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Forts Ellis and lane in the distance.
Bombardment of the Confederate Fort Thompson during the Battle of New Berne.
From a war-time sketch. |
road and attack the enemy's left;
General Reno was to advance by the railroad and attempt to turn the rebel right; while
General Parke was to follow on the country road as a reserve, or to operate in the center.
The heads of the two advancing columns soon came within range, and a disposition of the troops for a general engagement was immediately consummated.
The 25th Massachusetts had the extreme right; second in line came the 24th Massachusetts, its left resting on the country road, which was occupied by the artillery commanded by
Captain Dayton and
Lieutenant McCook.
The 27th Massachusetts, with its right resting on the country road, was joined on its left by the 23d Massachusetts, the whole parallel with the enemy's works.
The artillery and right regiments opened the engagement before those on the left of the road got into position.
The 10th Connecticut Volunteers, arriving a little after the others, was ordered to the left of the 23d.
The action along the whole of
General Foster's front had now commenced in earnest.
The 27th Massachusetts soon exhausted its short supply of ammunition, and was replaced by the 11th Connecticut, which had been ordered by
General Parke to assist in bringing up the guns.
Early in the morning
General Reno, on the left, moved his brigade along the railroad in the following order: 21st Massachusetts, 51st New York, 9th New Jersey, and 51st Pennsylvania.
The first encounter, about 8 o'clock, was with a large detachment of the enemy who were bringing a gun to bear on the railroad.
This move was checked by a well-maintained fire from the
Union skirmishers, and soon after the right wing of the 21st Massachusetts, under
