April 22, 1863, The New York Herald
THE SIEGE OF WASHINGTON.
THE VERY LATEST.
The Siege of Washington raised.
OUR NEWBERN CORRESPONDENCE.
NEWBERN, N.C., April 18, 1863.
Yesterday morning the gunboat Whitehead, Captain French commanding, arrived at this place, with despatches from Washington, stating the enemy had the […..] siege” at that place and were in full retreat. Even the guns on the […..] batteries” had been with our forces at the above place. To us there seems to be considerable mystery to this new freak of the enemy, and it calls forth many speculations, the most important of which is that this siege at Washington has been a mere feint, while the real intent was to procure supplies from the counties adjoining, as in Hyde particularly, large quantities of supplies have been reported, having but on one or two occasions been visited by either army. This is the construction placed upon the recent movements of the rebel forces by secession sympathizers in this place. Others are inclined to think they have been defeated at some point, or that some movement of “Hooker’s army” has caused this sudden change of programme. This, however, is all speculation, and the real truth yet remains to be developed.
Thus ends this siege of Washington, which existed eighteen days; and, for whatever purpose the rebels came, it has shown a courage and indomitable will in our soldiers which finds no superior as yet. A mere handful, compared with the large force at the enemy’s disposal, holds at bay a force its superior in numbers six to one, at the least calculation. No doubt the presence of General Foster was a tower of strength to the men, and he, in return, compliments the forces there for the coolness evinced by them during the siege, especially the Twenty-seventh Massachusetts, which was at the time of the original “Burnside expedition” a part of his brigade, and has shared in all the struggles in this department. Only twenty companies of troops were there during this siege, and during the whole time lay upon their arms at the fortifications, waiting the enemy’s attack, as though but a commonplace affair. But to single out where every man did his duty is rather injustice.
The casualties during this siege amount to only two killed and twenty wounded, amongst the latter of whom are Captain Richardson, of the Forty- fourth Massachusetts, and Captain Lyon, of the First North Carolina Union Volunteers. The names of the others I have not been able to learn.
Large numbers of the rebels are continually deserting, and some nine prisoners have been brought in by our scouts within the past twenty-four hours, who report considerable disaffection among the […..] and file” of the enemy. Our forces are now trying to ascertain their whereabouts since their retreat from Washington.
Return of Gen. Foster to Washington.
FORTRESS MONROE, April 20, 1863.
This afternoon the steamer Expounder arrived from Newbern, 19th inst., and reports that she left Hilton Head on the 16th, in company with a brigade from the latter place for Newbern; and that General Foster left Newbern yesterday with that brigade for Washington, N. C.
The Captain of the Expounder also reports that when she left Hilton Head on the 16th our Monitors were all off that place, and the Ironsides and the blockading fleet at their former anchorage.