GEN. BURNSIDE'S REPORT. 489 enemy at the very muzzles of their guns. But the retreat of the forces on their flank, had inspired all with a panic, and they most ingloriously fled, leaving their cannon unspiked, a number of horses, the caissons, and the unexpended ammunition. They contrived, however, to bear off the greater portion of their killed and wounded, so that it is impossible to form an approximate estimate of their loss, though it cannot fall far short of our own." Gen. Burnside, in his official report, thus speaks of the battle and the victory: "After an engagement of four hours, we succeeded in carrying a continuous line of field works, of over a mile in length, protected on the river bank by a battery of thirteen heavy guns, and on the opposite bank by a line of redoubts of over half a mile in length, for riflemen and field pieces, in the midst of swamps and dense forests, which line of works was defended by eight regiments of infantry, five hundred cavalry, and three batteries of field artillery of six guns each. The position was finally carried by a most gallant charge of our men, which enabled us to gain the rear of all the batteries between this point and Newbern, which was done by a rapid advance of the entire force up the main road and the rail road, the naval fleet meantime pushing its way up the river, throwing their shots into the forts and in front of us. "The enemy, after retreating in great confusion, throwing away blankets, knapsacks, arms, &c., across the rail road bridge and country road, burned the former, and destroyed the draw of the latter, thus preventing further pursuit, and causing detention in occupying the town by our military force; but the naval force had arrived at the wharves, and commanded it by their guns. I at once advanced Gen. Foster's brigade to take possession of the town by means of the naval vessels which Com. Rowan had kindly volunteered for the purpose. The city was set on fire by the retreating rebels in 490 GEN. BURNSIDE'S REPORT. many places; but, owing to the exertions of the naval officers, the remaining citizens were induced to aid in extinguishing the flames, so that but little harm has been done. Many of the citizens are now returning, and we are now in quiet possession of the city. We have captured the printing press, and shall at once issue a daily sheet. By this victory, our combined forces have captured eight batteries, containing forty-six heavy guns and three batteries of light artillery of six guns each, making in all sixty-four guns; two steamboats, a number of sailing vessels, wagons, horses, a large quantity of ammunition, commissary and quarter-master's stores, forage the entire camp equipage of the rebel troops, a large quantity of rosin, turpentine, cotton, &c., and over two hundred pris oners. "Our loss, thus far ascertained, will amount to ninety-one killed and four hundred and sixty-six wounded, many of them mortally. Among these, are some of our most gallant officers and men. The rebel loss is severe, but not so great as our own, they being effectually covered by their works." The defeat at Newbern added another and an important link to the long chain of rebel reverses, commencing with the battle of Mill Spring. Our unbroken successes in Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia, and all along the sea border to Florida, were peculiarly cheering to the friends of the Union, and disheartening to the insurgents. The possession of Newbern placed our forces in the rear of Beaufort, and paved the way for the possession of that city, and of the important fortress of Fort Macon, which guards its water approaches. An expedition, under the command of Com. Rowan, proceeded, on the 20th of March, to Washington, a fine village on the Tar River, near its entrance into the Pamlico. The river had been obstructed by spiles, but the fleet forced its way through them; and the batteries which had been erected to BEAUFORT AND FORT MACON. 491 defend the river, were found deserted. No opposition was made to the Union force. Much abandoned rebel property had been destroyed by the inhabitants, and a decided Unior feeling was manifested. On the 20th of March, an expedition designed for the capture of Beaufort, consisting of the 3d brigade, under the command of Gen. Parker, left Newbern for that purpose. On the 23d, the army had reached Morehead City, without opposition, and which they found evacuated. That place is about equidistant from Fort Macon and Beaufort, and less than one and a half miles from either point. A flag of truce was sent over to the fort, and its surrender demanded, but it was refused. Beaufort also was abandoned by the rebels; so the next important work in hand, was to proceed with the preparations for the reduction of the fort. Its position is on a high bluff, and completely commands the channel. Its armament consisted of eighty-nine guns, and its war garrison of three hundred men. It was a new and strong fort, only completed in 1860. A landing of the force destined to operate against the fort was made upon Bouge Island. The peculiar formation of the surface of this Island, was very favorable for the protection of the men while engaged in the erection of batteries, being composed of a series of sand hills, up to within about one half mile of the fort. The pickets of the enemy were driven in on the 11th of April, and positions selected for the erection of the batteries, and the work was afterwards steadily prosecuted, night and day. The men thus employed slept on the sand, for no tents were allowed, as they would indicate to the enemy the true position of the working parties. The work was carried on under a nearly continuous fire from the enemy, the only protection from which were the sand hills and their own earth-works. In the works thus erected, were finally mounted four ten inch mortars, within fourteen hundred yards 492 CAPTURE OF FORT MACON. of the fort, three long thirty-two pound siege parrott guns at thirteen hundred yards, and four eight-inch mortars at twelve hundred yards. On the 24th, Gen. Burnside arrived from Newbern. He brought up two barges, each armed with two thirty-two pound parrott guns. These were anchored three miles below the fort. Everything was now ready, and the surrender of the fort was formally demanded, and refused. Early on the following morning, the bombardment began. After a short practice, a very accurate range was obtained. The destructive conical balls from the parrott guns were very accurate in their range, and terribly destructive in their effects. They pierced the strong walls of the fort in two places, and speedily emptied the casemates of their occupants. So severe was the effect, that fifteen of the enemy's guns were soon dismounted. The fire of the fort gradually slackened, evincing the telling effect of our fire. Those in charge of the Federal batteries, were engaged for the first time in the earnest duties of war, but they equaled in efficiency and bravery the oldest veterans. Special commendations were bestowed upon the company of the 3d N. Y. Artillery under command of Capt. Ammon, for their cool and unflinching bravery under this, their first experience under fire. At half-past four P. M., a white flag was run up, negotiations ensued, and the fort and all its contents were surrendered. The officers and men were paroled. The garrison consisted of about four hundred and fifty men, exclusive of officers. In the fort were found twenty thousand pounds of powder, and other munitions in proportion, besides a large quantity of provisions. The rebel loss was seven killed and eighteen wounded. Union loss, one killed and three wounded. CHAPTER XVIII. THE MERRIMAC AND MONITOR. Description of the Merrimac-Appearance in Hampton Roads-Attack upon the Cumberland and Congress—Description of the Scene-The Excitement - Arrival of the Monitor-Description — Re-appearance of the Merrimac— The Fight with the Monitor-The Merrimac Retires-Importance of the Con test-Destruction of the Merrimac, The contest with the rebels has developed the fact, that in the arts and implements of war, as well as in those of peace, American enterprise and invention occupy the front rank. This was conclusively exhibited in the naval contest in Hampton Roads, between the rebel iron-plated steamer Merrimac -by them called the Virginia—and the American iron-clad ship, the Monitor. This important combat excited at the time the most intense interest, and its results are likely to effect an important revolution in naval warfare. The Merrimac was originally a first-class steam sloop-ofwar, of thirty-two hundred tons measurement, and carried forty guns. When the Government was obliged to abandon the Norfolk Navy Yard, early in the rebellion, this ship, with others, was scuttled and sunk. The rebels, however, raised They proceeded to convert and placed her in the dry dock. her into an iron-clad war vessel. They covered her with an inclined roof of rail road iron, and protected every exposed part of the ship in a similar manner, and prefixed to her bow an immense iron ram. This additional weight made them much trouble in the dry dock; and the effort to launch her, |
