Battle of Washington
Part of the American Civil War
Date March 30 – April 20, 1863 Location Beaufort County, North Carolina Result Inconclusive (Confederates withdrew.)
Belligerents
United States (Union)	CSA (Confederacy)
Commanders
John G. Foster	Daniel H. Hill
Strength
6 regiments and artillery units	Hill's Division
Casualties and losses
40	60

The Battle of Washington took place from March 30 to April 20, 1863, in Beaufort County, North Carolina, as part of Confederate Lt. Gen. James Longstreet's Tidewater operations during the American Civil War. Battle of Fort Anderson Conflict American Civil War Date March 13-15, 1863 Place Craven County, North Carolina Result Union victory The Battle of Fort Anderson, also known as the Battle of Deep Gully, took place from March 13_15, 1863 in Craven County, North Carolina as part of Confederate Army... Battle of Suffolk (Norfleet House) Conflict American Civil War Date April 13-15, 1863 Place Suffolk, Virginia Result Inconclusive The Battle of Suffolk at the Norfleet House Battery took place from April 13-15, 1863 in Suffolk, Virginia as part of Confederate Army General James Longstreets Tidewater operations during... Battle of Suffolk (Hills Point) Conflict American Civil War Date April 11 - May 4, 1863 Place Suffolk, Virginia Result Inconclusive The Battle of Suffolk at Hills Point, also known as the Battle of Fort Huger, took place from April 11 - May 4, 1863 in Suffolk, Virginia as part... Combatants Great Britain United States Commanders Robert Ross George Cockburn Unknown Strength 4,250 Unknown The Burning of Washington is the name given to the burning of Washington, D.C., by British forces in 1814, during the War of 1812. ... is the 89th day of the year (90th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 110th day of the year (111th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1863 (MDCCCLXIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... Location in the state of North Carolina Formed 1712 Seat Washington Area  - Total  - Water 2,483 km² (959 mi²) 339 km² (131 mi²) 13. ... A group of Confederate soldiers The Confederate States Army (CSA) was organized in February 1861 to defend the newly formed Confederate States of America from military action by the United States government during the American Civil War. ... US Lieutenant General insignia In three branches of the United States Army, United States Marine Corps and United States Air Force, a Lieutenant General is also called a three-star general, named for the three stars worn on the uniform. ... James Longstreet (January 8, 1821 – January 2, 1904) was one of the foremost Confederate generals of the American Civil War, the principal subordinate to General Robert E. Lee, who called him his Old War Horse. ... The Tidewater region of Virginia is the southeastern portion of the Commonwealth of Virginia, centered on Hampton Roads. ... Combatants United States of America (Union) Confederate States of America (Confederacy) Commanders Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee Strength 2,200,000 1,064,000 Casualties 110,000 killed in action, 360,000 total dead, 275,200 wounded 93,000 killed in action, 258,000 total...

While Longstreet operated against Suffolk, Maj. Gen. D. H. Hill's column moved against the Federal garrison at Washington, North Carolina. The local Union commander in the area, Maj. Gen. John G. Foster personally arrived to take personal command of the garrison. Location in the Commonwealth of Virginia Coordinates: , Country State County Independent City Founded 1742 Government  - Mayor Linda T. Johnson Area  - City  429. ... Insignia of a United States Air Force Major General German Generalmajor Insignia Major General is a military rank used in many countries. ... General Daniel Harvey Hill Daniel Harvey Hill (July 12th, 1821 _ September 24th, 1889) was a Confederate general and Southern scholar. ... The 21st Michigan Infantry, a company of Shermans veterans. ... Washington is a city in Beaufort County, North Carolina, United States. ... Insignia of a United States Air Force Major General German Generalmajor Insignia Major General is a military rank used in many countries. ... John Gray Foster (1823-1874) was a Union general during the American Civil War whose most distinguished services where in North and South Carolina. ...

By March 30, the town was ringed with fortifications. Hill set up road blocks and established batteries along the Tar River to impede reinforcements. Foster, a West Point trained army engineer, put his skills to good work improving the town's defenses as well as employing the use of three gunboats in the defense. The Confederates sent a reply to Foster demanding surrender. Foster replied saying "If the Confederates want Washington, come and get it". Despite this defiance Foster lacked the strength to dislodge the besiegers and Hill was under orders to avoid an assault at the risk of sustaining heavy casualties. Thus the engagement devolved into one of artillery and even so the Confederates limited their bombings to conserve their ammunition. is the 89th day of the year (90th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Tar River is a river that is approximately 346 kilometers (215 miles) long, of northeast North Carolina flowing generally southeast to an estuary of Pamlico Sound. ...

With the siege at a stalemate, Hill was still able to undertake foraging operations as long as the Federals were pinned down in Washington. While the Confederates gathered supplies in the countryside, the Federal war effort was also active but with less results. A Federal relief column under Brig. Gen. Henry Prince sailed up the Tar River. Once Prince saw the Rebel batteries he turned the transports around. A second effort under Brig. Gen. Francis Barretto Spinola moved overland from New Bern. Spinola was defeated along Blount's Creek and returned to New Bern. Foster decided that he would escape Washington and personally lead the relief effort, leaving his chief-of-staff, Brig. Gen. Edward E. Potter in command at Washington. On April 13, the USS Escort braved the Rebel batteries and made its way into Washington. It was aboard this ship on April 15, Foster made his escape. The ship was badly damaged and the pilot mortally wounded but Foster made it out and back to New Bern. About the same time Foster made an escape, Hill was faced with numerous reasons that led ultimately led to his withdrawal: the completion of his foraging efforts, Union relief attempts and supplies reaching the Federal garrison and finally a message arrived from Longstreet requesting reinforcements for an assault on Suffolk. Hill broke off the siege on April 20 and withdrew. Francis Barretto Spinola Francis Barretto Spinola (March 19, 1821 – April 14, 1891) was the first Italian American to be elected to the United States House of Representatives, serving as a representative from New York from 1887 to 1891. ... Battle of Suffolk (Hills Point) Conflict American Civil War Date April 11 - May 4, 1863 Place Suffolk, Virginia Result Inconclusive The Battle of Suffolk at Hills Point, also known as the Battle of Fort Huger, took place from April 11 - May 4, 1863 in Suffolk, Virginia as part...

Apart from raids conducted by Foster and Potter, North Carolina remained relatively quiet until 1864 when Robert E. Lee was able to spare troops for another operation against Federally control posts on along the coast.

References

• National Park Service battle description