The National tribune., 1884-09-11
NEW BERNE.
acarleton,s. Account of the Battle Reviewed.

ANI Wv DI1A t1N Ss
"Carleton'so Account of the Battle Reviewed.
To THE EDITOR: Statements made through
The NATIONAL TRIBUNE remaining uncontra-
dicted, it is fair to assume, are facts; as, were
they not so, some of your hundred thousand
subscribers would see the error and feel called
upon to correct it. l dislike to again correct
so effective writer as Carleton" but he IS
too sensational in many of his statements, and
weaves in too many errors to overlook them.
He is writing for the young, and his style must
be pleasing to them; still, it should not admit
of too much freedom of statements.
In his article, Vol. LII, No. 81, of your issue,
/ note the following errors connected with the
battle of New Berne, N. c.: 1--WE landed at
SlOcum's Creek the morning Of March ID mot
the 12th), IA miles below New Berne mot 49,.
We did not jump overheard from our vessels,
as they drew eight feet and upwards of water.
We were landed by launches and by the steam
ers Alice Price, Pilot Boy, Phenix, Patuxent
and Union, and, when near the shore, some
men jumped out and waded ashore. Harper's
Weekly had a most excellent and faithful view
of this scene at the time. The road was not
sandy, but we waded to our knees and the
howitzers cut to the hubs. Although we were
close to the enemy, we had camp-fires in abund-
ance, some of them running to the tops of the
resinous trees. OF course, we had all the hot
coffee we wanted before going into battle
"Carleton" to the contrary. There were but
six howitZerS engaged on our side during the
battle, and these were all stationed upon the
road at the right of the 9th Mass, and not as
stated by Carleton" These guns were partly
from the schooner Highlander, under command
of Capt. Dayton and partly from the gunboat,
Stars and Stripes, commanded by Lieut..
McCook. A shot from 32-pound gun from
an earthwOrk across the road was our first
notice that we were near to the enemy's
works. No demonstration was made by
the enemy until the 9th Massachusetts had
formed in line of battle and marched out of the
woods. Curiously enough, even then, they
waited until our regiment fired volley; but
then we received blast from right, left and
front from siege and field guns and from small
arms that almost lifted us from our feet. AT
that moment the 9th Mass was the only regi-
ment in line or in sight of the enemy. Gen.
Parks Brigade did not form on the left of Fos-
ter's, but was in reserve; the 9Th aud 18th
Conn aided Gen. Foster, while the rest Of the
brigade supported Gen. Reno.
The enemy engaged were not the 7th, 10Th,
18th, 25th. 35th, 36th and 37th n. c., with two
regiments of cavalry and 36 pieces of field ar
tillery, but, commencing in order at Fort
Thomson, were Whiteford's, Lecroft's, Her
rings and Evans's independent companies,
9th, 35th and 18th N. c., with Latham's, Brem's
and Mayo's batteries,-18 pieces,-all under
command of Gel. Campbell, of the 9th N. G.
Then, west of the railroad were theS3d, 26th
and 2Sth N. c., under command of Col. Avery,
of the 33d NC. A part of the 21st Mass made
gallant charge early in the engagement and
drove the 7th n. G. from the works near the
railroad, but, being without support, the 21st
Mass. was in turn driven back by the 35th N.
c. Col Sinclair), and the 9TH n. c. resumed its
| former position. Later in the battle the 51st
| N. Y, 4th r. I. and sth Conn. made another
assault upon the position held by the 7th n.
c., and this was supported by charge all
along the line. This decided the battle upon
the right. The 9th N. j., 5lst Pa and the 9th
| K. l. were still sharply engaged in the woods
west of the railroad with Col. Avery's com.
mand, and Gen. Foster at once attacked them
| in the rear with the 25th Mass, capturing q
| part Of the 33d n. c. and routing the remain
| ing force. The contest upon this part of the
| field surprised Gen. Burnside, as when his
! spies were last there, there were no fortifica
tions west of the railroad. Now, there were
earthworks and redans extending mile and {
| quarter beyond.
The story of the naval officer is pure fiction
also, that regarding the 18th Mass. First, thi
regiment was in reserve across the road, anG
would have had to charge over the Gath Mass
and 11th Conn, which they did not do; and
second, the 25th, as rule, knew what the!
| were expected to do, acted under the comInanG
brown. Neither Gems. Burnside nor Foste
were at loss regarding who ordered tn
charge, the latter being neck and neck will
the charging column. and it was enough 70
| any regiment to say of any engagement, wv
were with Gen. Foster"
There is no doubt but that Gen. L. o.
| Branch, the Confederate commander, Was a
New Berne, four miles distant mot two miles
as stated by Carleton ~ during the whole o
this engagement. The Union force engaged di
not exceed 5000 at any given time, though "
had 5000 present. The Confederate fore
equaled that of our own, with the additions
advantage of strong works backed by sieg
and field guns. Woodbury., in his Ninth Arm
Corps" says: 1t was peculiar conflict, AM
it may be doubted if another such was Tough
during the war. A bold attack upon strongly
fortified position heavily armed and abund
antly manned, made by force of infantr
without siege guns or anything but few how
itzers." 1t was under the inspiration of a vic
tory obtained over such disadvantages tina
Gen. Burnside said in his official report, a
beg leave to assure the Commanding Genera
that have division under my command tina
can be relied upon in any emergency" Th
Union loss was 81 killed, 430 wounded; tn
enemy's loss reported 64 killed, 1O1 wounde
and Alb missing-W. z. DERBY, Co. A, 27t
Mass, Springfield, Mass