Battle Name: |
New Berne |
Other Names: |
None |
State: |
North Carolina |
Location: |
Craven County |
Campaign: |
Burnside’s North Carolina Expedition (January-July 1862) |
Dates: |
March 14, 1862 |
Principal Commanders: |
Brig. Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside [US]; Brig. Gen. Lawrence O’B. Branch [CS] |
Forces Engaged: |
Expeditionary Force and Foster’s, Reno’s, and Parke’s Brigades [US]; 5 regiments, militia [CS] |
Estimated Casualties: |
1,080 total |
Description: |
On March 11, Brig. Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside’s command embarked from Roanoke Island to
rendezvous with Union gunboats at Hatteras Inlet for an expedition against New Berne. On March 13, the fleet
sailed up the Neuse River and disembarked infantry on the river’s south bank to approach the New Berne
defenses. The Confederate defense was commanded by Brig. Gen. Lawrence Branch. On March 14, John G.
Foster’s, Jesse Reno’s, and John G. Parke’s brigades attacked along the railroad and after four hours of fighting
drove the Confederates out of their fortifications. The Federals captured nine forts and 41 heavy guns and
occupied a base which they would hold to the end of the war, in spite of several Confederate attempts to recover
the town. |
Results: |
Union victory |