Fort Thompson

“Bombardment and capture of Fort Thompson, thirteen guns, near New Berne, on the Neuse River, by the Federal gunboats of General Burnside’s expedition, commanded by Commander S. C. Rowan, U. S. N., March 14th, 1862. Extract from the official report of General Burnside. ‘Early on the morning of the 12th, the entire force started for New Berne, and that night anchored off the mouth of Slocum’s Creek, some eighteen miles from New Berne, where I had decided to make a landing. The landing commenced by seven o’clock the next morning under cover of the naval fleet, and was effected with the greatest enthusiasm by the troops. After a toilsome march through the mud, the head of the column marched within a mile and a half of the enemy’s stronghold at eight o’clock, a distance of twelve miles from the point of landing, where we bivouached for the night. At daylight on the morning of the 14th I ordered an advance of the whole division, and, after an engagement of four hours, we succeeded in carrying a continuous line of field-works of over a mile in length. The position was finally carried by a most gallant charge of our men, which enabled us to gain the rear of all the batteries between this point and New Berne, which was done by a rapid advance of the entire force up the main road and railroad, the naval fleet meantime pushing its way up the river, throwing their shots into the forts in front of us. The enemy, after retreating in great confusion across the railroad bridge set fire to it, thus preventing further pursuit and causing detention in occupying the town by our troops. But the naval force had arrived at the wharves and commanded the town with their guns."— Frank Leslie, 1896

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