Occupation of Newbern

The New York Commercial Advertiser’s correspondent gives a graphic description of the battle near Newbern and of the town.  It says:

Gen. Foster crossed to the city and found it deserted by the greater portion of the white inhabitants, and the negroes holding a carnival in the houses where they once had served.

The city was entirely enveloped in the smoke of burning bridges and buildings.  Negroes, male and female trooped through the streets , talking loudly, entering deserted houses and coming out with every description of plunder.  White faces appeared furtively at the half-closed doors and windows and sublimely disappeared.  The gloom of ruin and despair hung on everything, and it was left for us to bring order out of this chaos.  A few of the inhabitants had hauled out their fire engine and endeavored to arrest the progress of the flames.  Their efforts were ineffectual as each block that was fired was totally consumed.  Fortunately the air was still and the flames were confined to the blocks in which they originated.  Otherwise the city would have been utterly destroyed.

On the arrival of the soldiers, the negroes became less clamorous.  Our men were fatigued with the terrible labors of the past two days, and flushed with the victory they had achieved, rushed into the houses that were found vacant, which fact was accepted as evidence of the disloyalty of the owner.  The search for food was first vigorously prosecuted, and the securing of trophies came next in order.

Many acts of wanton destruction of property were committed before order could be established.  Before nine o’clock, that night, perfect order prevailed throughout the city.  Citizens applied for protection to their property in many instances, and when real danger existed it was afforded.  The negroes were the most difficult to control.  Relieved from the strict rule which prohibits a negro from being abroad at night, they prowled about the streets until a late hour, but were quiet about ten o’clock.

Officers foraging for the comforts of life were strolling about for some time, and finally secured quarters in the deserted houses.  The furniture had been removed from many houses, but some were found in readiness to be vacated, the furniture being backed and left on the floor. – Some very comfortable quarters were secured in a house with a tolerably good stock of wines and liquors, and a well supplied larder.

On Sunday morning our entire fleet was anchored near the city, and some of our gunboats advanced up the Neuse some distance, to prevent a surprise by the rebels from Goldsboro. – The railroad can be commanded by our gunboats a considerable distance above Newbern.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 29, 1862, p. 3