TOCWOC – A Civil War Blog

Combined Failure No further major operations were undertaken by Burnside as his expedition became inexorably linked to the success of the Peninsula Campaign. As early as April 2 the two campaigns became associated when McClellan wrote to Burnside; “…if I succeed in driving the enemy out of Richmond I will at once throw a strong […]

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South Mills (Camden) – 19 April 1862 While the preparations for the siege of Fort Macon were being made another issue came to the attention of Burnside. It was believed that the Confederates were constructing ironclad ships at Norfolk with the intention of passing them down the Dismal Swamp Canal into Albemarle Sound. In an […]

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Siege and Defeat of Fort Macon The movement of the artillery for the siege of the fort was a masterpiece of ingenuity and hard work. First the weight of the guns required the repair of the railroad bridge at Newport. The 5th RI Bn, under the command of Major John Wright, was detailed to this […]

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Battle of New Berne – Aftermath The collapse of the defense ay Fort Thompson left only implanted piles and the threat of torpedoes to prevent the advance of the Union fleet to New Berne. The barriers consisted of “a series of piling, driven securely into the bottom” and cut off just below the waterline, a […]

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The Battle of Roanoke Island At 0730 the 25th Massachusetts led the way out of the makeshift camp followed by the 23rd and 27th Massachusetts and the 10th Connecticut of the 1st Brigade. They marched north up the central road until they reached a water filled ravine in their path. As they were crossing the […]

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Introduction When George McClellan assumed command of the Union army he inherited a disorganized, discouraged, and undisciplined force. To help him train his new responsibility he called upon his friend and former roommate, Ambrose Burnside. Burnside did not come without credentials. He was a 1847 graduate of West Point and a Mexican War veteran. The […]

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