Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-03-19
NEWBERN CAPTURED!!
NINETY OF OUR TROOPS KILLED
FOUR HUNDRED WOUNDED.

BALTIMORE, March 18-Steamer Commo.
dore arrived here this morning, direct from
the Burnside expedition. She reports the
capture OF Newbern, North Carolina, and the
defeat OF the enemy there. They captured
large number Of pieces OF artillery. 1t was a
hard fought battle. Our loss was ninety killed
and four hundred wounded. Our men dis
played great bravery An officer left in the
Washington train Immediately after the arriv-
al of the Commodore with dispatches for the
government.
BALTIMORE, March 1S.-Scrgeant Major
ID. IL. johnson, of the twenty-third Massachu-
sets regiment, {, me passenger in the steamer
Commodore, in charge of the bodies ct Lieut..
Col. Merrll', of the twenty-third Massachu-
sets, and Adjutant Slearns, of the twenty
first, who bravely fell while leading on their
regiments, in the attack upon the enemy's bat
teries at Newbern. From Major johnson,
who was in the fight, we gather the following
interesting particulars
Our troops, under Gen. Burnside, landed,
Thursday evening, near the mouth OF Swan
Creek, ON the west side of Neuse river. fifteen
miles below. Owing to the dense fog the
naval vessels didn't participate in the tiuht.
Early FRIDAY morning the fight commenced.
Our troops advanced along the country, the
road running parallel with the Neuse river.
but a mile or two in its rear. The road was
skirted on the west side by the railroad and a
dense swamp. All along the river side was
series Of batteries, which were taken by our
troops in succession.
Alter some bloody hand to hand contests.
our troops were divided into three brigades.
under Gems. Reno Foster and Parks. We
advanced GRADUALLY tha annn,v doso,,;,,.
their guns until we reached line OF earth
works extending across the road from the
river 10 swamp on the west, distance of
some two miles These earthworks were very
strong, and were located about two miles
south of Newbern, and between there and the
city ran the Trent river. The country road
aud railroad both passed through these works,
and crossed into the city by bridges.
In front of these works the rebes had fclled
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 bayonels was given, and the works
were finally taken at the point OF the bayonet
the rebels scattering like sheep, leaving every
thing behind them.
In their retreat they burned the bridges com.
mnnicating with the town both by the country
roau anu the railroads.. AS theY had trains
OF cars III their rear Just across the bridges.
they, OF course, were able to carry off their
wounded and dead. Their loss is, therefore,
not certainly known, but must have been
pretty severe. Before our troops reached this
last work they encountered another, which
was deserted. 1t was in front Of this last
fertilization that the greatest loss was sus-
tanned. Our loss is estimated at ninety killed
an four hundred wounded and missing.
The force OF the rebels is supposed to have
been about 5000. We captured number of
prisoners, including Col. Avory, who cursed
his soldiers as towards. AS the battle termi-
mated, the fog cleared up and enabled our gun.
boats, which had been impatienIly waiting for
an opportunity TO participate in the light, TO
come up the river, and our troops were iur-
nished with means OF transportation across the
Trent river, to Newbern. The rebels attempt
ed to fire the town Gu their retreat but were
prevented by the citizens, who extinguished
the flames as fast as they were started by the
soldiers.
None of our generals or staff officers were
either killed or wounded. We captured from
thirty to fifty cannon. The officers OF the
rebels left their private property behind, in
their final retreat and the men threw away
everything. The fight terminated at 3 p. NJ.
on Friday, when our troops remained masters
of the position.
New YORK, March ia special dispatch
to the Tunes, from Baltimore, says that the
enemy's works, six miles below Newbe was
attacked on Friday last, defended by force
ten thousand strong, having twenty one guns
posted behind formidable batteries over Two.
thirds Of mile long. The fight was one of
the most desperate of the war. Our troops
behaved with the steadihess and courage of
veterans, aud after nearly four hours hard
fighting, drove the rebels from their positions
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 prisoners, including
one colonel, three captains, and four lieuten.
ants.
The enemy left large number of dead on
the field. They escaped by car to Goldsboro
burning the bridges over the Trent anil The
Claremont Rivers, aud firing the city of New.
bern. No extensive damage was done the
place. We lost about 100 killed and 400
wounded mostly of New England regiments.
Rev. o. N Bent is among the killed. Major
Lagendere, OF the New York 51st, is MORALLY
wounded. Lieut. Col Merritt of the 23d
Massachusetts,, and adjutant f. a. Stearns, of
the Dist Massachusetts, of Amherst, are killed
and their bodies on the way home.