Hey everyone, welcome to episode 110 of our Civil War Podcast.

My name is Rich.

And I'm Tracy.

Hello y'all.

Thanks for tuning into the podcast.

Last week we looked at the successful Union attack on Ronoq Island, North Carolina,

in early February 1862.

The Battle of Ronoq Island was a major federal victory, one at surprisingly little cost.

The Union force sustained little more than 250 casualties, while over 2,000 Confederates

were taken prisoner.

But the real significance of the victory was that with Ronoq Island securely in their

hands, the Federal's had the opportunity to greatly expand their foothold in coastal

Carolina.

By moving up the new river from Pamlico Sound, the Burnside expedition could now seize

New Bern.

New Bern was important not only because it was North Carolina's second largest city, but

also because from New Bern, the Atlantic and North Carolina railroad ran west for about

60 miles to a vital junction at Goldsboro.

At Goldsboro, the line intersected the strategic Wilmington and Weldon Railroad, which carried

supplies north to the main Confederate Army in Virginia.

If the Federal's could capture New Bern and then move west and cut the Wilmington and

Weldon Railroad, it would not only throw the entire defenses of North Carolina into

...