Diary of Orrin Brown—March 23, 1865

Diary of Orrin Brown, Goldsboro, North Carolina

Thursday–Mar. 23rd

We had to move our camp this AM about 15 rods in order to have a better situation. Our foragers got a little meal and pleanty of meat yesterday and some more meat today we drew some beans bacon and salt today the weather has been very windy and cool for the last three days. I am still quite unwell today.

This was not Goldsboro’s first time in the crosshairs of the Confederate and Union armies.  Downriver on the Neuse, Union Gen. Ambrose Burnside had captured the city of New Bern, North Carolina, in March 1862.  That city remained in Federal hands through the duration of the Civil War.   On 17 December 1862, Union Gen. John G. Foster in command of the Dept. of North Carolina burned the Wilmington and Weldon Railroad Bridge in the Battle of Goldsborough Bridge.  Foster was based out of New Bern, and returned to camp on the 20th of December after engagements at Kinston, White Hall, and Goldsboro.  The Federals reported 577 casualties (90 killed) vs. 738 Confederate casualties (71 killed).

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