The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1862-04-02
norn The Wilmington Journal

harm and fall, acquainted with the defences
~ that Mace and the course oil the hght,
ANA. no ! men and ink diagram Of the bat
Ta.eround and lis surroundings. which If we
couI,, avail ourselves OF the services OF an
eagrayer we would try to reproduce for the
sst;efaetion and information of our readers.
The Neuse river at Newbern runs nearly
from North West to South East. The
Trent River. whose general course is from
East to West, makes q sudden turn, its
course being nearly North at its junction
with the Neuse, making an obtuse angle
with that river. At the point Of this angle
formed by the junction Of the two rivers the
town of Newbern is situated. The rreut
River Is or was crossed al the town BY the
railroad bridge and q little above by the
county bridge.
The Atlantic and North Carolina Railroad
crosses the Trent River nearly at right an
giles. and pursues us way 10 the coast at
Morrhead City, nearly parallel with the
southern bank of the Nense River, but grad
ually leaving il to the North, the course of
the railroad being more Southery than that
Of the river. The county road follows more
nearly the direction of the Neuse.
The defensive works on the river were
Fort Lane. three miles below Newbern !;
Fort Ellis. probably little over mile be,
low Fort Lane Fort Thompson, Ave miles
below Newbern. aud still farther down a
little four gun battery, which had to be e.
vacnated before the fight. as none of its guns
bore on the land, and is little garrison
would inevitably have been cut off. Between
Fort Ellis and Fort Thompson was a two
gun covered battery manned BY Company
from the FIRST Maryland regiment, command
ed by Captain Edelin,. The distractions in
the river were rather above Fort Thompson.
and if the enemy's fleet had obiigingly come
and placed itself directly in front of the guns
of Fort Thompson il would, no doubt, have
been badly used up. But the guns of the
Fort ware so arranged that The feet COULD lie
below at only half mile of aud shell the
Fort at their leisure, while but one gun. an
old SO po0nder riaed, could be brought TO
bear upon them.
The defensive line Of entrenchments, be-
hind which our forces were drawn up, ran
from the river at Fort Thompson. 10 swamp.
about mile, the river being on the left. the
railroad and the swamp on the right. Rest
ing on Fort Thompson. the line was 81 course
Ave miles below Newborn. The plan of de-
Tense from the RIVER al Fort Thompson to
the swamp al the right Of the Railroad was
that recommended By General HILL. and wa.
no doubt good one, but il was not carried
out, by the omission a. mnunt guns AZ the
points where the Railroad aud County road
crossed or pierced the entertainment. La
tham's battery was stationed at the county
ERAdrsa hhlAtfffn End nSspPBt SsgR The
river and the Railroad These regiments
were Lees, CampbplPs aad S,nclair's Two
regiments were stationed to the rear of the
swamp, snd TO the right Of the Railroad. to
wit: Avery's and pance's. The companies
of Captains Whirford and Herring we're in
Fort Thompson. Col. Crossan Commando
Crossan p commanded the guns al the Fort.
Where the railroad crosses the entrench-
ments, was cut. TIE enemy marched up
the railroad, which was neither defended by
breasiworks nor swept By cannon, (they
were going to plant cannon sometime 7. goi
in the rear and on che flank of the militia,
Who hsd TO give way. The order 70 retreat
was passed down the line from the railroad
to Fort Thompson. the companies in which,
ignorant Of what had happened on the right.
were surprised at receiving such an order.
The two regiments to the right and rear Of
the railroad and swamp had some hard fight.
ing after the order 10 retreat had become
general along the line from the railroad to
the river.
All Major Thompson's distractions 10 the
river amounted 90 nothing-his torpedoes
were not heard of. The gOnbnsts came up
one after another right in the tract Of our own
boat. the Albrmarle. or raiher IN The sane
track which The Albemarie always took.
Capt. Edriin's Company in the two-gun CO.
vered battery next abnye Port Thompson
could do nothing alter tie retreat Of the
whole army below, but take a Few random
shots AZ the ehemy's feet as Il passed no the
river, sheIling The GOODS which covered our
retrrsling forces.
The conclusion Of sur correspondent is
that there vas work enough and guns nrugh
below Nesbern. 10 have saved the tawn, IL
the work had been properly dnne, and the
guns property placed. aud that the enginsef,
hajor W. BgyEsHour THpaP.ps opgbt 10 D.
disposed 81. cotton rad 81, sent of. sacrifir.