History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5; prepared in compliance with acts of the legislature, by Samuel P. Bates.

1862 BATTLE OF NEWBERN. 3
ravine chocked with felled timber, up the opposite bank, and without a falter
carried the redan in front, planting the old flag upon the ramparts. " All this,
says General Reno in his official report, " was gallantly executed, and the enemy
fled precipitately from all their intrenchments. Some fifty prisoners were captured in these works, many severely wounded. Upon reaching the rebel in
trenchments I was rejoiced to see our flag waving along the entire line of the
enemy's works." After setting fire to the railroad bridge, and a number of factories, the rebels abandoned Newbern.
Detachments were frequently sent out by General Burnside to reconnoitre
and hold important points upon the coast. One was entrusted to Colonel Hartranft, who moved with his regiment into the interior and acquired valuable
information. On the 16th of April, a force was sent out consisting of the Fiftyfirst Pennsylvania, Ninth and Eighty-ninth New York, Sixth New Hampshire
and the Twenty-first Massachusetts, which proceeded by transports to a point
four miles below Elizabeth City, where it landed. Pushing inland about twenty
miles, the weary troops came upon the enemy strongly posted. Two companies of the Fifty-first, A and F, Captains Boulton and Hart, were considerably
in advance of the main column, and when they had arrived within an eighth
of a mile of the rebel line, they were suddenly opened upon from the enemy's
guns. They were ordered to shelter themselves as best they could, and to hold
their position. General Reno now led the Twenty-first Massachusetts, and the
balance of the Fifty-first Pennsylvania, through the woods to the right, bringing them into position upon the enemy's left flank, where they immediately
opened fire. In the meantime, the Ninth New York had taken position on the
enemy's left centre, and had prematurely charged upon his guns. The ground
was open, and being fearfully exposed, the Ninth was repulsed with considerable loss. The Sixth New Hampshire advanced upon the left, and with the
two companies of the Fifty-first holding the road, kept the enemy well employed upon that part of the line. The Fifty-first had now turned his left flank,
and was pouring in most deadly volleys. LIn the meantime," says General
Reno,'the Fifty-first Pennsylvania, and the Twenty-first Massachusetts kept
up an incessant fire upon the rebels, who had now withdrawn their artillery,
and had commenced to withdraw in good order. The Sixth New Hampshire
had steadily advanced in line to the left of the road, and when within about
two hundred yards poured in a most' deadly volley, which completely demoralized the enemy, and ended the battle. Our men were so completely fagged out
by the intense heat and their long march, that we could not pursue them.
The men rested under arms until about ten o'clock P. M., when I ordered a return to our boats, having accomplished the principal object of the expedition,
conveying the idea that the entire Burnside expedition was marching upon
Norfolk." The loss in the regiment was three killed and twenty-one wounded.
The brigade was here commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Bell, and the regiment by Major Schall. On the 30th of June the regiment embarked for Fortress Monroe, but was detained until the 5th of July, when it set sail with the
rest of the command, and arrived on the 8th, Here General Burnside commenced organizing the Ninth Corps, destined to win an enviable place in the
national armies, and the regiment was assigned to the Second Brigade of the
Second Division, composed of the Fifty-first Pennsylvania, Fifty-first New York
and the Twenty-first Massachusetts, commanded by General Edward Ferrero.
On the 12th of August, Burnside hastened with his command to the support