Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1862-03-27


the Battle-Ground and its surroundings, which If we
cond avail ourselves of the services Of engraver we
would try to reproduce for the satisfaction and inorma-
ton of our readers.
The Neuse river at Newbern rms nearly from North
West 10 South East. The Trent River whose general
course is from East to West makes sudden turn It's
course being nearly North at its Junction WIFI LUG
Ncugs. making "a obtuse angle with that river AZ
fine mint Of this angle formed by the junction OF the
too rivera tIe town of Newbern is situated. The
Trent River is or was crossed at the town by the rail-
road bridge and little above by the county bridge.
The Atlantic aid North Carolina Railroad crosse
the Trent River nearly at right angles and purSues its
av TO the coast at Morehead City, nearly parallel with
fbe Southern bank Of the Neuse River, but gradually
leaving il to the North the Of the railroad beng
more SoutborlY than that of the river. The county
roads follows more nearly the direction of the NeuSe'
The defensive works on the river were Fort Lane,
miles below Newbern Fort Ellis, probably little
over mile below Fort Lane Fort Thompson, D miles
blIov Ncwbern, and still farther down little gun
battery which had to be evacuated before the tight as
none Of its guos bore on the land and lis little garrison
would inevitably have been cut of. Between Fort
Ellis and ort Thompson was two-gun covered battery
manned by Company from the first Maryland regI-
ment commanded by Captain Edelin,. The ob8truc-
tons il tie river rather above Fort thompson
and the eDemys feet had obligngy come and placed
itself directly in front Of the guns of Fort Thompson it
would, no doubt, have been badly used up. But the
guns Of the Fort were arranged that the fleet could
lie below at only halt a mile off and shell the Fort at
their leisure, while but one gun, cd 81 FOUNDER
rGad, could be brought to bear upon them
The defensive line of entrenchments behind which our
forces were drawn up from the river at Fort IhomP
son. to q swamp, about mile, the river being on the
left tie railroad and the swamp on the right Resting
Oh Fort Thompson the line Of course i've miles be-
low Newbern The plan OF defense from the river at
Fort Thompson to the swamp ct the right OF the Kali
road was that recommended by General Hill and was
no doubt good one but it not carried out, by the
omission to mount guns at the points where the Rall-
road and County road crossed pierced the enrench-
mmt Iathams battery was stationed at the county
road Three regiments of troops with the militia held
the entertainments between the river and the Railroad.
Thee ronimcus were Lees, Campbes and Sinclair's.
Two regiments we're stationed to the rear Of the swamp
and to he right Of the Railroad, to wit :-Averys and
Vuncas The companies Of Captains Whitford and
Herring we're in Fort Thompson. Col. Crossan (Com'
maudor CIos-an 2 commanded the guns at the Fort.
Wle-. the railroad crosses the entertainments was a
cut The enemy marched up the railroad which was
neither defended by brcastworks nor swept by cannon
CLly were gong 10 plant cannon sometime got IN the
rear and Oh tie flank Of the militia, who had to give
way. The order to retreat was passed down the line
from d q railroad TO Fort Thompson, the companies in
which, guoraat Of what had happened on the right
were surprised at receiving such an order. The two
regiments to tie right and of the railroad anc
swamp Lad some hard lighting after the order to retreat
had become general along the line from the railroad
the river.
All Major Thompsons distractions in the rive
amounted to nobug--bis torpedoe8 were not heard Of
The guuboas came up one after another right in tn
tract OF ouy boat, the Albemare or rather in tn
sam. track which the Albemare always took. Cap
Edeins Company in the twOgun covered battery mex
above Fort Thompson could do nothing after the retrea
of tie whole army below, but take few random shot
at the uemys feet as it passed up the river, shen
the woods which covered our retreating forces.
The conclusion Of our correspondent is that there We
work enough and guns enough below Newbern, to hay
saved The town, if tie work had been properly don
and The guns properly placed, and that the eng
nCer, Major ". BEyERHoUT THOMPSON ought
be disposal Of gotten rid o sent of, sacrificed for Il
good Of the million people who live in North Caron
for that before and since the commencement OF this
he has done the State more harm than Burnside himse
Our correspondent is lot singular in his opinion. Wh
sin our State hes committed, or to what faulty o.
people are given that they WILL spite Of everythn
cling 10 a man like MIR. Thompson, whose only reco
with s that Of almost invariable failure and loss
he YUh liz IA than lOOu ataD1
say.
There may hove been, and no doubt there was an
Tor in the placing Of the troops 1t may have be-
and no doubt was mistake to place the militia in su
an exposed position but the main fault was, that CT
non were not planted so as to sweep the wide openi
in the line there undeendud by breastworks. With
troops exposed the militia were, we suppose retr
was a mere question of time.
We learn from various quarters that General Bra1
bore himself firmly and brayey as any man could, ?
serving his GOODNESS and presence of mind and doing
that man in his circumstances could. 1t is proper
add that we have by inquiry satisfied ourselves that
militia made very crediable stand for comparati
Iy raw and effectively armed body of men.
The first attack of the enemy appears to have b.
made upon the point where the county road pas
through cur entertainments, and this was expected
be the main attack, but the enemy were driven b
there by Lathams grape and canister. Subsequen
they made for the opening where the railroad pas
through. There was no grape and canister, and the
suit is known. The engineer was possibly going to
up guns God save the State
In SERVICE AGAIN.-We were pleased night bel
last to see our friend ". 4. Allen Esq, of Dupin,
served as Lieutenant in of the FIRST six months
NAMES If whom few were accented AT the hepinni