New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-02-09
The Siege Of Newbern-A Battery in N
Critical Posi,ion-The Capture of the
I'nderw riter-The Rebel Plun.



This morning ! wrote You that the Rebels
had probably retired. l was nl wrong although TINT
was ne opinion then During the latter part Of the
day the Rebels have shown themselves frequently and
are planning for a regular siege. Theywere discovered
throwing up a work across the railroad west Of New.
horn and about one mile from Fort Rowan. About :,
o'clock d lTsk and effective cannonade was opened
from the heavy guns in the fort. An 1oncad ear con
tanning some 6.pOund steel guns was then sent up Inc
rod and the woods shelled on either side Of the
road
ON the southeast side Of the town and sonleast Of
the Trent River large force l. in is region Of rice
Greek The, are throwing up eaIthN Orks ~ The edge
Of the wood. facing Forts CASTOR, Amory ana SpinoIa
Ihe-e mount heavy guns ana, win several pht,
rrcs and regiments ~ infantry form tlc defense vi
Newbefu from this direction. Al short distances pn
each other small forts are erected beside the railroad
from NeBlefn to Beaufort number OF these hay
been surrounded and the road has been seized The
troad rms not far from the bank Of the Ncse River
Their plan will doubt he To hold the road and their
plantations the rver and play Their farorite game
81 closing the river 10 navigation and If possible stHrye
10 out This seems bold ground 10 take and yet they
seem rapidly he moving in that direction. Just at
dusk this evening negro and "A soldier 81 the Union
came 10 our hcadquatcr. and reported strange story
and o. their fate will be- sealed before this cn get ou
IN print report IT, Yesterday reported the loss of
section OF light artillery two guns tl horses and
men. IL seems clso' that two companies Of the .9th
New York were with them.
This negro and soldier report that they not only
not captured hut the Rebels 90 not know that they
There They il sccIs passed 10 the lcfi of The Rebel
force and then passed INTO their rear aud are now At
Bush Grove, miles from Aewbcn. on The Nepse
River. Tie Rebel pickeis are some two mile. nom
them. These SCOUTS came through the swamp and
hT -l fill within cpt pie % miles 81 NcWlcTD, Nhcu
they came aclo,s about doz-H OH-bOit-. with one
large lat the shore. probably the ones IN
which the Dlcc came down lt-t NIGHT 20 capture th"
gun-boa'. They no on near the boats. and took
one ana ia Il came 10 The city.
The COMMANDER Of tie force sent for gunboat 10
come tonight and take him of . eunboii con 90
within one iouiih of mile oi the command What will
De- done do not know nor whether t VIII DE deemed
safe 10 send u boat. But 80 men worth risk.
relief mol sent al once, they must com" out and give
themselves up. Ihcy are entirely surrounded. ana yet,
strange 10 say they have not YET been discovered.
There scouts report large trains Of wagons. and the
WOODS seem luIl oi men.
The weather is and pleasant, the troop. will
NOT suffer al Jll Al the able. bodied negroes have been
drilled today The most yigolou, means Of defense
being adopted. The garrison If IN good cheer, ana al
goes we'll The whistle aud booming OF the shells Is be-
coming music again aud these stirring scenes
remand Us Of other days
II Ou remember the attempt 10 capture THIS town IA
March last WAS prevented by the failure Of an import
ant part Of the preliminary plnn-he capture Of Fort
Anderson. small work. AT TINT time containing 80
men. Eighteen pieces Of artillery shcled the place five
hours ana 600 men sought IN yam 10 OMAN this
position from which the town could be- sbellcd 10 ~
the case OF the present siege an important u"n, dbd
perhaps he item 81 this plan failed About lcO men IN
twelve boats. composed the party that captured the
gnnboat Underwater A soon AS they obtained con
troll OF the boat each went al once 10 ms position
II seems that the party was composed of marines aud
gunbOat men.
The engineers went 10 the engiDe.room the bremen
10 Ire up dor strange 10 say there no steam uP
some 70 pay ont the cable and the gunncrs 10 the guns
when she grounded, and Capt. Landers Of Fort
stephenson began 10 throw shell into her. the Rebels
e and NO great was their haste that they left seven men
Assistant faymasier SeaIs and most the officers ard
men were captured The resistance Of sailors was
,harp but short against such odds. a number were
Aled and some u the wounded persisted In the flames
"hhh iVo yards RON the shore CRYING for aid Peace
10 the ashes OF those Dobe Understand that the
commander who escaped to the shore is under arrest
From The Rebel prisoners left ON the boat and now IN
our hhds we leafh important news IL seems that the
night before the capture of the Undervr,cr tbe same
party came down past all three forte 10 the Navy.
at the lowsr end Of the town, and went all about on
The river but could IND no gunboat owing ~ the dense
ceptnre the Underwater. and with iey TO down and