484

SUCCESSES OF THE EXPEDITION.

The town of Brunswick, Georgia, having one of the finest harbors on the coast, was also occupied without opposition, on the 13th of March, and although extensive and formidable works had been erected, to guard the approaches to it, they were all abandoned, and the town passively surrendered.

San Augustine, Florida, was also surrendered without opposition, on the 11th of March. This is an old Spanish town, containing about two thousand inhabitants. It has a very salubrious climate, and has been a place of great resort for northern health seekers. Fort Macon commands its harbor, an old and substantial fort. Most of the armament had been removed, by the rebels, before it was surrendered.

Musquito Inlet, fifty-one miles south of San Augustine, was believed to be an avenue through which the rebels introduced arms, and carried on a general contraband trade. The Penguin and the Henry Andrew, were dispatched, soon after the occupation of San Augustine, to reconnoitre this Inlet. On returning from a boat expedition, Lieut. Commanding Budd, and acting master Mather, with five men, landed at some apparently abandoned earth-works. From those, and the adjoining forest, an unexpected fire was opened upon them, killing the two officers named, and three of the men; the two others were wounded and made prisoners. The rebels abandoned the works on the appearance of Federal re-enforcements. On March 25th, the rebel works, on Skidaway Island, in Wilmington river, were destroyed, and all that was combustible burned.

Thus, in about two weeks, and without loss of life, this expedition had taken possession of Fernandina, St. Mary's, Brunswick, Jacksonville, and San Augustine.

Preparations for an expedition against the city of Newbern, North Carolina, began, very soon after the capture of Roanoke Island. Those preparations were completed, and the expedition sailed on the 12th of March.

ADVANCE UPON NEWBERN.

485

Newbern is a port of entry, and the former capital of the State. It contains a population of about six thousand, is a healthy and pleasant city, and the second in the State, in size and commercial importance. It is situated at the confluence of the Trent and Neuse rivers; the former is three-fourths of a mile, and the latter one and one half mile in breadth, and navigable for large vessels. It is forty-seven miles from Pamlico Sound, and has a railroad communication with the Atlantic.

The expedition comprised a naval force under Com. Rowan, and a land force of 8,000 men, under Gen. Burnside. The point selected for the landing of the troops was the mouth of Slocum Creek, twelve miles by water and seventeen by land, below Newbern. The landing was effected on the morning of the 14th of March, with the utmost spirit and enthusiasm ; and the line of march taken up for the point of attack. The road was a difficult one, and, for the heavily-laden troops, the march was severe; yet never were toils and difficulties met and overcome with more energy and alacrity. The day proved to be rainy, yet the long and comfortless march was cheerfully performed.

The road ran within shelling distance from the river. As the army advanced along the road, the flotilla ascended the river. Both were obstructed by heavy batteries; and besides the strong forts and shore batteries commanding the river, it had been obstructed about six miles below the city, by sinking in the channel over twenty schooners. The fleet, as it proceeded, silenced the several batteries, and passed, without material injury, through the channel obstructions.

The land force continued its march during the day, with no incidents worthy of special mention, except the discovery of a hastily abandoned camp, and a partially finished and deserted breast-work of the enemy, of a half a mile in extent. At eight o'clock in the morning, the enemy's pickets were discovered, and it was decided to bivouac for the night.

486

BATTLE OF NEWBERN.

At seven and a half o'clock on the following morning, sharp firing in front, indicated that our skirmishers had encountered the enemy. The several divisions were rapidly formed, and marched to the attack. Gen. Burnside rode forward, when a shell from the enemy's breast-work, struck within ten feet of him, but did not explode; yet the party were covered with mud.

