Early in 1864 the 17th met with its first serious experience in action.[3] On February 1, an attack was made by the Confederates under MGEN Pickett on the Union outpost at Batchelder's Creek, some eight miles from New Bern,[ii] and LTC Fellows with 115 members of the five companies located outside the city and a section of artillery set out for the support of the 132nd New York Infantry, then holding the threatened position.
The bridge across the creek had just been carried by the strong force of the enemy when the 17th detachment arrived, and Fellows placed his command to the front and left of the New York regiment.[3] In that position they repelled the Rebels several times. The enemy's overwhelming numbers began to tell as they carried the bridge at Batchelder's Creek and soon crossed over.[4] As the defenders began to run low on ammunition, COL Peter Claassen, commanding the 132nd New York Infantry, ordered his men back into New Bern. He detailed the 17th to provide cover for the battery and the 132nd made their withdrawal. The order was then given to fall back to the crossing of the Trent road to make another stand, but in heavy fog, the Confederates flanked the party and cut off a large portion of them before they could escape. Three had been killed and three severely wounded during the fighting, and 66 were made prisoners, including Fellows, Surgeon Galloupe, and Adjutant Henry A. Cheever — the latter severely wounded.
Those that made good their escape made their way back to New Bern and assisted in manning the works and picketing the approaches while the city was attacked over the next three days. [3]
^Union forces had captured New Bern during Ambrose Burnside's North Carolina Expedition in March 1862 and had been under Union control ever since. In 1864 the Union garrison was a brigade-sized force commanded by Brig. Gen. Innis N. Palmer. MGEN George E. Pickett commanding the Rebek army units coordinated an attack against New Bern with a detachment of Confederate Marines and sailors led by Commander John T. Wood. Pickett launched a three-prong attack without success and withdrew in defeat February 4.
Higginson, Thomas Wentworth (State Historian (1896). Massachusetts in the Army and Navy During the War of 1861–65(PDF). Vol. I. Boston, MA: Wright and Potter Printing Co, State Printers. pp. 34, 50–55, 72–79, 92–103, 115–130, 137, 147–151, 230–231, 565–569. OCLC1049652105. Retrieved August 8, 2015. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
Kirwan, Thomas. Soldiering in North Carolina (Boston: T. Kirwan), 1864.
Kirwan, Thomas and Henry Splaine. Memorial History of the Seventeenth Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry (Old and New Organizations) in the Civil War from 1861-1865 (Salem, MA: Salem Press Co.), 1911.
