The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-03-28
Correspondence Of the N. Y. Tribune
Rebel Attack on NeWAern.
EIwBfRN N

NEwBERN, N. c., March Is, 1854.
The rebels seem disposed to make an attempt
| to recapture every place taken from them, no
matter with what little prospect of success
Nevgern has been the scene Of their latest and
most complete failure in this line.
Deserters told US early last week that the reb-
ell General Longstreet had just paid visit 70
Kingston, and had said, in q speech delivered
there, that on the l4th Of March, last year, New.
bern was taken by the Yankees. He intended
to celebrate the first anniversary Of that day by
driving them out Of it. His programme was not
known, and the above declaration was regarded
as the merest bravado, as the place was gener~
ally considered as almost impregnab!e His
plan, however, was real one, and began to de-
velop itself on Friday evening last when our
pickets were driven in on the Trent road. and an
immense column Of the enemy, with 80 pieces
OF artillery, we're reported 10 be moving on
Newbern-
On Saturday morning, also, the pickets of the
S1d New York, which lie occupying small un-
finished earthwork on the North side of the
Neuse River, and nearly opposite this city, re-
ported the rebels advancing in that quarter
There were only about 800 men over there, of
the regiment, wbich'was commanded BY Lieut.
COL Anderson. They had no guns mounted -
Just before daybresk this little garrison was
summoned to surrender by Gen. Petigrew, who
said be had 1000 men and eighteen pieces Of ar.
tilery, with which to reduce the work, but to
avoid any unnecessary destruction of life, he
had given them an opportunity to capitulate.
They need expect no assistance from the 9TH
er side, he said, as an attack would be made
simultaneously upon Newbern, and all the Union
troops would be needed there. Col. Andersons
brief but significant reply was, that "He couldn't
see it." Then the rebels opened upon the fort
terrific fire Of shell, solid shot, grape canister,
and shrspnel, which they kept up for four hours
without cessation, except twice, when there was
luil for few minutes, for the purpose of or
dering surrender. Col. An6erson's last reply
was, that "The regiments of Gen. Vessels brig.
AIDE never surrender Gen. Foster cent word
to Col. Anderson to hold out to the las, extrem.
ity, while Gen. Prince and staff, riding down to
the river side, placed artillery as fast az i: arri
we'd in position on the bank Ransom's battery
of 20 pound howitzers sent quick and successive
discharges Of grape and canister into the ranks
Of the rebels with telling effect. About o'clock
the gunboat Hunchback came to the assistance
Of the unpleasantly situated garrison. Gen.
Pestgrew retreated, and has not since been
heard from. The injuries to the men of the 92d
amounted to two men being wounded
The demonstration on the Trent road was
just about az brilliant as this. The enemy came
down to spot called Deep Gully, some ten
miles out, and, after remaining there about thir.
ty-six hours retired. The precise number of
men, or who commanded, is not known. Per-
haps Gen. LoDgstreet will wait till the next
anniversary Of the capture of Eewbern before
he sends any more expeditions h.hers