New Berne NC003
1862-03-14 to 1862-03-14 · NC · Burnside's North Carolina Expedition [February-June 1862] · frozen result: Union · NPS summary (as listed)
On March 11, Brig. Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside's command embarked from Roanoke Island to rendezvous with Union gunboats at Hatteras Inlet for an expedition against New Berne. On March 13, the fleet sailed up the Neuse River and disembarked infantry on the river's south bank to approach the New Berne defenses. The Confederate defense was commanded by Brig. Gen. Lawrence Branch. On March 14, John G. Foster's, Jesse Reno's, and John G. Parke's brigades attacked along the railroad and after four hours of fighting drove the Confederates out of their fortifications. The Federals captured nine forts and 41 heavy guns and occupied a base which they would hold to the end of the war, in spite of several Confederate attempts to recover the town.
Command responsibility (ledger v2)
US: Ambrose E. Burnside
Grade A under rule 2; echelon unknown.
A cited passage states the command.
Brigadier Generalarnold-cwsac-commanders, battle NC003, belligerent US, fullname Ambrose E. Burnside; column rank · snapshot
6c587c298717…Brig. Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside's command embarked from Roanoke Islandarnold-cwsac-battles, battle NC003; column description · snapshot
952b5d08402a…Confederate: Lawrence O'Bryan Branch
Grade A under rule 2; echelon unknown.
A cited passage states the command.
Brigadier Generalarnold-cwsac-commanders, battle NC003, belligerent Confederate, fullname Lawrence O'Bryan Branch; column rank · snapshot
6c587c298717…The Confederate defense was commanded by Brig. Gen. Lawrence Branch.nps-nc003-v1 · snapshot
add2a4c1d73c…Side strength (ledger v3)
US: grade B, 11,000 (9,350–12,650)
basis_mixedderivation_unknownsingle_inputwhole_engagement_leakage
| Input | Class | Printed | Basis | Bound | Codes | Passage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| us-clodfelter | B | 11,000 | unknown | derivation_unknown | 11000arnold-clodfelter-forces, battle_id New Bern, belligerent US; column strength · snapshot 96430f3626d3… |
Confederate: grade B, 5,000 (4,250–5,750)
basis_mixedderivation_unknownsingle_inputwhole_engagement_leakage
| Input | Class | Printed | Basis | Bound | Codes | Passage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| cs-clodfelter | B | 5,000 | unknown | derivation_unknown | 5000arnold-clodfelter-forces, battle_id New Bern, belligerent Confederate; column strength · snapshot 96430f3626d3… |
Dossier claims
Draft dossier, revision . Claims are extraction records with their quoted passages, not historical adjudication. JSON
information
unknownunresolved
No original reconnaissance, correspondence or warning chain was inspected for the commanders’ contemporary knowledge of defenses and opposing strengths. The selected approach narrative does not resolve that gap.
logistics
supportedunresolved Woodbury describes wading ashore, a muddy approach and sailors dragging naval howitzers with the column.
Retrospective approach logistics; keep ship crews, guns and infantry headcounts distinct. The author’s descriptions of spirits are not converted into morale scores.
the men were obliged to wade a considerable distance to the firm earth.woodbury-burnside-selections-v1, pp.55–56, disembarkation (OCR page markers; not checked against print) · snapshot
ad7a423cadac…It was a long, wearisome, and muddy marchwoodbury-burnside-selections-v1, p.56, approach (OCR page markers; not checked against print) · snapshot
ad7a423cadac…each . of which was dragged by twelve sailorswoodbury-burnside-selections-v1, p.56, naval howitzers (OCR page markers; not checked against print) · snapshot
ad7a423cadac…objectives
supportedunresolved NPS says Burnside embarked for an expedition against New Berne, rendezvousing with Union gunboats at Hatteras Inlet.
An attributed operational target, not a fully inspected set of pre-expedition success criteria. Later occupation is not an independent modeled campaign win.
rendezvous with Union gunboats at Hatteras Inlet for an expedition against New Berne.nps-nc003-v1, Description · snapshot
add2a4c1d73c…outcome
supportedpost_outcome The frozen row and live NPS page record a Union victory.
Same source family, not independent corroboration or a causal effect. Retain the frozen engagement interval and do not add a separate score for later occupation or campaign consequences.
disputedpost_outcome The frozen table gives 1,080 total; the live NPS table displays 1085 total (US 476; CS 609;).
These versions remain distinct. No inspected return reconciles the totals, category definitions or reporting boundaries. Casualties are not opening strength or a predictor; a displayed zero is not evidence of no losses.
responsibility
supportedunresolved NPS assigns the Confederate defense to Branch and names Foster’s, Reno’s and Parke’s brigades as the Union attacking formations.
Keep named roles distinct from automatic equal credit, and retain naval support as context. No command replacement time or causal allocation is established.
The Confederate defense was commanded by Brig. Gen. Lawrence Branch.nps-nc003-v1, Description · snapshot
add2a4c1d73c…John G. Foster's, Jesse Reno's, and John G. Parke's brigades attackednps-nc003-v1, Description · snapshot
add2a4c1d73c…strength
unknownunresolved
No inspected return establishes matched opening populations. The frozen side-specific numerical bounds are blank; live zeros are not measured absence of troops. Retrospective formations, gun crews, garrisons, prisoners and troops engaged must not be interchanged.
disputedunresolved The live NPS table displays zero personnel on both sides while its narrative describes opposing formations.
The frozen numerical bounds are missing; preserve both artifacts without converting displayed zeros to measured strengths.
Expeditionary Force and Foster's, Reno's, and Parke's Brigades [US]; 5 regiments, militia [CS]arnold-cwsac-battles, battle NC003; column forces_text · snapshot
952b5d08402a…terrain
supportedunresolved NPS places the landing on the Neuse’s south bank and the March 14 attacks along the railroad.
These are source-described routes, not a verified map or numerical terrain modifier.
Open questions
- Original orders, personnel returns, contemporary intelligence and source disputes remain deferred after the bounded shared-history follow-up. OCR has not been checked against print.
- Keep opening, moving, engaged, garrison and captured populations distinct; do not use live zero displays as numerical evidence.
- Broader blockade, occupation and later operations remain campaign context, not additional independent wins or automatic commander credit.