Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1862-03-20
BURNSIDE AGALv Ucr0RIOUs
DESPERATE FIGHT.
Our Loss 100 Killed and 400 wounded


The steamer Commodore arrived at Balti-
more Tuesday morning direct from Burnside's
expedition, and brings the news of the capture
of Newbern, N. G., on Friday. The enemys
works were defended by force Of from 5000
to 10000 men with twenty-one guns posted
behind formidable batteries over two miles long.
The fight was one of the most desderate of the
war Our troops behaved with the steadiness
and courage of veterans, and after nearly four
hours hard fgh ing drove the rebels out of all
their positions, capturing three light batteries
of field artillery, forty-siS heavy siege guns,
large stores of fixed ammunito 3, three thou
sand stand of small arms, and two hundred
prisoners, including one colonel, three captains
and four lieutenants. The enemy left large
number of dead on the field. They escaped by
cars to Goldsboro, burning the bridges over the
Trent and Cla 'emont rivers, and firing he city
OF Newborn No extensive damage was done
to the place. We lost about 100 killed and
400 wounded mostly of New England rpgi-
ments. Rev o. n. Benton is among The killed.
Major Legendre of the New York jlst gsgi-
ment was MORALLY wounded. Lieut. Col AIer-
rltt OF the 23d Massachusetts, and AdiuiaHi r.
A. Stearns Of the Dist Massachusetts regiment,
from Amherst, were killed. and their bodies
are on the way home. Sergeant Major ID. II.
Johnson of the SD Massachusetts regiment
came passenger to Baltimore, on the steamer
in charge of the bodies Of Lieut. Coz Merritt
and Adjutant Stearns, who brayely fell while
leading on their regiments in the attack on the
enemys batteries. Major Johnson was in the
fight and gives the following
PARTICULARS OF THE BATTLE.
Our troops under Gen. Burnside, landed
Thursday evening near the mouth of Swan
Creek the W st side of the Neuse river, fifteen
miles below Newbern. Owing to the dense fog
the naval vessels did uot participate in the fight
Ear.y Friday morning the fight commenced
We advanced gradually, the enemy deserving
their guns, until we reached q line Of earth
works extending across the road from the riv-
or TO the swamp on the west, distance of
some two miles. These earthworks are very
strong. They were located about two miles
south of Newbern, and between there and the
city runs the Trent river 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 felled a
| large number of trees, forming an almost i'm
| pedetrable abatts. Here the flying rebels
| were rallied, and made for awhile desperate
stand. Our brave fellows fought until all their
/ ammunition was spent, WncH an OlueI 10 charge
bayonets was given, and the works were finally
taken at the point of the bayonet. The enemy
fed like frightened sheep, leaving everything
behind them. In their retrea, they burned the
badges communicating with the town over
both the country road and the railroad. As
they had trains of cars in their rear, just across
the bridges, they were Of course able to carry
off their wounded and dead. Their loss is not
certainly known but must have been pretty Sc
we're.
Our entire loss is estimated at 80 killed and
400 wounded and missing. The force of TIE
rebels is supposed to be about 5000. We cap
tured number of prisoners, including Col
Avory, who cursed his soldiers as cowards.-
AS the battle terminated, the fog lifted and en-
abled our gunboats, which had teen inpatient
ly waiting for an opportunity to participate in
the fight, to come up the river, and our troops
were furnished with the means of trOnsporta-
ton across the Trent river to Newbern. The
rebels attempted TO fire the town on their re-
treat, but were prevented by the citizens, who
extinguished the flames as fast as they were
started by the soldiers.
, None of our generals nor any Of our staff
officers were either killed or wounded. We
/ captured from thirty to fifty cannon.