Battle of New Bern

Battle of New Bern New Berne Began: March 14, 1862 Ended: Same day Location: Craven County, North Carolina Theater: Eastern Theater Campaign: Burnside’s North Carolina Expedition Outcome: Union victory Combatants Coastal Division North Atlantic Blockading Squadron 5 regiments, militia Commanders Ambrose Burnside Brigadier General, USA Lawrence O’Bryan Branch Brigadier General, CSA Strength Casualties 471 Killed: 90 Wounded: 380 Missing: 1 578 Killed: 64 Wounded: 101 Missing: 413

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 Bern. On March 13, the fleet sailed up the Neuse River and disembarked infantry on the river’s south bank to approach the New Bern 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. (NPS summary)