The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-03-21
BURNSIDE AGAIN VICTORIOUS.
Newbern, y. c.. Captured after a De>per-
ate Fight.

The steamer Commodore arrived al Balti-
more Tuesday morning direct from Burn
sides expedition, and brings the news of the
captsre of Newbern, y. C.. on FRIDAY The
enemy's works were defended bv force o.
from 5000 to l0,0D0 men with twenty-0ne
guns posted behind formidable batteries
over two miles long. The fight was one Of
the most desperate of the Wal. Oar troops
behaved with the steadin ass and courage Of
veterans. and after nearly four hours hand
lighting drove The rebels ont of all their posi-
tons. capturing three light batteries of field
artillery. forty-six heavy siege guns, large
stores of fixed ammunition, three thousand
stand of small arms, and two hundred pris-
oners. including one colonel, three captains
and four lieutenants. The enemy left 4
large number of dead on the field They es-
capped by cars 10 Goldshoro. burning the
bridges. the Trent and Ciaremont rivers.
and firing the city of Newborn. No extern
sive damage xas done to the place We
lost about loo killed and 100 wounded.
mostly of New England regiments. Rev o.
y. Benton is among the killed. Major
Legendre of the New York JlS. regiment
vi ~
Of the I'D Massachusetts, and Adiutant +.
\. Stearns OF the 2lst Massachusetts resi-
ment, from Amherst. were killed. and their
bodies are on the way home. Sergeant Ma
jor ID. III. Johnson q: the o:id Mass achuseiis
regiment came passenger 10 Baltimore, on
the steamer in charge of the bodies of Lieut.
Col Merritt and Adjutant Stearns. who
hraye.y fell while leading on their regiments
in the attack on the eremys batteries. Ma
jor Johnson WAS in the fight and gives the
following
PARTICULARS OF THE rATTIE
Our troops under Gen Burnside, landed
Thursday evening near the mouth of Swan
Creek. the west side of the Neuse river, fl
teen miles below Newbern. Owing 10 the
dense fog the naval vessels did not partici-
pate in the fight. Early Friday morning the
fight commenced. Our troops advanced
along TIE country road running parallel with
the NenSe river. but a mile or two IN the
rear. The read is skiried on the west side
by the Railroad and dense sxamn. All
along the river side were series of batteries
when were taken by our troops one after
another, after some bloody hand TO hand
contests.
Our troops Were divided INTO three brig
AIDES under Gems Reno. Foster and Parks
We advanced gradually. the enemy deserving
their guns. until We reached line of earth
works extending across the road from the
river 10 the swamp on the west, a distance O.
some two miles. These earthworks were
very strong. They were located about two
miles south of Newbern. and between there
and the city rms the Trent river. The
country road and railroad both passed through
these works. and crossed into the city b,
bridges. In front of these works the rebels
mad teiled large number of trees. forming
an almost impenetrable abattiS. Here the
flying rebels were rallied. and made for
while 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 bayonet. The enemy fed like fright
ened sheep, leaving everything behind them.
In their retreat they burned the bridges COM
mnnieating with the town over both The
country road ard railroad. As ttey had
trains of cars in their rear. Just across the
bridges. they of course were able TO carry off
N''NA Ntdu 1Gt.T loss Is there
fore not certainly known bu. must have been
pretty severe. Before cur troops reached
this last work, they encountered, another.
which had been deserted. 1t was in front of
the last Notification that the greatest loss
was sustained.
Our entire loss is estimated at 80 killed
and 400 wounded and missing. The force O.
the rebels is supposed to have been abou.
eoOo. We captured 4 number of prisoners.
including Col Ayory, who cursed his soldiers
as towards. As the battle terminated. the ,
foS Intel and enabled our ganboats, which .
had been impatienily waiting for an opportu-
niiy TO participate in the fight, to come un
the river, and our troops were furnished with
the means OF transportation across the Trent
river TO Newborn. The rebels attempted TO
fire the town on their retreat, but were pre-
vented by the citizens, who extinguished the
flames as fast as they were started by the
soldiers.
None of our generals nor any staff officers
were either killed or wounded. We caotur-
tured from thirty to fifty cannon. The Off
GERS of the rebels left their private traps be- Il
hind in their final retreat. and the men threw
away everything. The fight terminated at
) o clock Friday afternoon, when our troops
- Tnoc r