THE START FOR NEWBERN.
This morning weighed anchor and our fleet, comprising
upwards of 50 sail, steamed up the Pamlico sound for Newbern. After a few hours'
sail, large numbers of wild geese and ducks attracted our attention. Wide
marshes which extend into the sound are their feeding ground, and from these
they make their way a long distance into the sound. These waters appear to be
their winter quarters. About 3 p.m., we enter the Neuse river, which is here
about two miles wide. Situated on the left bank, thirty miles up the river, is the
city of Newbern. Slowly we steam up the river, seeing nothing but the low,
piney shores, and the smoke of the enemy's signal fires. About 8 p.m., when 15
miles up the river, in a wide place forming a kind of bay, we dropped anchor
for the night. The transports lay huddled together in the middle of the river,
while a cordon of gunboats surrounds us as a picket. A dark, black night has settled
down on us, and all is still and silent as the tomb. Not a sound is heard or a
light seen, save the enemy's signal fires, far up the river. This stillness is
dreadful. It is really oppressive, and seems as though it has remained unbroken
since the morning of creation. Our errand here is to make an attempt to occupy the
city of Newbern, and if anybody attempts to stop us, there will be a big fight
and somebody will be hurt.
SOURCE: David L.
Day, My Diary of Rambles with the 25th Mass. Volunteer Infantry, p.
41-2
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