Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1862-03-27
ANoTBER sPLENDIp VICTORY.

ANOTHER SPLENDID VICTORY.
Gen. Burnside Perfee tly Safe-Details
Of the Capture Of NeEbern-Desper-
ate and Protracted Fight = The
Works taken by Stormy 900 Reb-
els Put to Flight-Large Number Of
Prisoners Taken-The Rebels set
fire to the Town-The Flames Extin-
guished - Forty-six Siege Guns,
5000 Stand of Small Arms and a
Great Quantity of Stores Secured
The Killed and Wounded.
Especial to the N Y. Times.l
BALTIMORE, March 18.-The ene-
my's works six miles below New bern,
we're attacked on Friday morning last.
They we're defended by force Of TO-.
900 strong, having tWenty-one guns
posted behind formidable batteries
over two miles long. The fight was
one Of the most desperate Of the war
Our troops behaved with great steadi-
ness and courage, and sfter nearly
four hours hard fighting. drove the
rebels from all their positions, eaptur-
ing their hight batteries of field artil-
lcry, forty-six heaEe siege guns, large
stores Of fixed ammunition, 5000
stand of small arms and 200 prisoners,
including one Coloael, three Captains
and four Lieutenants. -'-
The enemy left a large number of
dead on the field. They escaped by
cars to Goldsbero', burning the bridges
over the Trent and Claremont. and
firing the city of Newburn. No ex-
tensive damage was done to the place.
We lost about 100 killed and 400
wounded, mostly OF the New England
regiments. Rev. D. NJ. Benton was
among the killed. and Major Legendre.
of the 51st New York Volunteers.
mortalIy wounded. Lieut.. Col. Mer-
ritt, of the Esd Massachusetts. and
Adjutant F. A. Sterns, of the 91st
Massachusetts, of Amherst, were also
killed.
BALTIMORE, March 18.-Sergeant
Major D. s. Johnson of the Twenty
Third Massachusetts, Regiment. came
up passenger by the steamer Commo-
dore. From him we gather the follow
ing interesting particulars:
Our troops under Gen Burns ide
landed on Thursday evening near the
mouth of Swan Greek, on the west side
Of Neuse river, 5 miles below New
bern. Owing to dense fog the naval
vessels did not participate in the fight.
Early on Friday morning the fight COM
menced. Our troops advanced along
the country road running parreIlel with
the Neuse river, but a mile or two in
the rear. The road was skirted on the
west side by a railroad and dense
swamp.
All along the river side were a series
of batteries which were taken by our
troops one after another, after some
bloody hand to hand contests.
Our troops were divided into three
brigade, under Gems. Reno, Foster and
/ Parks.
We advanced gradually, the enemy
deserting their guns, until we reached
line of earthworks extending across
the road from the river to the swamp
on the west, a distance OF some two
miles. These earthworks were very
strong. They were located about two
miles south of Newbern, and between
there and the city ran the river Trent.
The country road and the railroad
both passed through these works, and
crossed into the city by bridges.
In front of these works the rebels
bad felled large number of trees,
forming an almost impenetrsble abattis.
Here the flying rebels were rallied, and
made for while desperate stand.-
Our men fought until all their ammu-
milton was spent, when an order 10
charge bayonets was given. and the
works we're finally taken at the point
of the bayonet, the enemy flying and
leaving everything behind them in their
retreat. The rebels burnt the bridges
communicating with the town, over
which the country road and the rail-
road ran. As they had their trains Of
cars in 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 it must have been severe.
Before our troops reached this last
work they encountered another, which
was deserted before they came up. 1t
was in front of this last forti6cation
that our greatest loss was sustained
The force of the rebels is supposed to
have been about 5000. We captured
a number Of prisoners, including Col.
Avery, who cursed his soldiers as
towards. &
Just as the battle terminated the fog
lifted and enabled our gunboats, which
had been waiting for an opportunity 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 Ere the town
in their retreat, but were prevented by
the citizens. who extinguished the
flames as fast as they were started by
the soldiers.
None of the Generals staff officers
were killed or wounded. We captured
from thirty to fifty cannon.
1 The officers of the rehoIs lafy Ill