The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-03-21
uBWBBlD CAPTURED |


Goldsboro' had received intelligence from
the Burnside expedition. 1t was still pur-
suing it's plans, having accomplished every
thing it set out to do. It was just on the
eve of making an attack on Newbern.
BALTIMORE, March 18.-The enemys
works, six miles below Newbern, were at.
tackled on Friday morning last. They
were defended by force Of 10000 strong,
having twenty one guns posted behind for
midable batteries over two miles long.
Our loss at Newbern is about ninety
killed and 400 wounded.
Our men displayed great bravery.
SECOND DISPATCH.
1t is expected that we took 300 prise.
ners. Some reports make our loss so or
60 killed and $50 to 800 wounded.
The enemy left large number of dead
on the field. They escaped by cars to
Goldsboro, burning the bridges lover the
Trent and Clairmont and firing the city of
Newbern. No extensive damage was
done to the place.
We lost about 100 killed and 400 wound
ed; mostly Of the New England regiments.
Rev. o. NJ Benton was among the killed
and Major Legender, 5lst New York Vol.
unteers was MORALLY wounded. Lieut..
Col. Merritt of the 28d Massachusetts and
Adjutant F. A. Stearns Of the 2lst Mas.
sachusetts, of Amherst, are also killed.
The fight was one Of the most desperate
of the war. Our troops behaved with great
steadiness and courage, and after nearly four
hours hard fighting, drove the rebels from
all their positions, capturing three light
batteries of field artillery, forty six heavy
siege guns, large stores of fixed ammuni-
ton 5000 stand of small arms and 200
prisoners including one Colonel, three Cap
tains and four Leutenants.
WASHINGTON, March 18.--It is consider
ed that we have probably secured great mil.
itary advantages by the capture of New,
berne, and places the safety of General
Burnside beyond question.
LATER.
BALTIMORE, March 18.-Sergeant Major
johnson Of the 23d Massachusetts Regiment
came passenger by the steamer Commo>
dore, and from him we gather the following
interesting particulars:
Our troops under General Burnside Ian
ded on Thursday evening near the mouth OF
Swan Greek, on the West side of Neuse
River fifteen miles below Newbern, and
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 parallel with the
Neuse River, but mile or two 10 the rear.
The road was skirted on the West side by
q railroad and dense swamp.
All along the river side were series of
batteries, WEIGH were taken by our troops
one after another.
After some bloody hand to hand contests
our troops were divided into three brigades,
under Generals Reno, Foster and Parks.
We advanced gradually, the enemy DESERT
ing their guns until we reached line of
earthworks extending across the road from
the river to the swamp, on the west, dis
lance of some two miles.
These earthwOrks were very strong.
They were located about two miles south Of
Newberu, 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 had
fslled large number OF trees, forming an
almost impenetrable abatts.
Here the flying rebels were rallied, and
made for while a desperate stand.
Our men fought until their ammunition
was spent when an order to charge bayonets
was given, and the works were finally taken
at the point of the bayonet, the enemy fly
ing and leaving everything behind them.
In their retreat the rebels burnt the
bridges communicating with the town, over
both country roads and the railroad.
AS they had their trains of cars in the
rear, just across the bridges, they OF course
were able to carry of their wounded and
dead.
Their loss is therefore not definitely
known, but it must have been severe.
Before our troops reached this last work,
they encountered another which was deser-
ted before they came up.
1t was in front of this last fortifcation
that our greatest loss was sustained
The force OF the rebels is supposed to
have been about 5000.
We captured number of prisoners, in
GLIDING Colonel Avery, who cursed bis
soldiers as towards.
Just as the battle terminated the fog
lifted and enabled our gunb0ats which had
been waiting for an opportunity to partici-
pate 10 the fight, to come up the river and
our troops were furnished with the means
of transportation across the Trent to New
bern.
The rebels attempted to fire the town on
their retreat, but we're prevented by the cit
liens who extinguished the flames as fast as
they were started by the soldiers.
None OF our Generals or staff officers
were killed or wounded. We captured
from thirty to fifty cannon.
The officers OF the rebels left their bag
gage behind and the men threw away every
thing.