Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-03-21

NEwnERx. n. c.. March Is. 1862.


then we made Tor land. 1t was rather ex-
citing assure you. We expected the enemy
would oppose our landing, but cur gunboats
shelled the shore, and we landed without
trouble. The spot where we landed was one
OF great beauty, and l could not but notice
it, though under other circumstances l might
have been more minute in my observations.
The water was very shallow and our boats
got stuck about ten rods from shore. Then
the rebels might have given US bricks, al.
though our gunbuats could have bricked them
in return. The shore was thcky wooded
with live oak trees and these were complete
ly draptd with long gray moss from two to
four feet long, hanging III teStoomS, and waving
gently III the breeze.
When IL sufficient number had landed, we
made an advance Capt. Pickett with halt of
our company going ahead. | was sent on
ahead OF these with Il couple of men, for two
miles or SO. We then waited for the remain
der to come up. AS our brigade opened the
ball at Roanoke, the 2nd brigade was to COM
mence this, and our gunboaIs were TO follow
up and take care Of the shore batteries and
wei they dld Their part, cleaning out three or
four Ut them entirely, and getting to NewbeIn
OF course before we did. The rebels have
sunk vessels i'll the channel as suai and had
placed Internal machines or torpcdoes in the
water to blow up our vessels, but ii was no
go, and our Jack tars laughed at their whole
plan OF stopping up the river, and thought 1t a
"bu Of joke" We landed on the morning OF
the thirteenth, and marched slowly towards
Newborn. We passed rude huts where the
rebel mounted plcketS had been stationed, al
so an extensive camp with barracks &C. which
the rebels had lett in hurry, dishes on the
tables, &c. Ii came on to rain now and sorry
march we had the rest OF the day. We passed
also large battery not compete-no guns
mounted, but il was very extensive affair
ZOO yards long, perhaps, with rifle pits and eX'
ieDslve breastworks, and every thing ready for
the cannon. This was at the point where the
railroad meets the common road, and, if
manned, would have troubled us great deal
We marched on in the mud and rain, and at
night bivouacked in the woods, sleeping on
the wet, soaked ground We had landed in
light marching order, and had nothing but our
rubber blankets With these we sergeants
formed sort OF tent. This kept the rain off,
and hire at one end made us comfortable
only it ,raS wet on the ground
The longest night has all end " and SO had
this. AT early dawn we were on the march,
and soon heard the guns of the advance egi.
ments. We now filed into the woods and ad.
with great caution. Coming to a halt, our
company ON The right, we could see the flash
OF the rebels guns rom their battery. was
sent ahead with two men, to see If | could
discover anything. About a quarter OF a mile
ahead lounu man on a stump, evidently
on the look, out. Jaalam Gates, who was witt,
me, wanted TO fire. Said he, Sergeant, can
pop him like turkey" But l ordered him
not to fire, as it would expose our whole line.
So we went back and reported. The line ad--
Vanced, and we soon lay before the rebel bat
terry. While waiting Tor orders, we suddenly
received tue fire from u masked battery ON
our right that We were net aware Of A fire
IN our front, HE ON our rght-bolh good
range-and shells from our gunboats, as we
supposed las this was near the shore, running
TO the rd,To0d J-these shells flying over our
heads-the whole making it bad fix for u.s.
Our only way was TO throw ourselves fiat ON
the ground at every fire, thus escaping the
grapeshOt that flew around US thick as hail
-Four men fell at the first fire, from the
cursed battery on outright. We were ordered
TO tall back, which we did as well as we could,
and advanced III another direction 10 support
the 24th. tell you, it is a hOrrld sight to see
men laIl around you, ana know that your turn
may come next. We soon heard cheering
from our men, and, advancing at double quick,
we were soon among them. Our men swarmed
into that battery like SO many bees, and the
Stars and stripes soon waved from the battery
AS is the case always, the woods were cut
down, and all Instructions removed around
the battery for a distance OF two or three hun
dred yards. This gave then: splendid range
AS we advanced across this opening, we came
right 10 our own guns, three, | believe, man
ned by our Nary Boys, These were right on
the edge OF this opening, and the captain of
one OF the guns begged IA detail OF men TO help
man his guns, as, says lie, "we have lost al.
most all our men," He got his detail of men
from US, and on we went. Our own battery
ha indeed suffered badly-the gunners, poor
fellows, lay around there dead and dying, and
turned away from the sight and joined III the
wild hurrdh which issued from tile thruals OF
our own brave boys
Now for an incident | think YOU spoke of
incidents. As we crosse d this opening toward
the battery, shots came from the right, whether
IRON lie battery on the ri ght or from our own
gunbOats, don't know, but come they did,
anu round shot came among us, knocking
over three Of Company a, myself among the
number. One man only was wounded, and
he very badly. His name is Pike, and this
morning he was alive We could not wait,
but kept on into the battery. WAS conscious
of sharp, quick pain, sudden fall, and dlz.
zy, sckenlng feeling tor couple ut hours
nothing more. ] don't like such incidents
they are not pleasant. We did not tarry here
long, and, from the short look | had, there
was sight which would make you sh.dder
Perhaps there were fifteen guns, splendid
pieces rified and in good condition, most of
them. Dead men and dy ing men, dead horses
and dying horses, blood oh, my God, it was
horrid Roanoke was nothing compared with
this. We are :old that they had from three
to five thousand men here behind this battery,
and yet we took it.
We hurried on alter the flying rebels, Co.
A acting as skirmishers. We could see them
as they retreated in big hurry, and we took
to the railroad and marched on toward New
bern We could see on the track rebels re-
treating toward Newbern, and we followed as
fast as we could. Wewere pretty well tagged
out, but there were rebels n SIGHT, and that
| spurrcd us on. We found a small squad of
men in the woods, waving white hawlker
| Chief on Il bay net Poor devils they looked
hard. Some were wounded aud ali seemed
| glad to get among us. Others turned back on
the railroad, and gave themselves up. In the
woods, on the right, were a number of rebel
ambulances, with dead and wounded men
around, but the drivers and horses had zone
and lett them. We now came in sipht of
Newbern, or rather Il dense mass of smoke
rolling up in great clouds, and mixed with
| flames of fire. The rebels had set the town
on fire, and also the long railroad bridge The
| heavens were black with smoke, rising from
| the quantity OF turpentne and resin We
crossed the river here in boats, and took nos
session of the town.
We are qual tered now in what was the
Merchants Bank. We have had some cav
times. The town is deserted by most of its