force, but the naval force had ar
rived at the wharyes, and commanded it
by their guns.
at once advanced General Fosters
brigade to take possession Of the town by
means of the naval vessels which Commo>
dore Rowan had kindly volunteered for
the purpose.
The city was set on fire by the retreat
ing rebels in many places, but, owing to,
the eXertions Of the naval officers, the re.
citizens were induced to aid in
extinguishing the fames-so that but lit |
tie harm has been done.
Many Of the citizens are now returning. |
and we are now in quiet possession of the |
city. We haze captured the printing
press, and shall at once issue a daily
sheet.
BY this victory our combined force have
captured eight batteries, con aiming for
Ly six heavy guns, three batteries of light
artillery Of six guns each-making in all
guns; two steamboats, and
number Of sailing vessels, wagons, horses,
a large quantity Of ammunition, commiso
sary and quartermaster stores, forage
and the entire camp equippage of the re-
bel troops, large quantity of rosin, tur.
pentine, cotton, &C., and over two bun.
dred prisoners.
Our loss thus far ascertaned will a,
mount to nnety.one killed and four hun.
dred and siXty-siX wounded, many ofI
them mortally. Among these are some of
our most gallant officers and men. The
rebel loss is severe, but not so great as our
own, being efiectually covered by their
works.
Too much praise cannot be awarded to
the officers and men for their untiring
exertion and unceasing patience in ac-
this work The effect of the
landing and the approach to within a
mile and half Of the enemy's works on
the 18th, consider as great q victory as
the engagement of the 18th. Owing to
the difficult nature OF the landing our
men were forced to wade ashore waists
deep, march through mud to a point
twelve miles distant, bivouac in low mar
shy ground, in rain storm, for the night,
engage the enemy at daylight in the
fighting them for four hours
amid dense fog that prevented them
from seeing the position Of the enemy,