Smyrna times., 1862-03-27
ISCELLAN NEOUS.
The Battle of NeWbern.


Gen. Burnside mas chosen this time TO take
the country by surprise for while all eyes were
strained to follow the North Carolina Expedi-
ton, as it feels its way along the amphibious
region lying between Roanoke and Norfolk, not
without some fear lest a powerful force from
Manassas should precipitate itself upon and an
nhilate the unconcous army, he suddenly turns
up at the other end of Pamlico Sound, with |
bulletin announcing the capture of Newbern, |
after contest far more desperate and bloody |
than has yet been fought anywhere along the |
seaboard.
MOur recent experiences along the coast
leave no doubt that the rebel leaders have be-
come thoroughly convinced of the hopeessness
of withstandlng our resis!less flank attacks, and
have been forced into the general policy of
abandoning the seaboard wherever assailed by
our expeditions. But the great strategic i'm
poTiance of Newbern and it's railroad connec-
tions, made the possession worth a stout con.
test and The Richmond usurpers seem to have
been forced TO do their best to keep this impor
| tant position in their own hands. Accordingly,
! the approch to the town, on the west shore OF
| the Neuse River, was for several miles ffanked
| and fenced with powerful Notifications. manned
by ten thousand of their best troops. In mil.
itary point of view, these works appear TO have
been not badly planned; and their stronghold,
a couple of miles below the city, consisting ofa
| line of batteries and abattis extending two
miles from the river 10 the swamp, thus block
ing the whole line Of approach, must have been
formidable position TO occupy or to assail.
In what manner 1t was taken. after a prodigal
display of valor on the part ofour troops, and al
u cost of close on hundred lives, dear TO their
country, can be read in the narratives Of cor
respondents. 1t is probable that had the gun
| f0 rntifh fho lo nd
forces and shell out these works. the sacrifice
might have been much less but fog complete
ly enveloped the fleet, hiding from our impati-
ent tars the scene of operations. The land
force, therefore, has, this time, all the glory OF
a victory won at the point of the baycnet.
; The most cursory examination Of the map
will reveal the high value ofthe position which
Gen. Burnside has thus won. Directly south
some thirty miles, the railroad runs to Beaufort
which tails, as necessary logical consequence
: of our possession of Newbern. This will rein
state US in possession of another seacoas
stronghold, Fort Macon; while if our block
aders 1--WE understand new and vigiant onel
have been placed there,) take care to preven
the escape Of the Nashville, we shall seizt
that notorious craft, as it will be remembered
q she managed to run the blockade Of Beaufor
It two or three weeks ego, and has not since go
A out. Again, fifty miles inland by rail iron
Newbern we strike Goldsboro', on the RAILROAD
u line between Richmond and the South. From
le GOldsboro', 1t is but AZ miles, by the Mort
y Carolina Railroad, TO Raleigh, tho capital @
is the State, but which possesses at least equa
a Importance as the point through which tn
secondary and indirect communication of tn
Southern seaboard States with Eastern Virgir
s. ia is kept up. THIS is effected by the conneC
n tion by railroad of Charlotte, the western te
ts minus of the North Carolina Road, with III
Columbia branch of the South Carolina lin
= aud the connection Of Raleigh with Peter
CT burgh, Va, by the Raleigh. Weldon aud Ga
all ton Railroad. The seizure of Goldsboro' ar
Raleigh would efectualy close every availab
avenue of communication between the rebels
III Virginia and the South. Whether this proie
as can noto be carried out remains to be seen.
be We captured three light batteries of field a
ed tlIery, forty-six heavy siege guns, large stor
of fixed ammunition, and three thousand stai
70 of small arms, and among the prisoners are Of
ng Colonel, three Captains and four Lieutenan
They left number of their doad on the ieI
&c but as they carried off large part of the
dead and wounded, their loss cannot be know
30 Our loss is from ninety 10 ons hundred kile
ed aud some four hundred wounded. The reb
ire force was commanded by Gen. Lawrence o.
bar Branch, formerly member Of Congress frC
North Carolina.