The following letter was written by Charles Warren (1835-1920) who entered the service as a sergeant in Co. B, 11th Connecticut Infantry, and soon after their first Battle of Newbern, described here, was promoted to 1st Sergeant. Warren later (July 1863) became Captain of Co. G, then Major (November 1864) and in command of the entire regiment in the last stages of the war. He was mustered out as the Colonel of the 11th Connecticut and after the war published a regimental history. Indeed, near the end of this letter he confesses, “It seems to me that I could write a volume about what I see.”

An obituary published on 4 November 1920 in The Press (Stafford Springs, Connecticut) informs us that Warren was “one of the most respected men in Stafford” when he died, having lived most of his life in the town. It says he worked as a young man in a local mill until 1850 when he entered into a partnership with Henry Thrall in the whole sale leather business in Boston which is where he worked until the Civil War began. He then returned home to join the 11th Connecticut, rose through the ranks to lead it by war’s end, and proudly asserted that he had participated in each and every battle in which the regiment was engaged.

After the war, Warren returned to Stafford where he entered the mercantile business and carried on with it until he sold out in 1881 to take a position as President of the Stafford Savings Bank.

In this letter, Warren gives us an incredible, eye-witness account of the Battle of Newbern in which the 11th Connecticut played a prominent role in what would be the first of many battles. We learn that it made quite an impression on him, as he related to his Boston friend, “It was a sickening sight that met us—dead horses, mangled men, broken cannon, knapsacks, guns, &c. were strewn in every direction. I shall never forget that sight—never, never. It is the sad side of a victory & no one knows anything about it until they see it as it is.”

[Note: This letter is from the personal collection of Richard Weiner and was transcribed and published on Spared & Shared by express consent.]

Transcription

Newbern [North Carolina]
April 7, 1862

Albert L. Norris, Esq.
My friend and brother,

Having a few leisure moments this afternoon, I thought I would improve them by writing you a few lines which I doubt not will be quite acceptable. In the first place, I have heard direct from Rufus at Hatteras Inlet & have the cheering news that he is much better & in fact, getting quite smart & thinks of coming to join us by the next steamer & so I expect to see him in a few days if we are not ordered to march. I understand that the 11th Regiment has been ordered to Beaufort but it is reported the order is countermanded. We are encamped by the side of the Trent River near a bridge in the woods & quite a pleasant place it is as the boys can bathe every day if they choose. We have moved our camp twice since I wrote you last.

I believe I promised to give you a long account of the Battle of Newbern but it has been so long since the battle, I think it would not interest you much & so I will give you only some items & incidents that came under my observation.

We left Hatteras I think on the 26th of February and landed on Roanoke Island the first of March & encamped in a corn field in front of a house & a very pleasant place it was. I visited the battlefield on the island and had some very interesting chats with some of the natives who gave me a very interesting account of the island and its defenses and the rebel troops that were encamped there. We took considerable pains to ornament our camp as it was reported that we were to stay here some time but out time on the island was destined to be short as orders were received on the afternoon of the 5th to have everything in readiness to go aboard the boats the next morning.

On the morning of the 6th of March, we marched to the beach and embarked on board the fleet and was towed out into Croatan Sound where we lay until the 11th when signals were hoisted for starting & the three brigades of Burnside’s Division moved down the Sound. I awaked up on the morning of the 12th and crawled out of bunk & went on deck & found that the fleet was off Hatteras Inlet anchored. Early in the morning the signals were up for starting & the fleet moved down Pamlico Sound headed by the gunboats. It was one of the most beautiful mornings & days that I ever beheld & I am sure that I never enjoyed a ride so much in my life as I did the one down Pamlico Sound on the 12th of March 1862.

Along in the afternoon, fires were seen on the mainland which we supposed were signal fires as they appeared at intervals all along the coast but I must hasten along with my story.

We sailed up Neuse River as far as Slocum’s Creek and anchored for the night. Orders were received to have the guns inspected & everything in order & when we landed to take our overcoats & blankets & leave our knapsacks on the boat & take three days rations. Orders were also given that in landing, strict silence would be insisted on among the men. I arose on the 13th & went on deck & seen the fleet was still anchored in the creek. Early in the morning a tugboat was seen approaching with one of the Generals aides & the boys crowded on deck to catch the order as we supposed he had orders for us. Says he, “Get your men ready with provisions and ammunition for the signals are already up for landing.” It took a good part of the day to land all the troops as we had to go ashore in light draft boats.

