| From the Richmond Daily Dispatch |
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| March 18, 1862 |
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| The fight at Newbern |
| We had a conversation yesterday
with a member of the Confederate Minstrel Company, just returned from
Newbern, N. C., where, with his associates, he participated in the
recent exciting events at that point. The fight on Friday, he informs
us, commenced at half-past 6 o'clock in the morning, and lasted two
hours. The principal engagement occurred some three miles from the
town, on the railroad {the Atlantic & North
Carolina RR}, where a force of
North Carolina
militia had been stationed to contest the advance. On the same day,
seven trains of cars, crowded with women and children, succeeded in
getting away, though the enemy threw one shell, which exploded beyond
a departing train, in the woods. |
| ***** |
| The railroad bridge across Neuse
river was not burnt until after all our troops had crossed, except
those whose escape had been effectually cut off by the Yankees. The
railroad bridge is said to have been an elegant structure, and of a
most substantial character. It was burnt by a raft, upon which was
piled 200 barrels spirits of turpentine and 150 bales cotton. The
torch was applied, the raft set adrift, and in a few moments it lay
alongside the piers of the bridge, and the costly fabric was wrapped
in flame from end to end. |
| ***** |
| All the rolling
stock of the railroad was saved, and but few persons remained
in the town. Women and children were overtaken by the trains many
miles from Newbern, some in vehicles of various kinds, and many on
foot. |
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