Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1862-04-03
Taking of Newberne.

rebels were made Dy nreS klndled on th'
banks. The gunboats were drawn up il
line. At various points up the river the
country people were seen sitting on fence.
and tree-logs, but no hostile demonstration
was made. On Thursday morning, lStl
at o'clock, troops landing from the trans
port fleet TO shore, the boats sailing in
long, graceful sweep, with flags flying
bands playing, and 5000 bayonets flashing
in the sunshine, which now streamed owe
the fleet. The picture was really beauti
ful, misunderstanding while the solemn
nature of the business before us leant I,
the pageant an air of grandeur peculiar tc
itself.
The water shoaled SO that the men hal
10 wade 10 shore from the launches. Th'
march from the river through woods and
sand ankle deep to the road was mile
A little way up this road was found cav
airy barracks, so hastily deserted as tc
leave the breakfast untouched. The troop:
marched five miles through mud and wa
ter, when they came upon line of breast
works of mile in length, which, on recon
noisance, was found deserted. These for.
tiicatioDs were the work of thousand
men for a month. No guns however had
been mounted.
A mile fa ther, on making recennoi-
sance by a road leading to the rivers de.
serted battery on the bank was discovered
On signal 10 the gunboats that were
steaming up the river, boat landed and
planted our flag on the patapet. 1t rained
all day. At six o'clock in the evening the
army was within mile of the enemy's
Notifications and halt ordered, and camp
ed on both sides of the road. All A. NJ,
the column was in motion, one brigade
going along the line of the railroad, and
the other on The highway that runs paral-
lei.
On attacking the enemy's entrench-
ments the first cannon ball killed Lieuten-
ant Colonel Merrett, who threw up his
hands and exclaiming. "Oh dear. Oh
dear" and died. After an hours fight Ad-
iutant Slreuas-son of the President of
Amherst College-was instantly killed by
a musket ball in the breast. One regi-
ment, at double quick, entered the enemy's
breastworks, drove the men from the near
est guns, but two regiments of rebels
emerging from a grove our forces fell back.
At this time Capt. j. D. Frazer was
wounded in the right arm, and dropped his
sword, but taking it in his left hand be at
tempted to escape with his company, fell
into the ditch and was taken prisoneS and
dragged inside again over the parart. A
guard of three men was placed over him,
his sword was taken, but his revolver being
overlooked, he seized the opportunity Of
fered by charge of the 4lh Rhode Island,
and by the judicious display of his pistol,
captured all three of his guard.
The 4th Rhode Island, at double quick.
went directly up to the battery of five guns,
firing as they ran, and captured the whole
battery.
Al one time Acting Master Hammond,
of the Navy, in charge of howltzer, had
his shoes pulled off by the mud, and fought
through the engagement i'll his stocking
feet. Lieut.. Col. Potter, Of New York
5lst. received ball in his side and fell,
but, ralying, he had his servant put a
bandage on, and returned to his place
cheering bis men.
On our extreme right number of regi-
ments, had been advancing inch by inch,
standing up against the enemy's musketry
and caunonade without flinching, and at
about the time when the 4th Rhode Is
land charged in at the right flank, the col
ors of the oath were planted on the para
pet at the left, and the whole of the First
Brigade poured into the forti6cation. The
whole line of earthworks was now in our
hands, and the cheers of our men, from
one end of it to the other, broke out with
fresh spirit as each new regimental color
was unfurled on the parapet.
When the charge of the 4th Rhode Is
land had been made, and the colors were
carried along the whole length of the main
battery. Gen Burnside asked some one
what regiment that was. Being told the
4,h Rhode Island, he said. 81 knew it.
1t was no more than expected. Thank
God, the day is eurs."
The approaches to Newberne were de-
Tended by line of water batteries of ferts
communicating with field Notifications Of
the most extensive nature. The lower fort
is about six miles from the city; the next
communicates with the unfinished batter
les and breastworks passed on our march
and the others distributed at about equa
distances along the shore. The line o
Notifications attacked and strormed in The
brilliant engagement of yesterday was some
three miles in extent. At the river banl
hexagonal fort, or water battery, with
large bomb proef roof and thirteen heavy
guns, commanded not only the river ap
proach, but by means Of pivot carriages
the cannon could be turned upon an ad
yancing land force, and even to sweep th'
breastworks itself in case the garrison
should be driven out.
I We did not know with certainty tha
there was not another battery so formida
bic as this still farther up the road, bu
4 thinking it best 10 feed the panic whicl
had seized upon the enemy, Gen. Burnsid
tTordered an advance. The march to New
-berne was quite unobstructed, the enem.
hating apparently all they could do to ge
away from us, and early in the afternoon
our forces reached tie bank of the river
Immediately opposite the city. Long be
fore we came in sight of il, however, dens
volumes of smoke were seen rising in tba
direction, and the suspicion that the plac
had been fired by the enemy was realize