Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1862-04-02
AFFAIRS ABOUT NEWBERN.

AFFAIRS ABOUT NEWBERN.
The following additional particulars of the fight
t Newbern and of the affairs, since, are compiled
.ron, the Christian Sun at suffolk, Va. whose editor
has rust returned from visit in the nelShborhood
# Nswbern lie has no doubt been careful IN
gathering his particulars The SIN says
The accounts which have appeared IN the papers
concerning the battle have been in the main, correct
The numbers engaged were 12, 600 Federais and a
little less than 5,UuO Con4ederates.J The Fedcrats
took II Confederate officers and 100 priyates pr.s
oners, and killed and wounded about 100. The
Yankee loss in killed and wounded was between
1000 and 1900 The Confederates took one prs
oner, Lieutenant. Had the battle been well
planned there is but little doubt but that our small
force would have kept the enemy back, until rem
lorcements could have been obtained ....
Previous to the advance of the Federals upon
Newbern, the people had been induced to believe
that the defences of such character, that IN
less Gen. Burnside came with overwhelming force,
he would be successfully repulsed, and even with
large force, he could be kept at bay until reinforce
ments could be obtained from Raleigh, Wilmington
and other places. But few, therefore, had made
any arrangements for the evacuation of the town
The landing Of troops on the South side of the river
commenced on Thursday, and renforcements were
expected and promised early on Friday morning
The Federals advanced on our troops, and opened
fire about daylight on Friday morning. General
Burnside, knowing the position of our troops first
attacked the Militia, under Col. Clark in the rear
of their battery breast works, and they retreaed
efrst, and were followed by the volunteers Several
Of the artillery companies and regiments fought as
brayely as any men have fought during the war
but Others it is said, did not display much cour-
age as they should have done. One serious injury
to all, was they lacked confidence in the skill OF
the commander Of the brigade-not in his patriot
ism, purity of intention but in his qualification
for the post he occupied No reinforcements were
sent from above as was expected. The enemy came
in great force, and our troops were compelled to re-
treat and when retreat ordered great confusion
prevailed. The first the citizens in town knew, the
soldiers across the river and through the town
at a Bull Run ga!t," crying to every body to es-
cape for their lives, and, in few minutes, the
shells came flying in every direction from the enc
! my's gun5oats Men, women and children were
leaving by every mode OF conveyance, and in the
greatest confusion. Hundreds left without second
suit of clothes, and left behind them every dollars
worth of property. they had earth. The Fede-
rails landed about twenty thousand troops and took
possession of the eewn, capturing all the fleeing cit
liens they could Since then, their pickets have
extended or miles out around the country, and
maraudng parties have visited all the neighboring
farmers stealing every thing within reach. Hun
dreds of negroes rushed in town, and were permit
ted to enter the houses of all the citizens who had
left, and appropriated to their own use every thing
they desired.
The Washington Hotel and about 10 or 10 stores
and private houses burned, and all the cotton
and turpentine, except a lot owned by Dibble 4
| Brothers. Among the first to land was Calvin
Dihble, who lad long lived IN Ncwbern and had
made fortune by trading with the people of North
Carolina. He is the senior partner of the firm of
Dibble Brothers, at Kinston and has for several
years resided in New York. With him came his
brother, Francis Dibbe, who went to the North
| last fall by PERMISSION Of President Davis. The
pilot who conducted the fleet up was Capt Wester
welt, who formerly ran schooner between New
! bern and New York. The ingratitude of these fell
lows is almost unparalleled
few days after Newbern was captured our pick
cts advanced to within three miles of Newborn and
captured three Yankees who had been out on a
stealing expedition and had piano in wagon
rying it into town. The mules became frightened
and carried the wagon and driver with the piano in
| town, but the three men on foot were taken and
carried to kinston.
Frapcis Dibble was taken by our pickets 10 miles
from Newborn, on his way to kinston, and confined
in Jail at Godsooro, and will be tried as "a spy
Letters found in his trunk induced the authorities
to arrest his brother, Harlow DibLlc at kinston and
their agent at Goldsboro', Mr.. A. Day. What the
charges against the two latter are did not learn.
We have seen and conversed with several gentle
men of undoubted veracty who have recently es-
capped from the enemy at Newborn. On Saturday
last, Gen. Burnside was landing large number of
army wagons ard artillery. This seems to point to
forward movement Reinforcements are also land
ing Gen. Burnside occupies rs his ead-quarters,
the house of Mr.. j. NJ. +. Harrison, known as the
! John Stany House." the place that Gen. Wash
ington stopped at when he visited Newbern Gen
/ Foster occupies the residence of Charles Slower
/ another General occupies Judge Donnels house.
! The Office of the Provost Marshal is the Bank of
: Commerce The Merchants Bank both Methodist
, Churches, and the Academy are used as hospitals
The Yankees have service for the soldiers in the
Episcopal, Presby terian and Baptist Churches and
! service IN the Christian Church for the negroes
/ The Norfolk Day Book gives the following story,
winch if true, will pass:
1.-TWO halEgrown lads were out hunting in the
! neighborhood of Newbern, and were discovered and
| accosted by a Yankee Lieutenant.
! One Of the boys wore tie letters On c." on his
cap, which attracted the Yankees attention, and he
| cnqured of the boy what they meant. The boy
replied: North Carolina" whcreupon the Lieu
tenant ordered him to remove them This the boy
! declined doing, when he was again ordered to take
them off, and again refused to do so. The Lieuten-
! ant then remarked that he would take them off him.
self; and was i'm the act of dismounting from his
horse to do so, when the boy winked to his com.
| rade who took his meaning and in moment the
guns Of both the boys were levelled at the head oil
| the Yankee officer, and be was commanded to sur
render.
Seeing the utter hopeessness of his case, and
perfectly astounded at the spirit displayed by the
boys, the Yankee gave w his pistol and on being
ordered to dismount did So The boy Us then secured
him, and again placing him on his horse conducted
him to Rinston, where he was safely lodged in Jail
Surely the days of the Revolution are again
upon us!"
F! The Day Book also has the following, which We
/. Judge should be received with some grounds of al
, iowance. We have heard that two or three were
shot:
1t is stated by gentleman who came passen
ger in the train from Weldon on Monday afternoon
that in conversation with.a paroled prisoner from
Newbern he learned that the negroes at that place
not behaving themselves altogether as veil as they
were expected to behave, or if you please becoming
a little boisterous, detachment was ordered out
and forty Of the wretces shot by order Of the com
uandng officer"