Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1862-05-29
The battle of sswbern-cmsaail r. por, of Gen.
From the state journal.

In the Fled, March 26h, lss2 i
NeW6ern has been Withheld until could get report from
Gol 4. +. Campbell, who commanded my right wing on
commanders of reg ments the fe d.
bfief descrip on of the art al defences Of Eewter
together with the enclosed sketch enable ron to COM
simple -" -
The defensive works were located and before
assumed command. The troops rader my conn and had
performed large amount Of work but it nIy
They had originally been planned for force much lager
than any ever placed my disposal and for six
eeks in making the changes contract
them Tut The alinfe of ali my efforts to OBJ ain peents
and TOOLS with Rhich thu troops cor carry on the wo,
prevented me from making satisfactory progress hid
circulated handbs the state calling tbs citizens
generally to assist me, and received from
small party of free negroes, without implements then IL
serted IN the newspapers advertisement calling the
slave owners to hire their slaves, with Implements
few days aid got but single negro During all this time
into the river five hundred per day being detailed
construct with less than halt that of
bng hoes If the shall prevent similar
supneness the part of citizens and slave else
where it viii be fortunate for the country.
Fer this had unable complete the system
had adopted for contracting the works.
Ten miles below Newbern tie south side of the Neuse
is the mouth of Otter Greek. From the creek mile
above its mouth, the CroGGn breaS;lCOkS
Improbable swamp, about fouths of mile This
well Planned and well constructed work witch two
thousand and Two field batteries could hold against
very large force But from the mouth of Otter Creek to
Fort Thompson the lowest OF the river batteries dis
OF six miles of river shore any part of which the
could land, the Croatan works
1t obvious that the breaswork useless and had not
sufficient force hold it. and the time guard
four thousand the field at Newbern and st the time
OF the battle had been seriously weakened by the enlist
ment furoughs Coming up the river from the Croatan
works, would reach the Fort Thompson breastwork
This had been constructed from Fort Thompson the re
road. about mile before assumed command. Finding
that from inadequate force, the Croatan work might be OF
avail to me, determined to extend the Fort Thompson
work about mile and fourth, and rest its right
swamp This is the work was engaged when the
my appeared Ia order to make the line short posi-
Die ard avail myself CT small branch throwing
'front.' the line was thrown BACK tout 100 yards on the rail-
road and thence series Of small breastwoks conforming
the features of the ground off he direction
swamp making an obuse angle with the older portion OF
the line the other side of the railroad TO guard this gap
directed that the old brckkn the railroad houd be
oophooled ad Inc evening before the Rattle had ordered
two twenty four FOUNDER guns be brought from
and placed battery there The enemys skrmsher drove
the labor era from The battery, when hour would have
enabled them to get the in position Of lost
all the benefit expected from it, The line of small breast
works from the railroad TO the swamp partially finished
for about half the distance.
Running parallel to the river and each other,
ing the lines at right angles first after leaving the
river, the old Beaufort road and then the railroad Still far
Their and the swamp it crossed by the Weathers
by road The railroad and the Beaufort road nerSec about
two miles behind the breaswor-the former crossing the
river bridge $40 feet long, the Of NeWbern
the la at an ent private bridge about and
half miles above Newhen. Both these bridges are
sbe gunboats that when the
son b'easwork fronting the enemy had Neuse river
left, Brice Creek impossible stream On ouI right
and the Neuae and Trent rear-the only possible
mode OF escape III case OF defeat being the two
bridges have described five miles in
hope this description with the aid of the map enclosed
will put you possession Of situation the opening
the battle omitted to that the timber had been fell
ed in front of The bceastwork for yards the
swept by ten field pieces. besides three navy
thrtytWo pOunders dchargng grape and canister from
the face OF Fort Thompson. 1t useless i5e
the river deence which the larger amount had
been bestowed the enemy pru1ently refraned
lacking the batteries in front and The gunboas did
come within range of their guns they had been senced
from the
now proceed detail the incidents of the battle On
Wednesday, the 18th at O'clock D m the approach OF
f0 nd at
that twelve vessels had anchored below the mouth of
Creek and about forty five wee as the liver in III
Orders issued Col Sine air, regiment
proceed madatay with MS regiment to Fshe landing
which is ast above The mouth Of otter creek and TO s
any attempt OF the enemy land there Avery SD
regiment and Lieut. Col. Haywood, Tn regiment, const
tung the ordered to proce the ii
yer, be 10 position the intersection of the Beau
fort road and the railroad at dsybreak in the oTnog
Col. R. P. Campbell commanding my right wing, in
struced TO guard the shore from the mouth of Otter
Gre to Fort Thompson, whilst Col c. C. Lee, who
manded my left wing to guard the remainder CT the
bell in he should be hard pressed Col Campbell
instructed to establish his headquarters the nter
troops around him by break Both commanders
instructed that it should be fall bach
from the shore to the breastwOrk, Col Campbe!
should hold that part the right o. the Beaufort road
Colonel Lee that part to the LETT of it.
These orders having been dispatched by 9oclock. p
the night ep by the troops getting position
and other preparations for the contest.
Having given all the necessary directions to staff officers
and Others, before O'clock Thursday morning, seeing
all the men aud material forwarded fr N the
quarters On the road met dspat ches from Col Sine al
and Capt. P, &. Evans commanding the pckets Informing
me that the enemy landing troops below the
Otter Creek; and Col. Vance directed send hi
troops to Croasn breastwork TO occupyt Railroad train
the spot to carry down reinorcements dTa
off Coils Vance, and Sinclair and Brems battery, tn
case might require.
Intelligence was soon brought to me that the enemy
gunboats having driven Col tncais regiment from Fish
ers landing wereraPidy landing troops at that place
work turned had ordered Vance, Sinclair and Brem
fall back to Fort Thompson breastWoTk.
my force was wholly 1nadeqaase to gaard the SIX niles
thompson. The result, therefore, not wholly unez
caused to be made for mile along the bufs, at end O
both sides Of Fishers landing would have enabled
hold the enemy check and inict him serious loss
the first moment of his placing his foot soil
surprised when the position was yielded with IL
l.. casualties occurred in the retreat.
After the abandonment o! Fishers landing to the enemy
the prompt withdrawal Of Vance and Brem coud alon
them from being cut off, and the then int
of my strongest work. without having received
single shot from US.
The Fort Thompson hreaatwork now became my sole re
lance for resisting his advance and throughout the
g efforts made to strengthen that unfinished work
Both officers and men executed my orders with unnchn
energy was particularly indebted to Maj Thompson
Capt Meade, of the Engineers, to whom assigned IL
duty of dposng of the artillery in the most advantageoy
in the afternoon the gunboats sheed the breas
work heavily from position they had TAKEN out of reac
Of the Of batteries The composue with whit
all classes of troops received this attack from
foe strengthened the confidence felt in their steadine
under fire. No damage inflicted by their shells
but the accuracy with which they thrown, over
thick intervening woodland, convinced me OF the necess
of driving traitors and enemies in disguise from all tow
and neigbborhoods Of which desire to hold military
session.
During the day on Thursday the troops posted
hind the entertainments and painfully apparent tn
my force not sufficient them, even with tn
line for the flushed portions of them. was compelled
withdraw Lieuc-Col. Haywood 7th regiment from the
serve, and place him in the lines.
The regiments were posted as fellows commencing OF
left Lieut.. Col. arber, 37th regiment and Maj CLINE
9th regiment between Fort Thompson and the Beauto
county read Lieut. Col Haywood, 7th regiment, Colon