GEN. BURNSIDE’S MOVEMENTS: Beaufort, N.C., Occupied by his Forces; The Place Evacuated by the Rebels; FORT MACON BLOWN UP (3/25/1862)

New York Times - Times Machine ^ | 3/25/1862

[Homer_J_Simpson]

FORTRESS MONROE, Sunday, March 3, VIA BALTIMORE, Monday, March 24.

The steamer Chancellor Livingston arrived from Hatteras Inlet last night.

Immediately after the occupation of Newborn, an expedition to Beaufort was started by Gen. BURNSIDE.

The place was, however, evacuated before our troops approached.

Fort Macon was blown up by the rebels, and the steamer Nashville burnt.

On the day Gen. BURNSIDE occupied Newborn, 10,000 rebel troops were on the road between Goldsborough and Newbern.

WASHINGTON, Monday, March 24.

Col. SEGAR, Representative elect from the Accomac District, arrived here this morning, confirming the intelligence of the destruction of the privateer Nashville and Fort Macon by the rebels.

It is a year ago that Gov. ELLIS, of North Carolina, ordered a rebel militia regiment to seize and occupy Fort Macon, the strongest regular fortification on the Atlantic coast between Fortress Monroe and Fort Sumter. It defended the approach to Beaufort, N.C., by sea, and as this was the only entrance to the North Carolina Sounds below Ocracoke Inlet, it really was a main mean of defence for the whole coast of North Carolina. From Beaufort, also, a railroad ran to Newbern and to Raleigh, the Capital of the State, and this road at Goldsborough intersected the main line running south from Virginia. As a defence to North Carolina against approaches from any direction, there was no work so important as Fort Macon, and no harbor so valuable as Beaufort. We now learn that the rebels, seeing that, as we had got in their rear by the capture of Newbern, a successful defence of that part of the coast was impossible, have evacuated Beaufort and blown up Fort Macon. We give herewith a view of the minute topography of the harbor and regions around Beaufort,

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Free Republic University, Department of History presents U.S. History, 1861-1865: Seminar and Discussion Forum
The American Civil War, as seen through news reports of the time and later historical accounts

First session: November 21, 2015. Last date to add: May 2025.
Reading: Self-assigned. Recommendations made and welcomed.

Posting history, in reverse order

https://www.freerepublic.com/tag/by:homerjsimpson/index?tab=articles

To add this class to or drop it from your schedule notify Admissions and Records (Attn: Homer_J_Simpson) by reply or freepmail.

Link to previous New York Times thread

https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/4049295/posts

[Homer_J_Simpson]

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[Homer_J_Simpson]

Gen. Burnside’s Movements: Beaufort, N.C., Occupied by his Forces – 2
The Victory at Winchester: Probability of Capturing Jackson’s Entire Command – 3
News from Tennessee: The Concentration of Rebels at Corinth – 3
From Island NO. Ten: Progress of the Bombardment – 3-4
News from Washington: Enforcement of the Order Against the Publication of Dangerous War News – 4-5
The Affair Near Winchester-The Rebels Off for the South – 5
The Press and the War Department – 5-6
Editorial: Gunboats-Inventors at Work – 6
The Fall of Fort Macon – 6
Groans of the Charleston Mercury – 6
A Meritorious and Gallant Officer Righted – 6

[Hatteras]

Was back at Fort Macon a couple of weeks ago on a beautiful late winter day just hanging out on the beach.

btw, don’t care what they may tell you. The fort is haunted.

[super7man]

Thank you for posting this daily. It is a very important detail of our history. Nonetheless; I am amazed at the level of detailed military information about troop strength, deployment, casualties and battle strategies that is published. Seems like keeping it a secret would have been better.

[ComputerGuy]

I’ve caught many a flounder around that rock jetty. Fort Macon used to be my go-to fishing place.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

The government is trying to crack down on loose lipped newspapers, with limited success.

[Verginius Rufus]

It's amazing that the war lasted four years. From The New York Times headlines, it would seem that the "rebels" were on the verge of total defeat by March 1862.

[Conan the Librarian]

Remember! IT’s BO Fort in North Carolina (English Pronuciation) and BEAU Fort in South Carolian (French Pronuciation). :D

We stayed a few times in Morehead City (across the sound from Beaufort) while traveling the ICW. Great area for boating. DO NOT try to travel that area during fishing tournaments. The locals go nuts in the little boats.

[rockrr]

Yeah, apparently they had their Jerry Rivers types even then...