Battle of Goldsboro Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Goldsborough Bridge |
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| Part of the American Civil War | |||||||
 Battle of Goldsborough |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 United States (Union) |
 CSA (Confederacy) |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| John G. Foster | Thomas L. Clingman | ||||||
| Units involved | |||||||
| Department of North Carolina, 1st Division | Clingman's Brigade | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 577 | 738 | ||||||
The Battle of Goldsborough Bridge happened on December 17, 1862. It took place in Wayne County, North Carolina, during the American Civil War. This battle was part of a larger plan by the Union army to reach Goldsboro, North Carolina.
Why the Bridge Was Important
In December 1862, both the Union Army and the Confederate forces wanted control of a very important railroad bridge. This bridge was part of the Wilmington and Weldon Railroad. It was a key route for supplies coming from the port of Wilmington.
On December 17, a Union group led by John G. Foster arrived near the railroad. Their main goal was to destroy this bridge. This would stop the flow of supplies to the Confederates.
The Fight for the Bridge
Foster's soldiers started to destroy the railroad tracks. They moved north towards the Goldsborough Bridge. A Confederate group, led by Clingman, tried to stop them. But they couldn't prevent the Union soldiers from reaching the bridge.
The Union troops were stronger than the small number of Confederate defenders. They successfully burned down the bridge. With their mission completed, Foster and his men began to head back to their base. Their base was in New Bern.
On their way back, Confederate forces attacked them again. However, Foster's men fought them off. The Union side had fewer soldiers hurt than the Confederates in this attack.
What Happened After
Foster and his troops arrived back at their camp on December 20. This battle was part of a bigger campaign that included three fights. The total number of soldiers hurt or captured in all three fights were:
- Union: 577 soldiers (90 killed, 478 wounded, and 9 missing or captured).
- Confederate: 738 soldiers (71 killed, 268 wounded, and 400 missing or captured).
