The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-03-28
URNsIDE's VICTORY.
FURTHER PARTICULARS.
Batteries taken at the Point
Of the Bayonet.
BRAVERY OF OUR TROOPS.

OPERATIONS OF THE GUNBOATS.
NLw. YoRK, March l9.-The following are
the details of the battle at Newbern:
Commander Rowan was in command of
the fleet of gunboats, and had sunken YES.
sells, torpedoes and other rebel distractions
to overcome and pass, but surmounted all
with but slight damage to only two of his
fifteen vessels. ..'
Two briggs, three barks and nineteen
schooners were sunk by the rebels above
two rebel batteries. The latter were ST.
fenced, the eunken vessels passed, and our
flag hoisted over the silenced batters, as our
force went along. This was on Saturday
afternoon. and night closed in.
On Sunday morning a heavy fog set in
but lifted, when our boats passed up safely
and silenced Fort Thompson with its two
heavy columbiads, then Fort Ellis with nine
guns was captured after pretty brisk fight.
ing, but the rebels fled soon in panic and
our flag waved over another fort.
Only one fort was left to be engaged, and
Newbern would be at the mercy of our
troops this was Fort Lane. The rebels
having enough of the boats, offered little if
any resistance and fed.
The rebels then fired large mum Der of
scows filed with rosin and turpentine, in
tending to float the n down and burn our
gunboats, but they got stuck and burnt
away furiously.
The gunboats then shelled the depot and
track but our troops had then crossed and a
white flag was hosted. Our navy did not
lose man.
OPERATIONS OF THE LAND FORCES.
The operations on land we're briefly as
follows
Our troops landed twelve miles below
Newbern, Gen. Reno's brigade in the ad.
vance. Most of our troops were SO anxious
to land, that nearly every regiment jumped
into the water and waded ashore, and the
whole division was ashore in less than two
hours. ... ... ...... ..
After marching two miles they found a
UCStrItu ECUCl Cdup, Will uES6 UuIuluSa
and hot rebel breakfasts untasted.
A breastwork was only passed, and the
division bivouaced for the night, and early
in the morning skirmishing began.
Fosters brigrde, comprising Massachus-
ett's Oath, 25th, 26th and 23d, with the 10th
Connecticut in reserve, were in line, and
engaged 20 gun battery Of the rebels on
their left flank, who showered grape, canister
and shell upon them, also heavy musketry
from their infantry.
The I'd brigade, comprising the 21st
Massachusett, 51st New York, 5lst Penn
eylvania, and 9th New Jersey, engaged
them on the right, and Glen. Parks Sd
brigade took position in front.
The LIST brigade bore the brunt of the
battle, and the oath Massachusetts soon had
Major Stevenson and Lieutenant Horton
wounded, and the 23d Massachusetts lost
Lieutenant Colonel Merritt, by cannon
ball carrying away one side of bis body.
The 10th Connecticut were ordered to
support the 9th Massachusetts,, which had
suffered severely. The Sd brigade together
with the second executed flank movement,
and the order to charge bayone was given.
A hand to hand conflict ensued of the most
desperate character, when our troops drove
the rebels out at the point of the bayonet,
chasing them out of sight. The rebels took
possession of railroad train and fled from
Newberr, burning bridges, the Washing
ton House. some private dwellings, and a
number of whiskey and turpentine distille-
ries. Slaves had commenced pillaging, but
were stopped. A number of Unionists
were found in the city.