New Bern in Craven County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
Attack in the Brickyard
Photographed by Mike McKeown, January 16, 2026
1. Attack in the Brickyard Marker
Inscription.
Attack in the Brickyard. . Foster was stalemated. His probing attack on Fort Thompson by the 25th Massachusetts had failed when the fort responded with raking cannon fire down his line. At the same time, the navy was moving up the Neuse River firing blindly in the fog in search of the Confederates. His line was now caught in a deadly crossfire of Confederate and Federal "friendly" fire., At the railroad, Reno's brigade moved forward rapidly. The 21' Massachusetts sent a company of skirmishers forward to the railroad embankment and with one volley scattered the Confederates unloading the train. Although Lieutenant Colonel Clark of the 21st Massachusetts did not have all of his regiment -deployed, he pressed forward his attack at the railroad. Reno then ordered Clark's Color Sergeant Edward Bates to enter the Brickyard and plant his co ow on the roof of one of the buildings. Sergeant Bates raised high the United States flag as Clark and his men rushed the Brickyard. There they seized the two 24-pound cannon that the militia were attempting to position, and forced the Confederate supply train's retreat., At General Branch's headquarters, the battle seemed to be going well. His troops were holding their own against the large army arrayed fore his main line. Then, 200 yards in front of him Branch witnessed his , B army collapse as a small force of Federals bolted into the Brickyard. His militia, which held that sector of the line, melted away as the enemy gained their foothold. Branch was unable to stem the attack as he had already committed his reserve, the 33rd North Carolina, to strengthen Colonel Vance's position to the right of the railroad. He could only watch in horror as this small band of Federals began to roll up his main line., (captions) , Medal of Honor , Sergeant John D. Terry , Company E, 23rd Massachusetts , "In the thickest of the tight, where he lost his leg by a shot, still encouraged the men until carried from the field.", Brigadier General Jesse L. Reno 2nd Brigade, Situation at 8:00 to 8:30 AM
Foster was stalemated. His probing attack on Fort Thompson by the 25th Massachusetts had failed when the fort responded with raking cannon fire down his line. At the same time, the navy was moving up the Neuse River firing blindly in the fog in search of the Confederates. His line was now caught in a deadly crossfire of Confederate and Federal "friendly" fire.
At the railroad, Reno's brigade moved forward rapidly. The 21' Massachusetts sent a company of skirmishers forward to the railroad embankment and with one volley scattered the Confederates unloading the train. Although Lieutenant Colonel Clark of the 21st Massachusetts did not have all of his regiment -deployed, he pressed forward his attack at the railroad. Reno then ordered Clark's Color Sergeant Edward Bates to enter the Brickyard and plant his co ow on the roof of one of the buildings. Sergeant Bates raised high the United States flag as Clark and his men rushed the Brickyard. There they seized the two 24-pound cannon that the militia were attempting to position, and forced the Confederate supply train's retreat.
At General Branch's headquarters, the battle
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seemed to be going well. His troops were holding their own against the large army arrayed fore his main line. Then, 200 yards in front of him Branch witnessed his , B army collapse as a small force of Federals bolted into the Brickyard. His militia, which held that sector of the line, melted away as the enemy gained their foothold. Branch was unable to stem the attack as he had already committed his reserve, the 33rd North Carolina, to strengthen Colonel Vance's position to the right of the railroad. He could only watch in horror as this small band of Federals began to roll up his main line.
(captions)
Medal of Honor
Sergeant John D. Terry
Company E, 23rd Massachusetts
"In the thickest of the tight, where he lost his leg by a shot, still encouraged the men until carried from the field."
Brigadier General Jesse L. Reno 2nd Brigade
Situation at 8:00 to 8:30 AM
Erected by New Bern Historical Society. (Marker Number G6.)
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° 2.846′ N, 77° 0.956′ W. Marker is in New Bern, North Carolina,
Photographed by Mike McKeown, January 16, 2026
2. Attack in the Brickyard Marker
Marker is 2nd from left in the row of markers
in Craven County. It can be reached from Battlefield Trail near Taberna Way, on the right when traveling south. One of several markers located south of 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, and in the Tidewater. 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.
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 81 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.
