Dudley in Wayne County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

Confederate Earthworks

Photographed by Mike McKeown, October 11, 2025

1. Confederate Earthworks Marker

Inscription. This earthwork was built by Confederate forces before the battle for defense of the railroad bridge. A young Goldsboro boy named Frank Castex saw this work on a visit the day after the battle, remarking "the Confederates had two lines of breastworks, one near the railroad bridge another about half way between the railroad and the country covered bridge". This work was also shown on a survey map by Union engineers when this area was captured in 1865. The work originally extended farther to your left and extended at an angle to the right, ending near the railroad bridge. These features were destroyed after the war when the borrow pit from which earth was taken in 1839 to build the railroad embankment was enlarged.

Erected by Brunswick Civil War Round Table.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Bridges & Viaducts • Forts and Castles • War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is December 17, 1862.

Location. 35° 20.412′ N, 78° 1.569′ W. Marker is in Dudley, North Carolina, in Wayne County. It can be reached from Old Mt Olive Highway east of U.S. 13/117, on the left when traveling

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east. Along the walking trail at the Goldsborough Bridge Battlefield. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 303 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 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: Confederate Counterattack (a few steps from this marker); Confederate and Union Earthworks (within shouting distance of this marker); River Road and Pontoon Bridges (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Earthwork Cross-Section (about 500 feet away); a different marker also named Union Assault on the Bridge (about 600 feet away); Attack of the 17th Massachusetts

Photographed by Mike McKeown, October 11, 2025

2. Confederate Earthworks Marker

(about 700 feet away); Battle Of Goldsborough Bridge (about 800 feet away); Battle of Goldsborough Bridge (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Dudley.

Other markers no longer nearby. Union Assault on the Bridge (was about 600 feet away but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Battle of Goldsboro Bridge (was about 800 feet away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

More about this marker. This is Stop 5 along the walking trail

Also see . . . Goldsborough Bridge Battlefield. (Submitted on October 13, 2025, by Mike McKeown of Baltimore, Maryland.)

Sign in parking area where walking trail starts image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mike McKeown, October 11, 2025

3. Sign in parking area where walking trail starts

Credits. This page was last revised on October 15, 2025. It was originally submitted on October 13, 2025, by Mike McKeown of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 83 times since then and 30 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 13, 2025, by Mike McKeown of Baltimore, Maryland. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.