"The engagement regularly opened about eight o'clock, when the 1st brigade bore the brunt of the battle. General Foster rode fearlessly along, giving his orders, and was several times exposed to the hottest of the fire. His aids too, shared the danger, and one of them, Lieutenant Pendleton, narrowly escaped injury, if not death, from a bullet which passed through his coat sleeves, just grazing the arm. The Massachusetts 24th, on the right, had soon to regret the wounding of two of their officers, Major Stevenson and Adjutant Horton, the former by a ball in the leg, the latter by a ball in the shoulder. Early in the engagement, the Massachusetts 23d lost Lieutenant Colonel Murritt, who was struck by a cannon ball, which carried away one side of his body and lacerated his form in a horrible manner. The proportion of officers killed and wounded, during the entire fight, was quite large. The 27th Massachusetts seemed, for some reason, to be more exposed to the fire of the enemy, and with ammunition expended, and a large loss, were withdrawn. The 10th Connecticut, until now in reserve, was ordered to their support, and as they fell back, took their place; moving to the front with great alacrity, and opening fire with vigor. The 10th was finally compelled to retire, through want of ammunition, and the 11th Connecticut took their place. To the 1st brigade belongs the credit of having so gallantly and attentively engaged the battery, while the 2d and 3d, executed the brilliant manoeuver of flanking the enemy's right.

"When it became evident that the 1st brigade was capable

BATTLE OF NEWBERN.

487

of carrying on the fight in front, the 3d, which had been supporting it, was ordered, with the exception of the 11th Connecticut, to support the 2d, in the flank movement. Accordingly, the 8th Connecticut, 4th Rhode Island, and 5th Rhode Island regiments, withdrew a short distance into the woods, and, defiling to the left, came out upon the rail road, and going forward, came in the rear of the 3d brigade.

"This portion of the field of operations was immediately under the command of General Reno, and to him was allotted the task of the flank movement, already referred to, and which he so brilliantly and successfully accomplished.

"It may be well here to state, that when the idea of flanking was entertained, it was not known that the line of intrenchment extended beyond, or if it did, much beyond the rail road. When the troops attempted the movement, consequently, of getting in the rear, they discovered not the mere obstacle of swamp or marsh, but also of a series of redoubts. and rifle pits, which defended the immediate vicinity of the track. Our attack in front had so far been confined to the right, near the river, where one of the water batteries had reversed its guns, and was assisting in the defence of the breast-work by an enfilading, or, more properly, diagonal fire upon our troops. The great body of the enemy was consequently here posted, and the flank movement came near re- / sulting in a perfect surprise, though they rapidly re-enforced the redoubts, as soon as they discovered the approach on that side.

"Having drawn out in line of battle, the 2d brigade returned the fire of the enemy vigorously, who, from the rifle pits, and behind the screening edges of the redoubts, were picking off our men with deadly certainty at every shot. But we have to boast of our sharp-shooters also, as many a rebel in the same rifle pits and behind the intrenchments, whose death-wound was in the head, amply testified.

488

BATTLE OF NEWBERN.

"At last, the word was given to charge, and the Massachusetts 21st, which was on the left, succeeded in getting four companies within the enemy's position. The New York 51st, which was on the right of the Massachusetts 21st, supported the movement, while the 9th New Jersey, 51st Pennsylvania, 8th Connecticut, and 4th and 5th Rhode Island, assailed the work at various points. The four companies of the Massachusetts 21st, were far in advance of the others in the intrench ment, and, driving the rebels before them, had attempted to reverse the guns, when they were repulsed by a strong re-enforcement of the enemy, who suddenly charged from a little ravine or hollow just in the rear, and with their overwhelming numbers drove them out, making a few prisoners. Our repulse was but momentary. Re-forming, the Massachusetts 21st, New York 51st, 4th Rhode Island, and the 9th New Jersey, with the 5th Rhode Island in reserve, returned to the assault, and, after another gallant charge, another desperate resistance of the enemy, a hand to hand contest over the ramparts of the intrenchment, in which our forces at one time actually reversed its purpose, and used it as a breast-work for their own protection, while they kept the rebels at bay inside, they drove the enemy out, and, at the point of the bayonet, chased them back out of sight. The victory was won, with the loss of nearly seventy killed, and two hundred and fifty wounded—a heavy one, when it is taken into consideration, that of the two brigades, only six regiments and one battalion were engaged. The fire of the enemy was terrific, and embraced all the varieties of missile. Gen. Reno and Gen. Parke, admirably conducted the whole manoeuvring, and with their aids and staff were exposed to no inconsiderable danger.

"When the word to charge was given on the left the cheers with which it was received, were heard over on the right, and instantly the 1st brigade emerged from its position along the edge of the woods, and dashing across the fields, assailed the