Dudley near Goldsboro in Wayne County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
Battle Of Goldsborough Bridge
A "Perfect Success"
| | Fosters Raid | |
Photographed by Mike McKeown, September 10, 2025
1. Battle of Goldsborough Bridge Marker
Welcome to Goldsborough Battlefield Park. The fighting that occurred in the fields around you on December 17, 1862, was the last battle of what is known as Foster's Raid. The raid lasted for six days during frigid weather that caused misery for soldiers on both sides. Union Gen. Foster's goal was to burn the bridge for the Wilmington and Weldon Railroad, and distract Confederate authorities from reinforcing Gen. Robert E. Lee's army around Fredericksburg, Va.
On December 11, Foster's 10,000 infantrymen, 640 cavalrymen, and 40 cannons left New Bern, a Union stronghold and thorn in the side of Confederate authorities. The Union soldiers captured Kinston and 400 Southern troops on the 13th. Union soldier Pvt. Henry Clapp wrote that his comrades huddled together at night, "five inches from a blazing fire" to stay warm, and frozen canteens frustrated their efforts to make warming morning coffee. Two days later fighting occurred at Whitehall (now Seven Springs) making Foster's objective clear. Foster was successful in driving off the Confederate resistance and burning the bridge here, but the span was rebuilt within a few weeks. Nonetheless, the Union raid damaged Southern morale in North Carolina, and Foster considered the raid a "perfect success."
The 32-acre park is operated by the Goldsborough Bridge Battlefield
this page online
(Captions)
"Skirmish at Goldsboro." Harpers Weekly
Approximate route of Gen. John G. Foster's raid from New Bern to Goldsboro, December 1862
Erected by North Carolina Civil War Trails.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Bridges & Viaducts • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the North Carolina Civil War Trails series list. A significant historical date for this entry is December 17, 1862.
Location. 35° 20.38′ N, 78° 1.717′ W. Marker is near Goldsboro, North Carolina, in Wayne County. It is in Dudley. It is on Old Mt Olive Highway 0.2 miles south of 303 Old Mt Olive Hwy (U.S. 117), on the left when traveling south. Located in the parking lot for the Goldsborough Bridge Battlefield. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 225-371 Old Mt Olive Hwy, Dudley NC 28333, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in North Carolina’s Coastal Plain and in the Piedmont. It is also in the American South and specifically in the Upper South. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Battle of Goldsborough Bridge (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); River Road and Pontoon Bridges (about 400 feet away); Confederate and Union Earthworks
Photographed by Mike McKeown, September 10, 2025
2. Battle of Goldsborough Bridge Marker
Goldsborough Bridge Battlefield Park
Another marker is no longer nearby. Battle of Goldsboro Bridge (was here, next to this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it).
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. Old CWT Marker At This Location also titled "Battle of Goldsborough Bridge".
Also see . . .
1. Goldsborough Bridge Battlefield. Goldsborough Bridge Battlefield Association (Submitted on September 14, 2025.)
2. Goldsborough Bridge (American Battlefield Trust). (Submitted on September 17, 2025, by Mike McKeown of Baltimore, Maryland.)
Photographed by Mike McKeown, October 11, 2025
3. Battle Of Goldsborough Bridge Marker
Marker next to parking area
Credits. This page was last revised on October 15, 2025. It was originally submitted on September 10, 2025, by Mike McKeown of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 168 times since then and 61 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 10, 2025, by Mike McKeown of Baltimore, Maryland. 3. submitted on October 11, 2025, by Mike McKeown of Baltimore, Maryland. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
