Engagement at Whitehall
A Sharp Action
(Preface): Late in 1862, Union Gen. John G. Foster's garrison was well entrenched in New Bern and made several incursions into the countryside. On December 11, Foster led a raid from New Bern to burn the Wilmington and Weldon Railroad Bridge over the Neuse River at Goldsboro and to demonstrate in support of Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside's attack at Fredericksburg, Virginia. Foster's force consisted of 10,000 infantry, 650 cavalry, and 40 cannons.
Marching from New Bern on December 11, 1862, Foster captured Kinston on December 14 after a two-day fight. The next evening, he reached a point four miles from Whitehall (present-day Seven Springs), bivouacked for the night, and sent three companies of cavalry to reconnoiter toward the village. The Federals encountered Gen. Beverly H. Robertson's Confederates setting fire to the bridge over the Neuse River here and brought up artillery to drive them off.
The Federals returned to their bivouac, then resumed their advance the next morning, December 16. Finding Robertson's force well entrenched across the river and under cover of trees, brush, and timber cut to construct the Confederate ironclad Neuse, Foster stationed his artillery on a hill overlooking the Confederate line and opened fire. Roberson advanced infantrymen toward the river to simulate a crossing because the Union gunners lacked cover, and a sharp action ensued. Foster soon withdrew his force and continued the march to Goldsboro. The artillery barrage damaged the village and resulted in numerous casualties among the combatants.
(Sidebar):
Target CSS Neuse
On the night of December 15, to illuminate the Confederate position at the bridge, Foster's men produced a spectacular bonfire by torching 2,000 barrels of turpentine. CSS Neuse was under construction on the opposite shore. Pvt. Henry Butler swam across the river with a flaming plank from the bridge but was driven back before he could burn the vessel. The ship's hull was damaged by artillery fire, but not beyond repair.
Marker is at the intersection of West River Street and New Street, on the right when traveling west on West River Street.
Courtesy hmdb.org
