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Capture of Newbern, &c.
The objects of
Gen. Burnside's expedition were not accomplished with the capture of
Roanoke Island.
These objects, as stated in a memorandum furnished by
Gen. McClellan, who directed the expedition as part of a general campaign for 1862, were an assault on
Newbern, and, if possible, the destruction of the southern line of railroad through Goldsboroa, and the Wilmington and Weldon railroad.
The town of
Beaufort, defended by
Fort Macon, was next to be attacked, and the port opened, whilst operations against
Wilmington were pointed to as the eventual objects of the expedition.
On March 12th, the expedition started from Hatteras Inlet for its new object of attack.
The troops were disembarked the next day eighteen miles below
Newbern, and at daylight of the 14th advanced upon the
Confederate works four miles below the town.
These consisted of a line of detached forts of low relief.
The entire Confederate force, under command of
Gen. Branch, did not exceed five thousand men — a great part of them militia-and had to contend against an enemy outnumbering them at least three to one.
Fort Thompson was the most formidable fortification on the river, and mounted thirteen heavy guns.
An attempt was made to storm the work, which was repulsed, and four
Massachusetts companies which entered the fort from the railway track were driven out over the parapet.
Another attempt was made, with increased numbers; and perceiving the enemy's gunboats moving up the river, and fearing that he would be surrounded,
Gen. Branch ordered a retreat.
It was commenced in good order, but finally became a rout.
The guns of Fort Ellis were thrown down the embankment,
Fort Lane was blown up, and the
Confederates fled across the railway bridge over the
Neuse.
The bridge was fired by a raft laden with cotton and spirits of turpentine before the retreating column had passed over, and about five hundred prisoners were taken by the enemy.
These, about fifty pieces of cannon, two small steamers, and large quantities of arms and ammunition, were the immediate fruits of the enemy's victory, at a cost estimated in
Burnside's report as 91 killed and 466 wounded. The Confederate loss in killed and wounded was about one hundred and fifty.
Shortly after the enemy's occupation of
Newbern, the town of
Washington, situated at the mouth of
Tar River, fell into their hands; the batteries for its defence having been dismantled, and the entrenchments abandoned by the small Confederate force that had been stationed there.
On the 25th of April,
Fort Macon, which commanded the entrance of
Beaufort harbour, was bombarded by three of the enemy's steamers, and three siege batteries on the shore.
There were not more than five Confederate
