The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1864-02-09
THE ATTACK ON NEwBERN.

THE ATTACK ON NEWBERN
Capture Of Yankees, equipments, baggage, t,eo
cannon, and a GunLoat.
The following official despatch was received by
Gen. Cooper:
KINsToN, N. c., Feb. 81 made a recou nois-
sance within mile and a half of Newborn, with
Hoke's Brigade, part of Clingman's corps, and
some artillery. Met the enemy in force at Batch
slor's Creek, killed and wounded about one hun
dred, and captured thirteen officers, two hundred
and eighty privases, fourteen negroes two rifed
cannon, three hundred stand of arms, four ambu-
lances, three wagons, fifty five animals, quantity
of clothing, camp and garrison e9uipage, and two
| flags. Commander Wood captured and DESTROYED
the United States gun-boat Underwater. Our
loss was thirty five killed and wounded.
G. E PICKETT,
Major General Commanding
| In the earlier part of the engagement Col. H
NJ. Shaw, of the 9Th N. c. Regiment, was shot
through the head and killed, together with three
privates, while experimenting the laying of pom
toon bridge across Bachelors Greek for our troops
to cross upon Col. Shaw was member of the
old U. S. Congress, and always devoted to south
ern rights. :
The following official dispatch notes the success
of another expedition, which suppose de-
signed to cooperate with the one under General
Pickett:
WILMINGTON, Feb. +.
To Gen. s. Cooper:-On the I'd instant Gen.
Martini with the 18th and 42d, and Col Jackson S
command from Kenansville broke the railroad at
Shepherdsville,s * between Morehead City and New
bern) driving the enemy from their Barracks and
across Newport river.
W. II. C. WHITING, Maj Gen.
Col. D. X. McRae writes to the Raleigh Con-
federate as follows:
On Monday morning we started for Halifax, to
attend special term of Court but hearing for
the first time, at Goldsboroy, that an expedition
had started towards Newbern with a view to its
capture, we changed our course for Kinston, in :
tending to participate in the interesting ceremony.
Arriving at Kinston, we summoned to our aid an
ancient steed, was soon in the Quartermasters De-
partment and with a trusty guide set out about
sunset through Gum and the Dover swamps to-
wards the sacred city.
1t was night suspicious for attack: dark with
but few stars shedding dim light and frequent
ly wholly obscured by clouds Providence blessed
the undertaking with good opening Through
the long night toiled our beast along and reach
ed Headquarters in the morning.
If the purpose of the expedition was to take
Newbern, it has not succeeded but much has
been accomplished. The enemy have been driven
panic stricken from encampments which they
seemed to have erected with the idea of permanent
and uhdsturbed occupancy Two choice pieces
of artillery, with about seventy five horses large
quantities of Quartermaster and Commissary Stores
wagons and equipage, have been captured, and
about four hundred prisoners of all ranks, from LIT
Colonel down; first class gunboat destroyed on
the very beach under the guns of their fortiica
tious, aud the crew brought off, with a loss
part of only about 80 or 40 killed and wounded
among the former of whom, it is true we are OBJ
liged to enumerate Col Shaw.
Altogether, it was useful and though not
fully successful, important and glorious
achievement. If there be of censure, we
are not disposed to bestow it. Our observation
and experience have long since taught us, that it
is far easier to crlticse and blame failure, than
to prevent one, and those most facllc In criticism
are but little reliable to plan an operatlon-and
the least so to put it in execution. But it is not
invidious in US to claim for our two Brigadiers-
Hoke and Clingman-the performance OF all they
were required to accomplish. Indeed, the execu-
ton by Gen Hoke of the difficult task Of clearing
the road at Bachelors Bridge, was skillfu and
brilliant His rout of the enemy-thc pursuit of
the fugtivcs, and the advance OF these brsades to
within range of the Notifications around the town,
were successful exempifcations of the ardor and
courage of our troops when we'll handled, and of
their superiority over the foe.
The result of the expedition is as we have given
above. If there be explanations to give, or to be
required, the public should wait to hear before
condemning any. In the meantime, the yankee
brethren" about Newborn have had sound
thrashing and mos: awful scare.
EUROPEAN NEWS.
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