132 Norru Carona Troops, 1861-65.

ston, and there became a part of the forces under Generale
Pickett and Hoke in the movement against New Bern. Gen-
eral Pickett proceeded down the Dover road from Kinston
with Corse’s Brigade of his own division, and those of Hoke
and Clingman, of North Carolina, and attacked a camp of the
enemy at Batchelor’s Creek, capturing about four hundred
prisoners, two pieces of artillery, a large number of small

"arms, horses and camp equipage, and drove the entire Federal
force precipitately towards New Bern.

ATTACK ON NEW BERN.

2ansom’s Brigade with Barton’s and Kemper’s Virginia
Brigades, some cavalry and artillery, all under command of
General Barton, crossed the Trent river, and proceeded from
near Trenton down the south side of the Trent to the south of
New Bern. Meanwhile General J. G. Martin had inoved
with his brigade of North Carolina troops from Wilmington
towards Morehead City. About daylight on the morning of
1 February the picket post of the Federals was reached and
surprised without the escape of a single man. Every precau-
tion had been taken, by the detention of negroes and every
other person likely to be friendly to the enemy in the section
through which we had hurriedly moved, to prevent informa-
tion of the movement from reaching the conimander of the

Federals; and it is now certain that a complete surprise to.

him was effected. As soon as the picket post was taken, each
regiment of Ransom’s Brigade was ordered to throw forward
a company as skirmishers, Company C, of the Forty-ninth,
being selected from that regiment. This was done largely
on account of the well-earned reputation of its commander,
Captain Henry A. Chambers, for prudence, vigor and cour-
age. No officer of his rank in the Confederate service was
ever more faithful, constant and zealous in the discharge of
every duty on every occasion and in every position than this
distinguished and conscientious commander of Company CO—
youthful in age, but clear-minded, steadfast and useful in
all emergencies, ripe in judgment beyond his years, and as
fearless as a lion. This company and the whole line of
skirmishers were pushed forward rapidly under the orders

Forry-Ninto REGIMENT. 133

of Captain Cicero A. Durham, the fighting Quartermaster,
until the enemy’s fortifications were reached. It was the
opinion of the officers above mentioned that, if the cavalry
had been dismounted and advanced with the skirmishers, the
works could have been easily taken. Instead of this being
done, the artillery was moved to the front and a duel was be-
gun between our few field pieces and the heavier guns in the
redoubts, which resulted in nothing. That New Bern could
have been taken in a short time and without any considerable
loss, if any vigorous pressing had been undertaken by our
troops on either side of the river, is now well ascertained.
Indeed, General Martin captured a courier from General Pal-
mer, the commander of the Federals at New Bern, bearing
a dispatch to the officer in command at Morehead City, stat-
ing that, unless reinforcements were quickly sent him, he
must surrender.

It was during this expedition to New Bern that Com-
mander Wood, of the Confederate Navy, made his daring at-
tack upon the gunboat, “Underwriter,” and from under the
very guns of their fortifications, captured and cut it out, and
finding it disabled by the shells of the Federal batteries, de-
stroyed it. Beyond these small results, however, nothing
was accomplished; unless the whole movement was intended
as a demonstration, merely.

During the entire day of 2 February, Company D, under
Lieutenant Barrett, and Company E, under Captain E. V.
Harris, occupied the skirmish line, the enemy keeping close
within their works, and not venturing any movement or
searcely firing a shot from small arms or artillery.

On the night of the 2d the column retraced its steps through
the deep, muddy swamp roads, illuminated by the blazing
pine trees, whose turpentine boxes had caught from the camp
fires on the way down.

CAPTURE OF SUFFOLK.

The next expedition, after returning to our winter quar-
ters, was from Weldon, via Franklin and South Mills, in
the direction of Norfolk. The enemy was met along the
Dismal Swamp canal, driven in after the capture of a num-