Cannons Blew The Tops Off Trees

On the morning of March 14th 1862 the Union took the city of New Berne North Carolina.


Union General Ambrose E Burnside left Roanoke North Carolina on March 11th 1862 with 12,000 soldiers. They were met at Hatteras by 13 Union gunboats under the command of Union Commodore Stephen C Rowan. On March 12th 1862 the boats were in the Neuse River, and on the morning of the 13th they opened fire on the shore of North Carolina. Three brigades of infantry under Generals John G Foster, John G Parke and Jesse L Reno went ashore and began a march towards New Berne.

In New Berne North Carolina were 4,500 Confederates under the command of General Lawrence O’Bryan Branch. These men had very little military experience, most still didn’t have uniforms. These Confederates were in line in the early morning hours of March 14th 1862, as the Union naval cannon blew the tops off tree over their heads. Union troops attacked along the railroad, hitting against the Confederate fortifications. The battle went on for close to 4 hours before the Confederates were forced to retreat. Future Governor Zebulon Vance with the 26th North Carolina Infantry, isolated from there line held off Union troops, delaying the taking of the city. The Union occupied and held New Berne for the rest of the war. Union losses were about 476 killed, wounded, or missing, and the Confederates saw 584 losses.

An interesting web site with more about this battle
Battle of New Berne

An Important Bridge

Both the Union and Confederate Armies wished to secure the strategically important Wilmington and Weldon Railroad Bridge. On December 17th 1862 Union Major General John G Foster led 12,000 soldiers near Everettsville, North Carolina, with the objective of destroying the bridge. Foster’s men began demolishing the tracks leading to the Goldsborough Bridge. The Confederates led by General Thomas Clingman delayed the Union advance, but were unable to keep them from burning down the bridge. With his mission completed, Foster and his troops returned to their camp in New Bern, North Carolina. There were about 100 causalities on the Union side and 175 of the Confederates.

The Fight in NC

In Lenoir Co, North Carolina on December 14th 1862 the Battle of Kinston was fought.

A Union force lead by General John G Foster headed out from New Bern, North Carolina, with orders to destroy the railroad at Goldsborough, North Carolina. They were met near the Kinston Bridge by a brigade under the command of Confederate General Nathan Evans. However the Confederates were outnumbered and had to pull back in the direction of Goldsborough.