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

From Annapolis to Roanoke

Photographed by Mike McKeown, January 16, 2026

1. From Annapolis to Roanoke Marker

Inscription.

From Annapolis to Roanoke. . , Through the fall and early winter of 1861, Burnside built his expeditionary force at Annapolis, Maryland. By December of 1861, he had stockpiled material and ships and was still in the process of forming the regiments. By early January 1862, he had completed his efforts; on January 9th the fleet set sail from Annapolis to Hatteras Inlet. The journey was uneventful until the fleet gathered off Hatteras Inlet. On January 12th a large storm struck the fleet and wreaked havoc scattering it up and down the coast. With a second storm pounding the battered fleet, it took until February 1st to get the ships through the "swash" at the inlet and into Pamlico Sound. Burnside then advanced on Roanoke Island, landing on February 7th and completed its capture the next day. For the remainder of February 1862, Burnside and the fleet made a number of strikes across the Albemarle Sound further securing the Federal foothold in coastal North Carolina., Order of Battle at New Bern , Coast Division , Brigadier General Ambrose E. Burnside, First Brigade , Brigadier General John G. Foster , 23rd Massachusetts . Col. John Kutz , 24th Massachusetts . Col. Thomas G. Stevenson , 25th Massachusetts . Col. Edwin Upton , 27th Massachusetts . Col. Horace C. Lee , 10th Connecticut . Lt. Col. Albert W. Drake, Second Brigade , Brigadier General Jesse L. Reno , 9th New Jersey . Lt. Col. Charles A. Heckman , 21st Massachusetts . Lt. Col. William S. Clark , 51st New York . Col. Edward Ferrero , 51st Pennsylvania . Col. John A. Hartranft, Third Brigade , Brigadier General John G. Parke , 4th Rhode Island . Col. Isaac P. Rodman , 5th Rhode Island (5 companies) . Maj. John Wright , 8th Connecticut . Col. Edward Harland , 11th Connecticut . Lt. Col. Charles Mathewson, Unattached Units , Naval Battery . Lt. Roderick S. McCook , Detachments of Sailors and Marines , Company B, 99th New York Coast Guard , 1st New York Marine Artillery , Battery F, 1st Rhode Island . Capt. James Belger , 48th Pennsylvania (6 companies) . Col. Daniel Nagle, U.S. Naval Fleet , Commander Stephen C. Rowan

Through the fall and early winter of 1861, Burnside built his expeditionary force at Annapolis, Maryland. By December of 1861, he had stockpiled material and ships and was still in the process of forming the regiments. By early January 1862, he had completed his efforts; on January 9th the fleet set sail from Annapolis to Hatteras Inlet. The journey was uneventful until the fleet gathered off Hatteras Inlet. On January 12th a large storm struck the fleet and wreaked havoc scattering it up and down the coast. With a second storm pounding the battered fleet, it took until February 1st to get the ships through the "swash" at the inlet and into Pamlico Sound. Burnside then advanced on Roanoke Island, landing on February 7th and completed its capture the next day. For the remainder of February 1862, Burnside and the fleet made a number of strikes across the Albemarle Sound further securing the Federal foothold in coastal North Carolina.

Order of Battle at New Bern
Coast Division
Brigadier General Ambrose E. Burnside

First Brigade
Brigadier General John G. Foster
23rd Massachusetts • Col. John Kutz
24th Massachusetts

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• Col. Thomas G. Stevenson
25th Massachusetts • Col. Edwin Upton
27th Massachusetts • Col. Horace C. Lee
10th Connecticut • Lt. Col. Albert W. Drake

Second Brigade
Brigadier General Jesse L. Reno
9th New Jersey • Lt. Col. Charles A. Heckman
21st Massachusetts • Lt. Col. William S. Clark
51st New York • Col. Edward Ferrero
51st Pennsylvania • Col. John A. Hartranft

Third Brigade
Brigadier General John G. Parke
4th Rhode Island • Col. Isaac P. Rodman
5th Rhode Island (5 companies) • Maj. John Wright
8th Connecticut • Col. Edward Harland
11th Connecticut • Lt. Col. Charles Mathewson

Unattached Units
Naval Battery • Lt. Roderick S. McCook
Detachments of Sailors and Marines
Company B, 99th New York Coast Guard
1st New York Marine Artillery
Battery F, 1st Rhode Island • Capt. James Belger
48th Pennsylvania (6 companies) • Col. Daniel Nagle

U.S. Naval Fleet
Commander Stephen C. Rowan

Erected by New Bern Historical Society.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: War, US Civil • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical month for this entry is January 1862.

Location. 35° 2.876′ N, 77° 0.95′ W.

Photographed by Mike McKeown, January 16, 2026

2. From Annapolis to Roanoke Marker

Marker is in New Bern, North Carolina, in Craven County. It can be reached from Battlefield Trail 0.3 miles south of Taberna Way, on the right when traveling south. Located behind 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.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Advance From Slocum's Creek (here, next to this marker); New Bern Battlefield Park (here, next to this marker); Breakthrough at the Brickyard (here, next to this marker); The Burnside Expedition

Union Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside image. Click for full size.

Library of Congress

3. Union Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside

(a few steps from this marker); Final Stand (a few steps from this marker); Opening Volleys (a few steps from this marker); Artillery at New Bern (a few steps from this marker); Battle of New Bern (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 19, 2026, by Mike McKeown of Baltimore, Maryland.)
2. Burnside Takes the Coast (American Battlefield Trust). (Submitted on January 19, 2026, by Mike McKeown of Baltimore, Maryland.)

Credits. This page was last revised on February 24, 2026. It was originally submitted on January 19, 2026, by Mike McKeown of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 65 times since then. Last updated on February 23, 2026, by Mark P. Brock-Cancellieri of Baltimore, Maryland. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on January 19, 2026, by Mike McKeown of Baltimore, Maryland. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.