The Battle of New Bern

On March 11, 1862, Union General Ambrose Burnside departed Roanoke Island with the objective of capturing the strategic town of New Bern, North Carolina. Traveling aboard naval vessels, Burnside and his forces arrived on the Neuse River, approximately seventeen miles from New Bern, on March 12. From there, the troops advanced on foot, accompanied by naval support, continuing their movement until March 14.

While Confederate forces had anticipated an approach via naval channels, they were unprepared for the Union’s coordinated assault from multiple directions. On the morning of March 14, 1862, Burnside's forces successfully captured New Bern, forcing the Confederate troops into what was described as a “disorganized retreat.”

In the chaos that followed, fires broke out across the town, destroying significant structures, including the Washington Hotel and numerous private residences. Following the battle, New Bern remained under Union control for the remainder of the Civil War, despite several Confederate attempts to reclaim the city in 1863 and 1864. (1)

The first set of images included here features engravings depicting the Battle of New Bern, along with scenes of formerly enslaved individuals making their way to the city following the Emancipation Proclamation, issued on January 1, 1863. Towards the bottom of the page are other local Civil War photographs and ephemera.

1) James Edward White III. New Bern and the Civil War. 2018: The History Press, Charleston.