Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1862-03-23

Il.N
T,f.sr.s I: have the honor 20 report .nab
asser embarking the troops with when IN
tended 10 attack Newhern, in conluncnon Ml'n
me naval force, on the morning Q! we faD'
,endezvuus was made at Hatteras lnieb,
\ Flag Officer Goldsbogough having peen otuesI
"A N 'Hamuton Roads, the naval meet WAS ieA'
| IN command Of Commodore kowen;
~ EssI. ~ tha morning OF the i2th the entire
so..a stsrlsd ior NeNbern, and that night an
osa~.d m ,he mouth of Slocum's creek, some
s,ah,san miles from Newberp, where had
| 5scided 10 make landing
Thslandlur commenced at7 O'Clock the next
,,o,ninr. under cover Of the naval heet, and
vas effected with the greatest enthusiasm Dy
The troops. Many, too impatient Tor the boats
| leaned into the water, and waded waist-deep 70
The shore, and then, alter . toilsome march
through the mud, the head Of the column
marched within mile and half OF the enemy's
stronghold ct 9P. n distance OF twelve miles
| from the point of landing, where We biyouack-
| Cd for the night, the rear Of the column coming
m ,ri,h the 6oat boWitzers about 3 o'clock next
morning. the detention being caused by the
shonkipS condition OF the roads, consequent
unop tbe heavy rain that had fallen during that
dav and tho whole OF the night, the men often
wadiur sknee-deep in mud, and requiring a
| Whole regiment 70 drag the eight pieces which
| had been landed from the navy and our own
vessels.
By6ignaIs agreed upon, the naval vessels, with
| the armed vessels OF my force, were informed ol
| our progress, and were thereby enabled to as.
sist US much In our march by shelling the road
in advance.
AT daylight on the morning of the 18th or
| dered an advance of the entire division, which
will be understood by the inclosed pencil sketch
Gen. Fosters brigade was ordered up the main
\ country road 10 attack the enemy's left; Gen
Reno M the railroad to attack their right, and
! Gen. Perke to follow Gen. Foster and attack
the enemy in front, with instructions to support
either or both brigades.
! a must deter, for want OF time, detailed ac-
count of the action. IL ie enough to say that,
after an engagement Of four hours We succeed.
ed in carrying continuous line Of iieldwor ks Of
over mile in length, protected on the river
bank BY battery Of thirteen heavy guns, and
| on the opposite bank BY q line Of redoubts Of
over half mile in length for rifiemen and
Geld pieces, in the midst of swamps and dense
forests which line Of works was defended by
eight regiments of infantry, five hundred cav.
alFy, and three batteries Of field artillery, OF
six guns each. The position was finally carried
| by q most gallant charge Of our men, which en-
/ 6DlcO ub u Rulu tu0 ECut tuO w
| tween this point and Newbern, which was done
| by a rapid advance of the entire force up the
main road and railroad, the naval feet mean
| time pushing its way up the river, throwing
their shots into the forts and in front Of US -
The enemy, after retreatiDg In great confusion
+-throWing away blankets, knapsacks, arms,
etc.--acroes the railroad bridge and country
road burned the former and destroyed the draw
Of the latter, thus preventing further pursuit
and causing detention in occupying the town by
our military force; but the naval force had ar
rived at the wharves and commanded 1t by their
/ guns. at once advanced General Fosters
brigade to take possession Of the town by means
Of the naval vessels which Commodore Rowan
had kindly volunteered for the purpose. The
CITY was set on FIRE by the retreating rebels in
many places; but, owing 10 the exertions Of the
naval officers, the remaining citzens were in
duced To aid in extinguishing the flames, so that
but little harm has been done.
! Many of the citizens are returning, and we
are now In quiet possession of the city, We
have captured the printing press, and shall al
once issues daily sheet. By this victory ouI
combined force have captured eight batteries
containing forty-six heavy guns, and three bat
teries of light artillery, Of six guns each
making in all sixty-fo guns, two steamboats,,
Q number Of sailing vessels, wagons, horses, q
large quantity Of ammunition, commissary and
quartermaster's stores, forage, the entire camp
equipage of the rebel troops, large quantity
of rosin, turpentine, cotton, etc., and over two
hundred prisoners. Our loss, thus far aecer
tanned, will amount to ninety-one killed and
four hundred and sixty six wounded, many of
them mortally. Among these are some Of our
most gallant officers and men. The rebel loss
&. hukr af M q nur fkav ha
ing effectually covered by their works.
Too much praise cannot be awarded to the
officers and men for their untiring exertions and
unceasing patience in accomplishing this work.
The etfecting Of the landing and the approach
to within q mile and half Of the enemy's
works on the 18th, consider as great victory
as the engagements of the l4lh. Owing 10 the
difficult nature of the landing, our men we're
forced TO wade ashore waistdeep, march
through mud to point twelve miles distant,
bivouao In low marshy ground in rain storm
for the night, engage the enemy at daylight in
the morning, fighting them for four hours amid
a dense fog that prevented them from seeing
the position Of the enemy, and finally advancing
rapidly over bad roads upon the city. In the
midet Of ell this not q complaint was heard; the
men we're only eager to accomplish their WORK.
Every brigade, and In fact every regiment, and
1 can almost cay every officer and man Of the
force landed, was in the engagement.
The men are all in good spirits, and under the
are in good health I beg to say
TO the General Commanding that have under
ny command division that can. be relied upon |
n any emergency.
A more detailed report will be forwarded as
Joon as ! receive the brigade returns. The
Generals having been 10 the midst of
heir regiments whilst under fire, will be able
10 give me minute accounts.
beg to say to the General commanding the
army that have endeavored to carry out the
very minute instructions given me by him before
leaving Annapolis, and thus far events have
been singularly eoincident with his anticipa-
tons. only hope that we may in future be |
able to carry out In detail the remaining plans |
of the eampaigDj the only thing have to re-
yret is the delay caused BY the elements.
l desire again TO bear testimony TO the gal
antry of our naval feet, and 10 express my |
shanks TO Commander Rowan and the officers
under him for their hearty and cheerful co-ope- |
ration in this movement--ther assistance vas
;imely and of great service In the accomplish |
nent Of our undertaking.
/ omitted TO mention that there was large
lrrival Of reinforcement of the enemy In New
perm during the engagement, which retreated
With the remainder Of the army BY the cars
md the country roads.
have the honor, General, to be your obedient
ervant, A. Z. BURNSIDE,
Brig. Gen. Commanding Departments N C
.------------s,--.--
IT is a favorite allegation With Abolition ists |
hat Democrats set elavery above the Union. |