Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-03-19

to 60 killed, aud $50 to 800 wounded. The
fight took place on Friday last. There are
rumors here that one ofour Brigadier Gen
erals was killed, but this is not thought to
be reliable.
THIRD DISPATCH.
Sergt. Major D. H. johnson, of the 2sd
Massachusetts, regiment, came passenger by
the steamer Commodore, in charge of the
bodies of Lieut.. Col. Merritt, of the 23d
Massachusetts regiment, and Adjt Stearns,
OF the 2lst Massachusetts regiment, who
brnyely fell while leading on their regi-
ments in an attack on the enemy's batter
les at Eewbern.
From Maj. Johnson. who was in the fight,
We gain the following interesting particu-
lars of the battle:
Our troops, under Gen. Burnside, landed
on Thursday evening near the mouth of
Swann creek, on the west side of the Neuse
river and fifteen miles below Newbern.-
Owing 10 the dense fogs the naval vessels,
did not participate in the fight.
Early on Friday morning the fight com
menced. Our troops advanced along the
! country road running parallel with the
Neuse river, but a mile or two in the rear.
The road was skirtcd on the west side BY
the railroad and dense swamp. All
along the river side were series of bat
teries, which were taken by our troops one
after another, after some bloody hand to
! hand contests.
Our troops were divided into three di.
visions, under the command of Generals
Reno, Foster and Parke. We advanced
gradually, the enemy deserving their guns,
until we reached line of earthworks, ex.
tending across the road from the river to
the swamp. On the west, n distance of
some two miles, these earthworks were
very strong, They were located about two
miles south of Newbern, and between these
and the city ran the Trent. The country road
and the railroad both passed through these
works and crossed into the city by bridges.
In front of these works the rebels had teIled
large number Of trees, forming an almost
impenetrable abattis. Here tue flying reb-
els were rallied, md made for while a
desperate stand.
Our brave fellows fought until all their
ammunition was spent, when an order to
charge bayonets was given, and the works
were finally taken at the point of the bny-
onet, the enemy flying like frightened
sheep, leaving everything behind them in
their retreat. They burnt the bridges
communicating with the town, over both
the country road and the railroad. AS
they had trains of cars in their rear, lust
across the bridges, they were of course
able to carry OF their wounded and dead.
The LnQMirer's special says; The enemy's
works, six miles below Newberu, we're at
tackled on Friday morning Inst They were
defended by force of about 10, 900 strong
and had twentY-one guns posted behind
formidable batteries over two miles long.
The fight was the most desperate of the
war. Our troops behaved with the steadi-
ness and courage of veterans, aud after
nearly four hours hard lighting, drove the
rebels out of all their positions, captured
three light batteries of field artillery, forty
six heavy siege guns, large stores of fixed
ammunition, 5000 small arms and 200
prisoners, including one Colonel, three
Captains and four Lieutenauts. The enc
my left large number of dead ON the
heId. They escaped by cars to Gslds-
borough, burning the bridges over Trent
and Gleremont rivers and firing the city of
Newbern. No extensive damage was done
TO the place.
We lost about 100 killed aud 400 wouu
ded, mostly belonging to New England
regiments. Rev. o. n. Benton, killed; Mai.
Legende, 5lst N. Y, mortality wounded;
Lient. Col. Merritt, of 23d Mass, Adi't F.
a. Stearns. 2lst Mass, of Amherst, also
killed and their bodies are GU their way
home.
Their loss is therefore not certainly
AuoWn' mt must nave been pretty severe
Before our troops reached this last work
they encountered another which was de-
serted before they came up. 1t was in
front ofthis last forti6cation that the great.
est loss was sustained. Our entire loss
is estimated by Major johnson at 80 killed
and 400 wounded and missing. The force
ofthe rebels is supposed to have been about
5000. Wecaptured number of prisoners.
Just as the battle terminated the foo
lifted aud enabled our gunboats, which had
been impatiently waiting for an opportuni.
y to participate in the fight, to come up
the river, and our troops were furnished
with meaps of Transportation across Trent
river to NeWberu.
The rebels attempted to fire the town on
their retreat, but were prevented BIZ the
citizens who extinguished the flames us
last as they were started by the soldiers.
None OF our Generals nor any staff off.
GERS were either killed or wounded.
We captured from 80 to so cannon
The officers of the rebels left their private
traps behind in their final retreat, and men
threw away everything.
The fight terminated at O'Clock on Fri.
day evening, when our troops remained
masters the position.
Fighting at Island No. 10.