Gettysburg. Vicksburg. Antietam. You’ve heard of the most famous of the more than 10,000 Civil War battles; maybe even visited a battlefield or two. But many folks – including even native New Bernians – are unaware of the brief but fierce battle that took place right here in New Bern. This six-hour struggle would have a profound, far-reaching impact on almost every aspect of this picturesque little town in ways that could not have been imagined.
Why New Bern? Early in the Civil War, a key Federal objective was disrupting the Confederate’s supply chain, from ports to critical railroad lines. North Carolina’s second largest city, New Bern figured prominently in these plans as it was located along the railroad connecting Fort Macon and the port of Beaufort with the rail hub at Goldsboro. Seizing New Bern would give Federal forces control of significant agricultural areas and supply lines to the Confederate’s Army of Northern Virginia.
On March 13, 1862, 11,000 Federal troops led by General Ambrose Burnside and supported by 13 heavily armed gunboats led by Commodore Stephen Rowan, landed at Slocum’s Creek, now part of the Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point. The weather was cold and rainy as Burnside advanced his three brigades to New Bern: Brigadier General John G. Foster on the right along Old Beaufort Road, and Brigadier General Jesse L. Reno on the left via the railroad. Brigadier General Parke’s brigade followed behind Foster in reserve Foster. Rowan’s gunboats would shell the shoreline just ahead of the Federal advance.
Awaiting the Federal forces were 4000 inexperienced and ill-equipped Confederate troops commanded by General Lawrence O’Bryan Branch, a politician with virtually no military experience. Branch positioned his infantry regiments, one cavalry regiment, local militia and three gun batteries to defend a line extending from Fort Thompson on the Neuse River to Wood’s Brickyard adjacent to the railroad tracks (the “Thompson Line”) and westward from the railroad along the Bullen Branch of Brice’s Creek.
Extending Branch’s right wing to the railroad tracks was the 26th North Carolina Regiment commanded by Colonel Zebulon Vance, later governor of North Carolina. Redans were built along the confederate line of defense. Artillery and two companies of cavalry under Col Vance strengthened the right line with three infantry companies led by Lt Col Henry King Burgwyn, the “Boy Colonel,” for he was not yet 21 years of age. However, he was an able leader, having graduated from Virginia Military Institute.
Lt Col Burgwyn’s companies manned a series of redans situated on several promontories high above Bullen’s Branch that had been dammed to create a depth of about four feet of cold water. An area south of the redans was cleared of trees extending out some 300 yards for a field of fire. The felled trees were fashioned into an abatis to further slow the attackers.
The battle began at 0730 on March 14th and raged for nearly six hours. The main Federal attack was in the vicinity of Fort Thompson. Despite support from Commodore Rowan’s gunboats, this attack stalled. However, a regiment of General Reno’s brigade flanked the militia battalion in the vicinity of Wood’s brickyard adjoining the railroad. The poorly armed, fresh militiamen were driven from their position leaving the right flank of the 35th North Carolina Regiment exposed. The Confederate line was broken between the 26th and the 35th regiments, and the Federal forces pushed through, forcing the retreat of the Confederate troops.
Estimated Confederate and Federal casualties for the battle totaled about 1080 killed, wounded, or captured. The fierce battle in the swamps and along the railroad was a major victory for the Federals and led to the occupation of New Bern by Burnside and his successors for the remainder of the Civil War. Federal forces created a series of strong fortifications around the town with many of New Bern’s homes being used as hospitals, staff offices, and troop quarters.
Confederate forces tried three times but failed to recapture the town. The presence of Federal forces in New Bern required the Confederacy to continually divert troops to the railroad’s defense that might have been better utilized elsewhere.
Approximately 10,000 slaves and free blacks sought refuge in New Bern during the Federal occupation. The refugees worked for the military as laborers, craftsmen, even soldiers. From this group, one of the first US Colored Troop regiments, the 1st NC Colored Volunteers was formed. They would go on to fight with the Federal Army through the war’s end. The military government established schools for the refugees and the Trent River Settlement, which eventually became James City.
You can walk the hallowed ground where a key portion of the Battle of New Bern took place, at New Bern Battlefield Park, owned and managed by the New Bern Historical Society. The detailed interpretive panels along the History Walk not only tell the story of the battle, but also the war’s causes, its consequences, and its relevance to New Bern today. Located at 300 Battlefield Trail, the free park is open to the public seven days a week during daylight hours. Visit www.newbernhistorical.org/battlefieldpark.
Blog article provided by, New Bern Historical Society – www.newbernhistorical.org