Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-03-20
NEWBERN IN OUR HANDS.
Glorious Victory of our Troops


left Hatteras on the 18th, and landed next day
on the mainland of North Carolina, below
Newbern, in small boats and in the Pilot Boy,
Alice Price, and "Wheelbarrow ;" marched
about ten miles and stopped in the woods over
night. The night was exceedingly unpleas-
ant, as the rain was pouring down all night.
Marched ahead on the l4th about five miles;
met the enemy behind the most formidable
entertainments, one and half mile long,
drove him back, and defeated him. This is
one of the most decisive victories we have yet
obtained. The enemy most ingloriously left
his breastworks. Let our troops have the en-
trenchments of the enemy ahd we would not
be Arid against half OF the army of the in
suirectionists.
Our troops behaved nobly, and CALAMITY did
their duty. The twenty-ffth did not suffer so
much on Roanoke Island. They had, while
in pursuit OF the enemy, the privilege of max
ing gallant and successful charge against
them, where they had made a stand behind
the railroad Our whole feet is in Newbern
Great halleluJah among the troops.
send you copy of the Newbern Progress,
dated March 18th, and published the day pre-
vious to the battle. This will be the last
number of that secession sheet for some length
Of time. The greater part of the people here
have left for the interior All the stores are
closed. ! shall send you particulars with The
next mail. Our whole loss in dead and
wounded is probably 500 Ii haste, L. W.
tan
below Newbern, by the river, and our troops
marched and fought EDWARDS towards that
place along the line OF the railroad that leads
from that place to Beaufort, and between that
railroad and the river Neuse. AT NewbeIn
their line OF march was crossed by the river
Trent. During the afternoon after the battle,
the feet having overcome the instructions in
the Neuse, came up TO Newbern, and Gen.
Fosters brigade was terred across to the city
by the steamer Delaware, the retreating rebels
having destroyed the bridge. The following
account is given of
THE DEFENcEs OF NEwBERN.
The approaches to Newbern were defended
by line of water batteries or forts communi'
eating with field Notifications of the most ex
tensive nature. The lower fort is about six
miles from the city. The line of Notifications
attacked and stormed in the brilliant engage
ment of yesterday was some three miles in
extent. AT the river bank hexagonal tort,
or water battery, with large bouib proof and
thirteen neavy guns, commanded not only the
river approach, but by means of pivot car.
riages the cannon could be turned upon an adj
vancng land force, and even to sweep the line
of breastworks itself in case the garrison
should be driven out. The fire OF this fort
would have proved very destructive to us after
the batteries were stOrmed If the gunners had
not deserted their pieces. From the fort to the
center OF the line well made breastwork ex.
tended, with deep moat in front. AT the
center was bastion and sally port, after which
the breastwork was continued 10 the railroad
embankment. Beyond the railroad, but com.
pletely protecting the right flank OF the main
battery, was a small battery, of irregular
shape, communicating with a system OF thir.
teen redans. OF rifle pits, each pair of which
were constructed on d knoll rising between
ravines. From the railroad westward a swift
deep brook with muddy bottom, and a wide
border of swamp on both sides, run in front of
the redans ; and On our side Of approach, the
timber was so very heavy, that, when felled,
ii presented barricade which would seem
enough of itself to stop an army of French
ZOuayes. On the brow eff each mound brush.
wood had been piled with regularity 10 the
height of four feet in front OF the redans, to
make it extremely difficult to take them by
assault from the front. The redans were con-
structed of heavy timbeTs covered with at
least five feet thickness OF earth, while an in
terror ditch of say three feet i'll depth gave
complete protection to the garrison from vol.
leys of musketry, or discharges OF grape or
canister shot.
THE BATTLE.
Early Friday morning, the troops were
al, .,l, H.,
line of battle was formed, and the order "For
ward went along the line. The different
brgades kept their chosen positions, Gen. Fos-
ter the right, Gen. Parke the center, and Gen
Reno the left. Our troops advanced under
cover of the woods until they came to an open
space where the rebel works revealed
The enemy opened upon our advancing troops
with two shots from their six pound batteries,
and followed it up by discharge OF musketry.
Capt. Dayton got his gun in position, and re-
piled effectively to their fire, supported by
sharp discharge of musketry from the Massa-
chusetts troops. Nothing but the heads of
men above the batteries could be seen, and
only portion OF them, but they sent perfect
shower OF balls to their 'front.' and the shot and
shell from their cannon came down the road,
blowing up the earth, or cutting Off the trunks
of trees.
Gen. Foster, whose brigade had advanced
by the stage road rapidly formed his regiments
in line OF battle in the fringe of woods skirting
the edge OF the field before the breastwork
the twenty-iourth Massachusetts, Colonel
Stevenson, on the extreme right; the twenty
fifth Massachusetts, Colonel Upton, next, with
its LETT resting on the road the twenty ninth
Massachusetts, Colonel Lee, next, with its
right resting on the road and the twenty
third Massachusetts,, Colonel Kurtz, on the
brigade left, with the tenth Connecticut in
reserve. To support this line against the
eighteen OIL twenty guns OF the enemy's bat
terry, our force had only a few pieces OF artil.
lery The rest was on the way, but did not
reach the field in time to participate in the
fight The disposition OF our artillery in sup
port of General Fosters position was as FOL
lows On the extreme right executive officer
McCook's battery OF boat howilzers IRON the
navy, manned by Lieutenants McCook, Ham.
mond, Daniels, and Tillotson, with marines
and detachment of the Union Coast Guard.
In the center, and near the road a twelve.
FOUNDER steel gun from the Cossack, manned
by Captain Bennett, his second mate, Mr.
Stroud captain OF the gum, and twenty OF
the ships crew. On the lett Captain Day ton .
battery, from the transport Highlander
After the first gun the enemy ran their flag
defanty up over the ralnparts, and opened
very briskly with round shot, grape, canister,
and shell. Their infantry were stretched out
the entire length Of the work between the
river and the railroad, and kept up an inces.