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| Add Photo — Add Link — Add Commentary — Correct this page — Print | | Near Goldsboro in Wayne County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic) |
Union Assault on the Bridge
— Battle of Goldsborough Bridge —
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By J. J. Prats, February 27, 2010 | |
| | | 1. Union Assault on the Bridge Marker | | |
Inscription. Union General John G. Foster’s prime objective, the wooden covered Wilmington & Weldon railroad bridge, crossed the Neuse River here. After the 51st and 52nd North Carolina regiments were pushed back by the Union advance coming through the fields on the other side of the tracks and from atop the railroad embankment, Union volunteers rushed forward to burn the bridge. Five enlisted men from the 17th Massachusetts and 9th New Jersey, led by two officers, Lieutenant George Graham of the 23rd New York
Artillery and Lieutenant Barnabas Mann of the 17th Massachusetts,
made their way to the bridge. Mann was severely wounded in
the assault, but the others continued forward. One witness described
the assault: “The Confederates on the bridge, and those nearby,
plainly seeing the object upon which these men were bent,
directed their fire upon them with terrible fury.” One of the
volunteers “crept down the embankment into the edge of the
woods and, gathering an armful of dried leaves and light
wood, scampered back....While clambering back up the embankment....was discovered by a party of Confederates under the bridge, who with bitter curses sent their compliments in the shape of a shower of bullets and buckshot, one passing through his canteen
one through his cup, another through his coat, and still another through his | | | | 
By J. J. Prats, February 27, 2010 | |
| | | 2. Union Assault on the Bridge Marker and Present-Day Railroad Bridge | | |
old cap. Placing the leaves, with the fuses, upon a beam....they were set on fire and in another minute the interior was enveloped in
flames.” Once the fire was set Foster brought all of his artillery to bear on the bridge, to help in its destruction and to keep the Confederates from extinguishing the flames. In a short time, the bridge was destroyed. Union troops then stacked their muskets and began tearing up the railroad tracks to further damage the Confederate supply line.
Erected by the Goldsborough Bridge Battlefield Association.
Location. 35° 20.382′ N, 78° 1.464′ W. Marker is near Goldsboro, North Carolina, in Wayne County. Marker is on Old Mt. Olive Highway south of Route 117, on the left when traveling south. Click for map. Marker is in this post office area: Goldsboro NC 27530, United States of America.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, as the crow flies. Confederate Counterattack (about 600 feet away, in a direct line); Attack of the 17th Massachusetts (about 600 feet away); Battle of Goldsborough Bridge (approx. 0.2 miles away); Battle of Goldsboro Bridge (approx. ¼ mile away); Waynesborough (approx. 2.5 miles away); North Carolina Press Association (approx. 3.4 miles away); Goldsboro (approx. 3.5 miles away); Foster's Raid (approx. 3.5 miles away). Click for a list of all markers in Goldsboro.| | | | 
By J. J. Prats, February 27, 2010 | |
| | | 3. Interpretive Panel Marker at End of Walking Trail | | The Neuse River runs left-to right beyond the fence and the railroad bridge is out of frame to the right. | | |
More about this marker. This is stop 3 on The Battle of Goldsborough Bridge Battlefield walking tour. |
| | | | | | 4. Detail from the Marker | | “The burning of the Wilmington and Weldon railroad bridge.” Illustration by Randy Sauls | | |
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February 27, 2010 | |
| | | 5. Detail from the Marker | | “Union Troops like those shown above destroyed railroad tracks after burning bridge.” Florida Center for Instructional Technology illustration. | | |
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By J. J. Prats, February 27, 2010 | |
| | | 6. Earthworks In Sight of the Bridge | | These are on the left behind the fence in the foreground on photograph 3. | | |
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Credits. This page originally submitted on March 13, 2010, by J. J. Prats of Springfield, Virginia. This page has been viewed 613 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on March 13, 2010, by J. J. Prats of Springfield, Virginia. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.
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