Year: 1862

cribed by correspondent of the Tribune,
dated the 18th inst:


"The approaches to Newbern were de-
Tended by line of water batteries or forts
communicating with field fortifcations of
the most extensive nature. The lower
fort is about six miles from the city; the
next communicates with the unfinished
batteries and breastworks passed on our
march, and the others distributed at about
equal distances along the shore The line
of fortifcations attacked and stormed in
the brilliant engagement of yesterday
was some three miles in extent. At the
river bank a hexagonal fort or water bat
terry, with large bomb-proof and thir-
teen heavy guus, commanded not only the
river approach, but by means of pivot
carriages the cannon could be turned up
on an advancing land force, and even to
sweep the line of breastworks itself in
case the garrison should be driven out


The fire of this fort would have proved
very destructive to us after the batteries
were stormed if the gunners had not de-
serted their pieces. From the fort to the
center of the line well-made breastwork
extended, with deep moat in front. At
the center was bastion and sally-port,
after which the breastwork was continued
to the railroad embankment, which was
itself made to contribute means of de-
fensc. Beyond the railroad, but COM
pletely protecting the right flank of the
main battery, was a small battery, of
irregular shape, communicating with a
system of thirteen redans, or rihe-pits,
each pair of which were constructed on a


knoll rising between ravines, the conform


alton of the ground furnished in itself a
most admirable basis for field-work. The


locality was chosen with rare judgement.


and all that engineering skill could devise
was done to make these Notifications an


impossible barrier to our troops. From


the railroad westward, swift, deep brook,
with'muddy bottom, and wide border Of


swamp on both sides, ran in front of the


redans; and on our side of approach, the
I timber was so very heavy, that, wher
felled, it presented barricade which
would seem enough of itself to stop ar


army of French Zouaves On the brow
of each mound, brushwood had been piled
with regularity to the height of four feel


in front of the redans, to make it extreme


ly difficult to take them by assault from


the front. The redans were constructed


of heavy timbers, covered with at leas
: five feet thickness of earth, while an in
terror ditch of say three feet in depth gave
, complete protection to the garrison from
volleys Of musketry, or discharges of grape
, or canister-shot


f The writer has the following on wha
he witnessed after the main fight wal


over:


1nside, the battery presented a most re
, voting appearance. Beneath the parapet


in the ditch, on the open ground, unde
: the gun-carriages, lay the dead bodies o
= Rebels, some mangled in the most shocking
Z manuer. On every side were the bleed


ing carcasses of artillery horses all, s.


far as l noticed, killed by musket or riff
balls. Here and there broken gun-car


riage, or caisson, lay tilted into the mud


Stores of all kinds were scattered over tn


ground or trampled in the black mire
Muskets with broken stocks or bent bar
rels thrown about in every direction
y Pools of blood where the wounded ha,
lain, and stripes of it along the ground il
the direction in which they had been car
: ried--but it is as distasteful as it is un
: necessary to point the horrors of battle
field, and forbear.


We did not know with certainty tha
; there was not another battery as formida
Q BILE as this still further up the road, bu
q thinking it best to feed the panic whicl
$ had seized upon the enemy, Gen. Burn
y side ordered an advance. Gen. Foste
y Immediately sent forward the Oath, 25th
y 9th, and the whole Brigade by the straigh
+ road In the charge on the riAe-pit bal


terry about one hundred rebels, anon
n them the Colonel Of the 33d North Care
+ lima and number of commissioned of