New Bern in Craven County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

Artillery at New Bern

Photographed by Mike McKeown, January 16, 2026

1. Artillery at New Bern Marker

Inscription.

Artillery at New Bern. . Federal artillery , General Burnside's coast division was armed with light artillery designed to be easily launched from ship to shore with small rowboats. The cannon were part of an artillery battery consisting of eight 12-pound rifled light-boat howitzers manufactured by Canadian-born Norman Wiard. These howitzers were mounted on a metal field carriage. Each howitzer was manned by a crew of 11 sailors and marines. Once on land, the howitzers had to be pulled by the crew with a rope dragline. Only 2 ammunition crates could be strapped to the howitzer frame. The additional ammunition crates were carried by the gun crew., Confederate artillery , The Confederate defenses at New Bern were reinforced with a variety of cannon, most of which were prewar cannon seized from Federal forts and armories. The river forts were armed with an assortment of cannon , the majority being 32-pound smoothbore guns. Many of these cannon were mounted "en barbette" which exposed the gun crews to enemy fire. Outside the forts, stationed along the entrenchments, were a variety of cannon similar to the one in front of you. On March 29, 1862, Captain James Wren, Company B, 48th Pennsylvania, toured the battlefield. That night, he recorded in his diary the variety of Confederate cannon seen in the vicinity of the Old Beaufort Road:, -two brass 24-pound howitzers , -two brass 12-pound smoothbore guns , -one 6-pound brass rifled gun , -one 6-pound iron gun, From these captured cannon, Captain Wren created a battery to strengthen the new Federal defenses that were being constructed outside New Bern., The Amherst Gun is the only known surviving cannon from the Battle of New Bern. h was the first cannon captured by the 21st Massachusetts during its attack on the Brickyard. It was given to Amherst College in honor of Lieutenant Frazar Stearns, son of the college president, who was killed in the attack. This replica is owned by Tryon Palace. The original resides in Morgan Hall at Amherst College., (captions) , Naval howitzer on a metal field carriage , 32 pound "en barbette" carriage , Lieutenant Frazar Stearns

Federal artillery
General Burnside's coast division was armed with light artillery designed to be easily launched from ship to shore with small rowboats. The cannon were part of an artillery battery consisting of eight 12-pound rifled light-boat howitzers manufactured by Canadian-born Norman Wiard. These howitzers were mounted on a metal field carriage. Each howitzer was manned by a crew of 11 sailors and marines. Once on land, the howitzers had to be pulled by the crew with a rope dragline. Only 2 ammunition crates could be strapped to the howitzer frame. The additional ammunition crates were carried by the gun crew.

Confederate artillery
The Confederate defenses at New Bern were reinforced with a variety of cannon, most of which were prewar cannon seized from Federal forts and armories. The river forts were armed with an assortment of cannon — the majority being 32-pound smoothbore guns. Many of these cannon were mounted "en barbette" which exposed the gun crews to enemy fire. Outside the forts, stationed along the entrenchments, were a variety of cannon similar to the one in front of you. On March 29, 1862, Captain

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James Wren, Company B, 48th Pennsylvania, toured the battlefield. That night, he recorded in his diary the variety of Confederate cannon seen in the vicinity of the Old Beaufort Road:

-two brass 24-pound howitzers
-two brass 12-pound smoothbore guns
-one 6-pound brass rifled gun
-one 6-pound iron gun

From these captured cannon, Captain Wren created a battery to strengthen the new Federal defenses that were being constructed outside New Bern.

The Amherst Gun is the only known surviving cannon from the Battle of New Bern. h was the first cannon captured by the 21st Massachusetts during its attack on the Brickyard. It was given to Amherst College in honor of Lieutenant Frazar Stearns, son of the college president, who was killed in the attack. This replica is owned by Tryon Palace. The original resides in Morgan Hall at Amherst College.

(captions)
Naval howitzer on a metal field carriage
32 pound "en barbette" carriage
Lieutenant Frazar Stearns

Erected by New Bern Historical Society. (Marker Number V-11.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is March 14, 1862.

Location. 35° 2.88′ N,

Photographed by Mike McKeown, January 16, 2026

2. Artillery at New Bern Marker

77° 0.958′ W. Marker is in New Bern, North Carolina, in Craven County. It can be reached from Battlefield Trail 0.2 miles south of Taberna Way, on the right when traveling south. Located next to the New Bern Battlefield Park Visitor Center. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 300 Battlefield Trail, New Bern NC 28560, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in North Carolina’s Coastal Plain. It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in the Tidewater,

and on the Eastern Seaboard. 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: From Annapolis to Roanoke (a few steps from this marker); Breakthrough at the Brickyard (a few steps from this marker); Final Stand

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(a few steps from this marker); Advance From Slocum's Creek (a few steps from this marker); New Bern Battlefield Park (a few steps from this marker); The Burnside Expedition (a few steps from this marker); Opening Volleys (a few steps from this marker); The Cost of War (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in New Bern.

Also see . . .
1. New Bern Battlefield Park (New Bern Historical Society). (Submitted on January 17, 2026, by Mike McKeown of Baltimore, Maryland.)
2. Battle of New Bern (Wikipedia). (Submitted on January 17, 2026, by Mike McKeown of Baltimore, Maryland.)

Credits. This page was last revised on January 19, 2026. It was originally submitted on January 17, 2026, by Mike McKeown of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 63 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 17, 2026, by Mike McKeown of Baltimore, Maryland. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.