The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1862-03-26
Capture of Newborn, North
CAROLINA = Desperate Fighting
Capture Of "a Large amount of Stores
--Newbern Burnt.
Especial to the Times.1

--Nev6erR Burnt.
Especial to the Times.1
BALTIMORE, March 18--The enemy's
works, six miles below Newbern, were at
tackled on Friday morning last. They
were defended by force 10000 strong.
having Il guns posted behind formidable
batteries over two miles long. The fight
was one of the most desperate of the war.
Oar troops behaved with great stesdiness
and courage. and after nearly four hours
hard fighting, drove the rebels from all
their positions, capturing three light bat
teries of field artillery, 46 heavy siege
guns. large stores of fixed ammunition,
5000 stand of small arms, and 200 pris-
oners, including one Colonel, Captains
and 4 Lieutenants. The enemy left a
large number of dead on the field. They
escaped by cars to Goldsboro. burning the
bridges over the Trent and Claremont.
and firing the city Of Newbern. No ex-
tensive damage was done to the place.
We lost about 100 killed, and 400 wound
ed mortally. of the New England regi-
ments. E .1ss slsgae e tz4
Rev. o M. Benton was among the
killed, aud Major Legender, of the Fifty
6rst New York Volunteers, mortally
wounded. Lieutenant Colonel Merritt,
of the Twenty. third, Massachusetts, and
4 Adjutaut F.. A. Stearns. of the Twenty.
first Massachusetts,, of Amherst, we're al.
so killed.
BALTIMORE, March 1S--Sergt. Maj
D. s. Johnson, of the Twenty third Mas.
sachusetts Regiment, came up passenger
by the steamer Commodore From him
we learn the following interesting partic-
ulars: .
Il tOur troops, under General Burnside
we're landed On Thursday evening neal
the mouth of Swan Greek. on the ives,
side of the Neuse River, fifteen miles be-
low Newbern. Owing to dense fog
the naval vessels did not participate in
the fight. Early on Friday morning tn,
fight commenced. Our troops advanced
along the country road running parable
with the Neuse River, but mile or tive
in the rear. The road was skirted on th'
west side by railroad and dense swamp
All along the river side were a series o
batteries, which were taken by our troop
one after another, after some bloody hant
"Oar troops were. divided into three
brigades, under Generals Reno, Foste
and Parks. We advanced gradually, tn,
enemy deserving their guns, until w
reached line of earthworks extending
across the road, from the river to tn,
swamp oa the west. distance of som
two miles,. These earlhworks were yer!
strong; they were located about two mile
south of Newbern, and between these ant
the city ran the rivs". Trent. The countr,
roads and the railroad both passed
Through these works, and crossed into the
city by bridges In front of these work,
the rebels had felIed large number o
trees, forming an Almost impeaetrable
absttis. Here the flying rebels we're raj
lied, and made, for while, desperate
stand. 81
"Our men fought until all their ammu
milton was spent, when on order to charg
bayonets was given. and the works wer,
finally taken at the point of the bayonet
the enemy flying and leaving everything
, behind them in their retreat. The rebeli
burnt the bridges communicating witt
the town over which the country roaG
T aud the railroad ran. As they had theil
trains of cars 10 their rear just across the
} bridges, they, of course, were able to car
i ~ off their wounded and dead. Their
loss is, therefore. not certainly known, bu
it must have been severe. Before oul
i troops reached this last work, they en-.
countered another. which was deserted
before they came up. a ,na sgoss4s-
/ ut was in front Of this last forti6ca
tion that our creates. less was sustained
The force of the rebels is supposed to
have been about eight thousand. We
captured number of prisoners including
! Colonel Avery. who. cursed his soldiers az
Towards Just as the battle terminated,
the fog lifted and enabled our zunboats.
which had been waiting for an opportuni-
ty to participate in the fight, to come up
the river, and our troops were furnished
with means of transportation across the
| Trent to Newbern. -
"The rebels attempted to FIRE the town
| in their retreat, but were prevented by
the citizens, who extinguished the flames
as fast as they were started by the sol
ders. None Of our Generals or staff of
i
tured from thirty to City cannon. The
officers of the rebels left their baggage
behind, and the men threw away everys
thing. The eight terminated at three o.
clock P, NJ on Friday, when our troops
remained masters of the field.
Geod News from Florida
WASHINGTON. March l9 The steam