ARMY OPERATIONS. 



As you value your rights of self-government and all 

 the blessings of freedom the hallowed endearments 

 of home and fireside, of family and kindred I call 

 upon you to rally to their defence, and to sustain the 

 noble and sacred cause in which we are engaged. 

 North Carolina has always proved true, constant and 

 brave, in the hour of trial and of danger. Never let it 

 be said, that in the future she has failed to maintain 

 her high renown. If we are threatened now more 

 than heretofore, and upon our own soil, let our exer- 

 tions be equal to every demand on our patriotism, 

 honor, and glory. No temporary reverses dampened 

 the ardor of your ancestors, even though the enemy 

 marched in columns through the State. The fires of 

 liberty still burned brightly in their breasts. 



They were moved to new energy and resisted by 

 gallant deeds, with abiding hope and unflinching 

 courage and perseverance, bravely contending with 

 enemies at home as well as the foreign foe, until, after 

 a struggle of seven long years, our independence was 

 achieved and acknowledged. Let us imitate their 

 glorious example. The enemy is redoubling his efforts 

 and straining every nerve to overrun our country and 

 subjugate us to his domination his avarice and ambi- 

 tion. Already it is proposed in their Congress to 

 establish a territorial government in a portion of our 

 State. Now is the time to prove our zeal and animate 

 by example. I call upon the brave and patriotic men 

 of our State to volunteer, from the mountains to the 

 sea. 



You are wanted both to fill up our quota in the con- 

 federate army and for the special defence of the State. 

 I rely, with entire confidence, on a prompt and cheer- 

 ful response to this call upon your patriotism and 

 valor. Tender yourselves in companies and squads, 

 under officers of your own selection. You will be at 

 once accepted and organized into regiments under the 

 laws that are or may be made, and which it is my duty 

 to execute. The Adjutant-General will issue the neces- 

 sary orders for this purpose. 



Fellow citizens ! Your first allegiance is due to North 

 Carolina. Rally to her banners. Let every man do 

 his duty and our country will be safe. 



Given under my hand and the seal of the State, at 

 Raleigh, this twenty-second day of February, 1st 1 ,:.'. 

 [SEAL] HENRY T. CLARK. 



Preparations were now made by Gen. Burn- 

 side for an attack upon Newbern. This city is 

 situated at the confluence of the Neuse and 

 Trent rivers, about fifty miles from Pamlico 

 Sound near its southern extremity. It is second 

 in commercial importance in the State, and is 

 connected by railroad with Raleigh the capital. 

 On the llth of March the troops intended for 

 the expedition were embarked and ordered with 

 the naval force to rendezvous at Hatteras Inlet. 

 The latter force was under Commander Rowan, 

 Com. Goldsborough having been ordered to 

 Hampton Roads. These forces having com- 

 bined left Hatteras the next morning and ar- 

 rived about sunset at Slocum's Creek, eighteen 

 miles below Newborn, and the place selected 

 for disembarking the troops. The landing was 

 effected the next morning with great enthusiasm 

 under cover of the gunboats, and after a toil- 

 some march of twelve miles through the mud, 

 the head of the column reached, that evening, 

 within a mile and a half of the Confederate 

 stronghold. The remainder came up during the 

 night with eight pieces of artillery, chiefly boat 

 howitzers. The gunboats shelled the road in 

 advance of the march of the troops, and cover- 

 ed their encampment at night. Early the next 

 morning Gen. Foster's brigade was ordered by 



Gen. Burnside to proceed up the main country 

 road to attack the enemy's left, Gen. Reno up 

 the railroad to attack the enemy's right, and 

 Gen. Parke to follow Gen. Foster and attack 

 the enemy in front, with instructions to sup- 

 port either or both brigades. The engagement 

 which ensued continued for four hours, and 

 resulted in carrying a continuous line of Con- 

 federate field work, over a mile in length, pro- 

 tected on the river flank by a battery of thir- 

 teen heavy guns and on the opposite flank by 

 a line of redoubts over half a mile in length 

 for riflemen and field pieces in the midst of 

 swamps and dense forests. This line was de- 

 fended by eight Confederate regiments of 

 infantry, five hundred cavalry, and three bat- 

 teries of field-artillery, each of six guns. 



The position was finally carried by a brave 

 charge, which enabled the Federal force to gain 

 the rear of ;ill the batteries between that point 

 and Newbern. This was done by a rapid ad- 

 vance of the entire force up the main road and 

 railroad, while the gunboats proceeded up the 

 river throwing their shot into the forts and in 

 front of the advancing forces. The enemy in 

 retreating destroyed the country road bridge 

 and the draw of the railroad bridge over the 

 river Trent, thus preventing pursuit, and es- 

 caped by the railroad. Meantime the gunboats 

 arrived at the wharves and commanded the 

 city, but it was not occupied by the troops until 

 Gen. Foster's^brigade was brought up by the 

 vessels. Thus eight batteries containing forty- 

 six heavy guns, three batteries of light artillery 

 containing six guns each, two steamboats, a 

 number of sailing vessels, wagons, horses, a 

 large quantity of ammunition, commissary and 

 quartermasters' stores, forage, and two hun- 

 dred prisoners" were captured. The Union 

 loss was ninety-one killed and four hundred 

 and sixty-six wounded. The Confederate loss 

 was severe, but not so great, as they were ef- 

 fectually covered by their works. They retired 

 to Tuscarora about ten miles from Newbern. 

 Gen. Gatlin being indisposed, they were com- 

 manded by Gen. O. B. Branch. 



On the next day Gen. Burnside issued the 

 following address to his force : 



HEADQUARTERS, DEPT. or NORTH CAROLINA, I 

 NEWBERN', March 15. j 



General Order, No. 17. 



The General Commanding congratulates his troops 

 on their brilliant and hard won victory of the 14th. 

 Their courage, their patience, their endurance of fa- 

 tigue, exposure and toil, cannot be too highly praised. 



After a tedious march, drawing their howitzers by 

 hand through swamps and thickets, after a sleepless 

 night, in a drenching rain, they met the enemy in his 

 chosen position, found him protected by strong earth- 

 works, mounting many and heavy guns, and in an open 

 field themselves they conquered". With such soldiers, 

 advance is victory. 



The General Commanding directs with peculiar 

 pride, that, as a well-deserved tribute to valor in this 

 second victory of the expedition, each regiment en- 

 gaged shall inscribe on its banner the memorable 

 name " Newbern." 



By command of Brigadier-General 



A. E. BURNSIDE. 



LEWIS RICHMOND, Adjutant-General. 



