burst just outside the guns. Pettigrew's Report.So rather than sacrifice his men by storming the work with infantry alone, General Pettigrew wisely decided to withdraw. The Twenty-sixth regiment had been under orders since daylight to assault Fort Anderson, when the artillery opened, and its youthful and gallant Col. H. K. Burgwyn and his men withdrew with great reluctance after having been under a heavy artillery fire for some hours. The Confederate losses in this demonstration were, so far as reported, 4 killed and 19 wounded. Between this movement against New Bern and the siege of Washington, only one or two skirmishes took place. A few men from the Seventeenth regiment made a demonstration against Plymouth. Col. John E. Brown, with three companies of the Forty-second regiment, attacked the post at Winfield, on the Chowan river, below Gatesville; after a brisk exchange of shots, he withdrew. At Sandy Ridge, three companies of the Forty-ninth and some of the Eighth regiment had a short skirmish on the 20th, and lost 1 killed and 6 wounded.
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[153]
General Daniel found five companies and two field pieces in strong position.
With four companies, he at once attacked and routed the Federals.
This initiatory success could not, however, be followed up, as General Pettigrew, after every exertion, found it impossible to carry out his orders.
He was expected to take Fort Anderson, to advance his guns to that point, a commanding one, and then to drive away the gunboats on the river, and if possible, shell the garrison.
General Pettigrew, however, found his artillery and ammunition so worthless and unsuited to the work in hand, that he made no progress in his attack.
He had only four guns of range enough to reach the boats.
These were 20-pound Parrotts of Confederate manufacture.
Of these, one burst, killing or wounding several of the gunners, another broke down, and the shells from the others
Atlanta, Ga. 1899.
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