The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1895-09-04

raiders and guerrillas on their wild rides of
escape or pursuit. Historians do indeed
drop page of description to Burnside's
exploits at Roanoke and Newbern and TO
the storming of Fort Fisher, then pass ON
until belated thought Of Cushing's un-
paralleled feat leads them back to the wind
ing, dismal and noisome sounds of the Old
Tar State Plymouth and Wilmington. and
Newbern after its first capture, are of
interest so obscure that their names scarce
ly appear in the long list which burdens
history's glowing records. And rs for Gil
let's Farm, only dreamer would attempt
to gild it with the sacred FURNISH of mar
tial fame. But night attack ON citadel
extemporized from u lone farmhouse away
outside of thickly peopled lines might fur
nish to the participants all that spice OF
danger, that dash Of strange excitement
and quickening Of slow blood which bold
spirits vainly look for when war comes to
| be narrowed down to the monotonous evo-
! buttons and ceaseless volleying of great bat
| tlefieds.
Burnside's army captured Newbeir IN
March, 1862, and began to subjugate the
surrounding coast country. Fort Macon,
on the Atlantic, southeast, was besicged by
a single division, but the country west OF
il and south of Newbern, ON Trent and
White Oak rivers, was open to the Confed-
crates, thus exposing the 80 miles OF road
! between Newbern and Fort Macon, be
tween the main army and the detachment
of besiegers, to raids by the enemy s caval-
ry Burnside was without cavalry. On
| the 9TH of April detachment of 200 pick
ed men of the One Hundred and Third New
| York left Newbern equipped for light
marching and under orders to make n wide
scout southwestward along Trent river two
| marches, thence southeast to and along
| White Oak river to its mouth, three march
es, and northeast along the coast two
marches to Fort Macon. They were ex-
pected to fight their way through all oppo-
sition and live off the country. The recon-
noissance was led by Colonel Baron Egg
| loffstein, European soldier, and the
rank and file comprised chiefly trained
men of arms belonging to the Corps
| d'Elite, the Grenadiers and the German Ri
fes. The commander of the Corps d'Elite,
Captain Langner, was Prussian veteran,
and his next in rank, Lieutenant Martinez,
earned his spurs on the staff of Garibaldi
The party fell in with Confederate scouts
| as soon as it reached the open country.
| The citizens were in league with the enc
my and helped to ambush the invaders. In
| retaliation the baron seized men and cat
tie and sent them back to Newbern under
guard, thereby aruusing the country ahead
of him and also depicting his force. Or
the 18th of April the expedition crossed
White Oak river and took up quarters fol
the night Mt the house of Thomas Glllett
The place was inclosed by high palings
and the house stood in the center Of thu
yard. On one side the Enclosure was flank
ed by stables and other outbuildings. A
broad private lane extended from the main
county road to the front of the house. Sen
tries were placed Mt the gate and Mt inter
walls along the palings.
The baron's men had every reason T.
keep sharp lookout for surprising parties