Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-03-19
THE VICTORY IN NORTH CAROLINA.
Official Dispatch Of Gen. Burnside.
Hsadqxartsrs Department Of NORTH Cayolixa,
NvwpvRN March l6 1892


Official Dispatch Of Gen. Burnside.
Headquarters Department Of No,tk Ca,olisa,
NEwBKRN, March Is, 1862.
Gsa. L. Thomas, Adi'f Gsal U. S. Army
General: / have the honor to repsrt that, after
embarking the troops with which intended to
attack NewbeTn, in conjunction with the naval
force, on the morning Of the Ilth, rendezvous
was made at Hatteras Inlet.
Flag Ofhcer Goldsborough having been ordered
to Hampton Roads, the naval feet was left In
command Of Commodore Rowan.
Early on the morning Of the 18th the entire
force started for Newbern; and that night an.
chored of the mouth Of Slocur's Greek, some
eighteen miles from Newbern, where l had de-
cided to make a landing.
morning, under cover OF the naval feet, and was
effected with the greatest enthusiasm bv the troops
Many, too impatient for the boats leaped into the
| water, and waded waist deep to the shore; and
then, after a toilsome march through the mud,
the head Of the column marched within a mile
and half Of the enemv's stronghold at p. m, a
distance OF twelve miles from the point Of land
Ing, where we bivouacked for the night, the rear
| Of the column coming up with the boat howitIers
about three O'Clock next morning, the detention
| being caused by the shocking condition Of the
roads, consequent upon the heavy rain that had
the men often weding knee deep In mud, and
requiring whole regiment TO drag the eight
pieces which had been landed from the navy and
| OCT vessels.
b. signals agreed upon, the naval vessels, with
| the armed vessels Of my force, were informed Of
our progress, and were thereby enabled to assist
us much in our march by Smelling the road in
advance.
At daylight on the morning Of the 1ith or.
dered an advance Of the entire division, which
will be understood BY the enclosed pencil sketch
county road to attack the enemy's left; Gen Reno
| up the railroad to attack their right; and Gen
Parke to follow Gen. Foster and attack the enemy
In front, with Instructions to support either or
| both brigades.
| I must defer, for want Of time, detailed &C.
count OF the action. Ii 10 enough to say that, after
| an engagement Of four hours, we succeeded In
| carrying continuous line Of field work of over
| mile In length, protected on the river flank by a
| battery Of thirteen heavy guns, and on the op-
pos'te flank by line Of redoubts Of over half a
mile In length for rifemen and field pieces In
the midst of swamps and dense forests, which
line Of work was defended by eight regiments Of
infantry, five hundred cavalry, and three batteries
| Of field artillery, Of six guns each.
The position was finally carried by most gal
| liant charge Of our men, which enabled US to gain
the rear Of all the batteries between this point
and Newbern, which was done by rapid ad-
vance OF the entire force up the main road and
| railroad, the naval feet meantime pushing its
way up the river, throwing their shot into the
forts and in front of US
The enemy, after retreating in great confusion
| Throwing away blankets, knapsacks, arms, &c }
across the railroad bridge and the county road
bridge, burned the former, and destroyed the
draw Of the latter, thus preventing further pur-
suit, and causing detention in occupying the
town by our military force, but the naval force
had arrived at the wharves, and commanded IL
| by their guns.
| at once advanced Gen. Fosters brigade TO
take possession OF the town by means Of the ma
val vessels which Commodore Rowan had kind
ly volunteered for the purpose
The city was set on fire by the retreating rebels
In many places, but. owing to the exertioas Of
the naval officers, the remaining citizens were in
duced to aid In extinguishing the fames-so that
but little harm has been done
Many Of the citizens are now returning, and we
are now in quiet possession Of the city. We have
have captured the printing press, and shall at
once issue daily sheet.
BY this victory our combined force have cap
tured eig hit batteries, containing forty-six heavy
guns; three batteries Of artillery Of six guns each
and number Of sailing vessels. wagons horses
a large quantity Of ammunition, commit ssary and
quarermasters stores, forage, and the entire camp
equipage of the rebel troops; large quantity Of
rosin, turpentine, cotton, &c, and over two hun.
dred prisoners.
Our loss thus far ascertained will amount 10
ninety-one killed an four hundred aud sixty. six
wounded, many Of them MORALLY Among these
are some Of our most gallant officers and men.
The rebel loss Ia severe, but not SO great Az our
own, being efectually covered by their works.
Too much praise cannot be awarded to the ofa-
GERS and men for their untiring exertion and un.
ceasing patience in accomplishing this work
The efectlng of the landing and the approach TO
within mile and half Of the enemy's works on
gagement OF the 18th. Owing to the difficult
nature OF the landing our men were forced to
wade ashore waist.deeP, march through mud to
point twelve miles distant, bivouack in low
marshy ground, In a rain storm, for the night,
engage the emmy at daylight In the morning
lighting them for four hours amid dense fog
t ,S prevented them fom seeing the position Of
bad roads upon the CITY, In the midst Of all this
not complaint was heard; the men were only
eager 10 accomplish their work. Every brig ade
n faRf oyyaFNy SFE1ar
every of1cer and man Of the force landed was Ii,
the engagement.
The men are all In good spirits, and under the
clfcumstance: are in good health. l beg to say
TO the General Commanding that have under
my command division that can be relied upon
in any emergency.
more detailed report will be forwarded a.
soon as receive the brigade returns The Brio
adler Generals, having been in the midst Of ths1r
regiments whilst under dre, will be able to give
me minute accounts
l beg TO say TO the General Commanding the
army that have endeavored TO carry ont the
very minute instructions given me by him before
leaving Annapolis, and thus far events have been
sineularly coincdent with his antici pations' I
only hope that we may In future be able TO carry
out in detail the remaining plans Of the camnssan
| by the elements.
l desire again to bear testimony to the gail.ntry
OF our naval heet, and to express nv thanhs 10
| Commander Rowan and the officers under him
TO- thelr hearty ana cheerful cooperation in this
moVement-their assistance was timely and M
great service In the accomplishment Of our un-
| dertaking WI VII
omitted to mention that there was large ar.
iivsl OF endorsements Of the enemy in Newbern
au,ing ,ne engagement, which retreated with the
| try roads. INV '''"-
servant, Rnn..D"
Brig. Gen. Com'd'g Dept North Carolina.
+. ST. enclose the names Of killed and wopnd.
ed az far as received. The third brigade heinz
SO lar distant II Is impossible to communicate WITH
| II In time for this mail IVA
ADDITIONAL PARTICULARS.
Our troops, consisting of s, 600 men, under Gen
burnside, landed on Thursday evening of LAST
week near the mouth Of Slocum creek west sid e
Oh tne Neuse river, fifteen miles below Newbern
particp pate in the fight NV
Early on Friday morning the fight commenced
Our troops advanced along a country road nm.
4 m IN na llal