Battle of Goldsboro Bridge

Battle of Goldsborough Bridge
Part of the American Civil War
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

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

• National Park Service battle description
• CWSAC Report Update

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