Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1862-03-27
More about the Battle and Capture Of
NeWbeFn.

About two miles below the city the rebels
had taken up strong position, and there
made desperate stand. At that point took
place the main battle Of Che day Our troops
fought with splendid and uuhinching bravery
till the order was given to make the charge
Then, at the point Of the bayOuet, they
drove the enemy from their place. and sent
them flying in an ing!orious retreat, which
had all the characteristics of a panic. The
officers and men disencumbered themselves of
their private property, and left all things as
they fell from their hands. Having control of
the railroad in their rear. the rebels used it to
its fullest capacity, and made of to Colds
boro' as they took with them many of their
dead and wounded, we can form only rude
conjecture as to the extent of their loss. 1t
is thought that, ia spite of the fact of their
lighting under shelter, they must have Suffered
though NOT ascertained with entire accuracy,
is probably not far from sixty TO seventy killed
and three hundred wouaded.
The number of Union troops engaged in this
battle is not distinctly given, but it is proba-
BILE that we had not far from eleven thousand,
the enemy is supposed to have had fifteen
thousand
The value of the public property captured
is enormous, consisting Of ffty-three heavy
cannon and field pieces, ammunition, quarter.
masters and commissary stores in large guam
titles, cotton, &c. Probably $4,000, 600 would
not purchase the articles at first hand But
the victory is the more important from the fact
that it places Beaufort and Fort Macon at
our mercy, and opens up to US by railroad the
direct lines of communication between the
rebel army and the country which supports it.
Gen. Burnside, in his official report, says =
L" must defer, for want of time, a detailed
account of the action. 1t is enough 10 say
that, after an engagement of four hours, we
succeeded in carrying q continuous line OF
feldworks of over a mile in length, protected
on the river baBk By battery of thirteen
heavy guns, and on the opposite bank by a
line of redoubtS of over half mile in length
for rifltmen and feldpieces. in the midst OF
sRamps and dense forests which line of works
was defended by eight regiments of infantry,
Eve hundred cavalry, and three batteries OF
field artillery, of six guns each. The position
was finally carried By most gallnat charge of
our men, which enabled Us to gain the rear of
oil the batteries between this point and New
bern, which was done by q rapid advance of
the entire force up the main road and railroad, !
the naval feet meantime pushing It's way up
the river throwing their shots into the forts |
and in front of US The enemy after retreat |
ing in great confusion, throwing away blank |
cts. knapsacks. arms, &c, across the railroad |
bridge aud country road, burned the former |
and destroyed the draw of the latter, thus pre- j
venting further pursuit, and causing detention |
in occupying the town by our military force, |
bat the naval force had arrived at the wharves |
and commanded it with their gnns. / at once |
advanced Gen. Fosters brigade to take pos. |
session of the town by means OF the naval yes |
sels, which Commodore Rowan bad kindly |
volunteered for the purpose. The city was
set on FIRE By the retreating rebels in many
places, but owing to the exertions of the naval
officers, the remaining citizens we're induced to
aid in extinguishing the flames so that but !
zens are now reforming. and we are now in /
quiet possession of the town. We have cap
lured the printing press, and shall at once !
issue daily sheet. By this victory our CON
bined forces have captured eight batteries. /
containing forty-six heavy gu 5, aud three I
batteries Of light artillery of six guns each,
making in oil sixty-four gnns two steamboats,, |
q number of sailing vessels, wagons, horses, o
large quantity of ammunition, Commissary and 1
QuarteFnsster's stores, forage the entire camp
equipage of the rebel troops, large quantity !
Of resin. turpentine, cotton, &c, aud over two |
hundred prisoners Our loss. thus far aSceT- |
tanned, will amount TO niaety-one killed aud |
four hundred and sixty-six wounded, many OF
them uortslly- Among these are some of our
most gallant ofeers and men. The rebel loss
10 severe. bat not SO great as our own, they
being efectuslly covered by their works"