The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1862-03-22
WAR NEWS.
brilliant Nicto1'yy
Desperate Battle at NeWbera.
\ Large Amount or Cannon and
Ammunition Captured.

Gen Burnside has taken Ncwbern, North
Carolina.
Our iroors, under General Burnside, landed
on Thursday evening, the 18Th inst, near the
mouth Of S'%ann Creek, on the west side Of
The Nrusc river, fifteen miles below Newbern,
and attacked the enemy's works early on Fri
dar morning. They were defended by a
force about ten thousand strong, and having
tweniyonc gins posted behind formidable
batteries. over two miles long.
Our troops advanced along the comfy road
running parallel with the Nrusc river, hut Il
mile or two in the rear. The road was skrtrd
on tn west side by the ilroad aud a dense
swamp.
All along the river side were series Of
batteries. which were taken by our tr ops,
one after another, after some bloody hand to-
nand contests. Onr troops were divided into
three brigadrs, andrr the command Of Gen
erals Reno, Foster, and Parks.
We advanced gradually, the enemy desert
ing their guns, until we reached line Of
cnr,hw"rks extending across the road from
the river to swanps on the west, distance
or some two miles
These carhworks were very strong. They
were located about two miles south Of New.
bern, and between there and the city ran the
Trent river.
The county road and the railroad both
passed through these works and crossed into
the city by bridges.
In trout of these works Til" rebels had &c He'd
a large number Of trees, forming an almost
impenctrable abatts.
Here the dying rebels were rallied, and
made for while desperate stand. Our
brave fellows fought until all the ammunition
was spent, when an order TO charge biyoncts
was given, and the works were finally taken
,,,i, ia
like frightened sheep, leaving everything
behind them.
In their retreat they burnt the bridges com
municating with the town, over both the
county road and the railroad.
AS they had trains OF cars in their rear just
across the bridges, they were of conrsc able
to carry oil their wounded and dead.
just AS The battle terminated, the fog lifted.
and enabled orr gunboats, which had been
impatcntIy waiting fey an opportunity to par
ticipatc in the fight, 10 come up the river, and
our troops were furnished with means of
transportation across the Trent river to New
bern.
The rebels attempted to fire the town in
their retreat, but were prevented by the cii-
Sens, who cxtnsuishcd the flames as fast as
they were started by the soldiers.
None of our generals or any staff officers
were either killed or wounded.
The officers of the rebel troops left the r
private traps behind in their final retreat. and
the men threw away everything. The fight
terminated at O'Clock p. NJ. on Friday.
when cur troops remained masters Of the
position.
The force of the rebels is supposed to have
been about 1900. We captured II number of
prisoners including Col. Amory, who cursed
his soldiers as towards.
We lost about one hundred killed and four
hundred wounded. mostly belonging to New
England regiments
We captured three light batteries of field
artillery, iorty-six heavy siege guns, large
stores of fixed ammnnitiun, three thousand
small arms and two hundred prisoners, in
Guiding one colonel, three captains. and four
licnennuts. The enemy left large number
Of dead on the field
Ncwbern is a town of about 500 inhabl-
tants, situated at the confluence of the Neuse
and Trent rivers. 1t had, before the war
broke out, a large trade in lumber, turpen-
tine, tar, naval stores etc. 1t is the county
seat of Craven county.
a railroad runs from Newborn to Colds
borough. tiity-nne miles distant, intrrsecting
there the main railroad uniting Weldon and
Wilmington. n. G.
General Burnside having moved in this
direction, is not in any danger Of attack from
the rrbu army that has been concentrating at
Suffolk. Va.
The capture of Ncwbcrn makes it certain
that the town Of Beaufort, n. G., can easily
be taken. together with Fort Macon. the
strong work constructed for its defence by the
Federal Government. There is a railroad
from Newborn to Moorehead City, opposite
Beaufort, the distance between the two places
being thrty-siX miles.