To protect Confederate supply lines and to gather
much-needed provisions in eastern North Caroli-na,
Gen. Daniel H. Hill planned demonstrations
against Union-occupied New Bern and Washing-ton
in March 1863. He acted under orders from
Gen. James Longstreet, whom Gen. Robert E.
Lee had appointed commander of the Depart-ment
of Virginia and North Carolina. After Hill’s
expedition to New Bern ended with no result,
he marched to Washington and, on March 30,
besieged the town and its Federal garrison. Union
forces had held Washington since March 20, 1862,
just five days after it captured New Bern.
The Confeder-ates
occupied Fort
Hill, located five miles
down the Pamlico
River, and kept Wash-ington
from being
reinforced while hold-ing
a small armada of
Federal warships at
bay. Action across the
SIEGE OF WASHINGTON
★ ★ ★
March 30 – April 20, 1863
“Siege of Washington, N.C. — Effect of two shells, fired at the same,
on a rebel cotton battery, opposite Washington, N.C., April 12, 1863.”
Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper, May 16, 1863
“Shelling of rebel batteries in the woods opposite Washington, N.C. April 16, 1863.” Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper, May 16, 1863
river at Rodman’s Quarter stayed lively as the
town was bombarded and the Confederate can-nons
dueled with the gunboats Commodore Hull,
Louisiana, Eagle, and Ceres. Gen. Francis B.
Spinola and his 8,000 troops tried to take Fort
Hill from the Confederate forces but was repulsed
on April 9 at the Battle of Blount’s Creek.
Union reinforcements ended the siege on
April 20, as Lee recalled Hill to Virginia. Supplies
had been obtained, the Federals at Washington
and New Bern had been kept occupied, and soon
the Battle of Gettysburg would await both sides.
17
17
264
Oakdale
Cemetery
You Are Here
USS
Picket
Rebel batteries, and the national
defenses during the siege of
Washington, N.C.