The 11th Connecticut got ashore about 3 o’clock p.m. and formed in line on the beach. Those that landed in the morning pushed on up the bank of the river towards Newbern. As we stood in line, an aide came galloping up and sings out, “They have evacuated the first battery & our men hold the railroad.” Of course there was considerable cheering at this.

We took up our line of march & a tough march it was as the mud was ankle deep a good part of th way. We marched until about 10 o’clock & halted for the night having passed the deserted earthworks and railroad. We were almost completely tired out, being wet trough and muddy from head to foot as it rained nearly all the time. We stopped by the side of the road and spread our blankets down on the wet grass and lay down on them and tried to sleep. I tried the experiment awhile but could not sleep and so I got up and sat by the camp fire until about half past two when we were ordered to advance.

We continued our march until we overtook the regiments ahead of us and halted. I lay down on the ground & dropped asleep but did not enjoy it long as we were ordered to march. A part of the 11th [Connecticut] Regiment was detailed to draw some 12-pound howitzers & Co. B was one of the companies. Well, on we went in the mud drawing the cannons up towards the battery that was reported not far ahead. The road was awful bad & the boys had not proceeded far before the wheel sunk nearly to the hubs in some places which made it very hard work to get them along.

Gen. Burnside passed us early in the morning going to the front with a smile on his countenance. Firing was now heard on our left by the infantry and soon a shell came whizzing through the woods followed by another and another. When it became evident that the battery was not far ahead, we pushed on up towards the firing and soon bullets began to whistle about our ears which was not very pleasant, I assure you. One poor fellow was shot in the forehead a few feet from me while he had hold of the rope of the cannon. The wounded were now being brought to the rear & officers were hurrying to and fro to bring up the troops and cannon & the excitement increasing but the boys kept on with the cannon & did not flinch at all as I could see.

Gen. burnside passed us again going to the rear and says, “Hurry those pieces, boys, for they will be needed!” The shot and shell were now flying thick around us although we could not see the enemy on account of the woods and smoke but in a short time we came out into the cleared space where the battery became plainly visible. We drew the pieces up into the cleared space to within about 35 rods [200 yards] of the enemy’s guns and wheeled them around under a galling fire & I wonder we were not cut to pieces more than we were.

We filed a little to the right of the road that leads to the battery and were ordered to lie down. A regiment was on our right lying flat on the ground which we found were the 24th Massachusetts which you are somewhat acquainted with. The fire of the artillery and infantry was truly terrific on both sides until about 11:30 o’clock when they see that our men had outflanked them and were preparing to charge when they began to give way & we rushed for the battery with bayonets fixed, yelling like savages.

The regiments were drawn up in line of the battery and Gen. Burnside coming up, cheer upon cheer rent the air. The boys all love the General and would fight for him until the last. He could not prevent tears from coming into his eyes to see the New England boys in the battery as he rode up.

It was a sickening sight that met us—dead horses, mangled men, broken cannon, knapsacks, guns, &c. were strewn in every direction. I shall never forget that sight—never, never. It is the sad side of a victory & no one knows anything about it until they see it as it is.

The army was just immediately on the march and we come on to the railroad at Woods brick yard and just the other side were rifle pits which were captured at the point of the bayonet. We expected another desperate fight ahead as it was reported that there was two more batteries a short distance ahead. The army took the railroad for Newbern and as far as the eye could reach each way was one dense mass of Union soldiers with colors flying which presented a beautiful sight.

In a short time, news was received that our gunboats had arrived at the wharf at Newbern when it became evident to us that the fighting was over. As we came in sight of the city, dense volumes of smoke were seen rising which was evidence enough that the rascals had fired the town and fled. We stopped just out of the city by the side of the Trent River. It seems to me that I could write a volume about what I see but I must wait until I see you.

Newbern is quite a pleasant place with shade trees and some very fine residences. Well, friend Albert, I shall have some large stories to tell when I get home. I wish you could see some of the prisoners that we have taken for they are the most miserable looking set that I ever saw. But I must close. More anon.

Yours, — Charles Warren