From North Carolina.
the Attach upon Newbern — the town shelled by the Yankees — Panio and Flight of the inhabitants, &c. Goldsboro', N. C., March 14,
--Last night about twenty thousand Federals landed with artillery and cavalry near our batteries, a short distance from Newbern, and began skirmishing with their infantry.
The enemy's gunboats, about fifty in number, hauled up within gentlemanly distance of our batteries, and opened upon them with eight inch shell.
The fight then became general.
They drove our men from the battery.
Latham's battery was cut all to pleces.
Lieutenant-Colonel Haywood is reported killed.
He was shot in the forehead.
Colonel Campbell is wounds.
Several other officers are killed and wounded.
Many of our men were also killed, wounded, and made prisoners, but everything is in such litter disorder that nothing definite or certain can be learned.
The Federal gunboats ran up to Newbern near the Nouce river bridge and out off the retreat of most of the Confederates.
At ten o'clock this i rning about 700 militiamen who had escaped over the bridge before the Yankee gunboats got there came into Newbern at a double-quick.
Immediately after the Yankees began to shell Newbern.--Two little steamers going up the river, loaded with women and children, unable to find room in the cars, were fired upon with shot and shell by the Yankee gunboats.
At eleven A. M., the town of Newbern was on fire in two places.
It was shelled without a moment's notics.
The scene of consterna tiok and confusion was dreadful.
Women and children were running in every direction to get out of the shower of missiles, which fortunately flew wide of the town and burnt beyonp its limits.
We had about 7,000 men in this battle.
They fought well until they were flanked right and left by 25,000 Yankees.
We repulsed them several times with the bayonet, but, being surrounded by the overwhelming odds, numbers retrested in great confusion.
This is reliable.
[Second Dispatch.]
Wilmington, March 16.
--Passengers from Newbern and Goldsbore' make conflicting statements of our loss at Newbere.
It is impossible to give particulars.
All that is known is that Newbern was taken on Friday and the town set on are by the citizens, burning naval stores and cotton.
The Yankees put the fire out.
Our loss is unknown.
The Yankees are reported to have landed 25,000.
A prisoner taken, who is now in Kinstrie jail, is reported to have said that Burnside's whole force is ,000, and is distributed at Hatteras, Roan ke Island, and Newbern.
Everything is in such confusion at Goldsboro' and below that place that it will take several days to collect any definite particulars.
Some say our loss in prisoners does o exceed 500, and 250 to 300 killed and wounded. Many no doubt escaped that were supposed lost.
Several arrived here to-day on the cars. 