Battle of Goldsboro Bridge

Battle of Goldsborough Bridge

Date	December 17, 1862 (1862-12-17)
Location	Wayne County, North Carolina
Result	Union victory

Belligerents

United States (Union)

CSA (Confederacy)

Commanders and leaders

John G. Foster

Thomas L. Clingman

Units involved

Department of North Carolina, 1st Division

Clingman's Brigade

Casualties and losses

220

Goldsboro Expedition

Kinston White Hall Goldsboro Bridge

The Battle of Goldsborough Bridge took place on December 17, 1862, in Wayne County, North Carolina, as part of the Union expedition to Goldsboro, North Carolina, during the American Civil War.

Background

In December 1862, both the Union Army and Confederate forces desired to secure the strategically significant Wilmington and Weldon Railroad Bridge. On December 17, an expedition under Union Maj. Gen. John G. Foster reached the railroad near Everettsville, aiming to destroy this bridge in order to put an end to the vital supply chain from the port of Wilmington.

Battle

Foster's men began destroying the tracks north toward the Goldsborough Bridge. Clingman's Confederate brigade delayed the advance, but was unable to prevent the destruction of the bridge. Foster's troops overpowered the small number of defending Confederate soldiers and successfully burned down the bridge. His mission accomplished, Foster departed to return to their base at New Bern. On their way back, Foster's men were again attacked by Confederate forces, but they repulsed the assault, taking far fewer casualties than the enemy.

Aftermath

Foster arrived at his camp on December 20. Total casualties for the campaign (All three engagements at Kinston, White Hall, and Goldsboro) were: Federal 577 (90 killed, 478 wounded and 9 missing/captured) Confederate casualties were reported at 738 (71 killed, 268 wounded and 400 missing/captured)

References

North Carolina in the Civil War

1861	Battle of Hatteras Inlet Batteries

1862	Battle of Roanoke Island Battle of Elizabeth City Battle of New Bern Siege of Fort Macon Battle of South Mills Battle of Tranter's Creek Battle of Kinston Battle of White Hall Battle of Goldsboro Bridge

1863	Battle of Fort Anderson Battle of Washington Siege of Suffolk

1864	Battle of New Bern (1864) Battle of Plymouth (1864) Battle of Albemarle Sound Sinking of CSS Albemarle Capture of Plymouth Rainbow Bluff Expedition First Battle of Fort Fisher

1865	Second Battle of Fort Fisher Battle of Wilmington Battle of Wyse Fork Battle of Monroe's Crossroads Battle of Averasborough Battle of Bentonville Battle of Morrisville Bennett Place

Units	Provisional Army of the Confederate States

Coordinates: 35°20′23″N 78°01′44″W / 35.3396°N 78.0288°W / 35.3396; -78.0288

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