Late in 1862, Union Gen. John G. Foster’s garrison was well entrenched in New Bern and made several incursions into the countryside. On December 11, Foster led a raid from New Bern to burn the Wilmington and Weldon Railroad Bridge over the Reuse River at Goldsboro and to demonstrate in support of Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside’s attack at Fredericksburg, Virginia. Foster’s force consisted of 10,000 infantry, 640 cavalry, and 40 cannons. Supplies transported by rail from the port at Wilmington had to cross the bridge on the way to the Army of Northern Virginia, making the bridge and the city of Goldsboro vital links in the Confederate supply chain. Foster’s command reached this area on the morning of December 17, after engagements at Kinston and Whitehall. A small Confederate force under Generals Gustavus W. Smith, Thomas L. Clingman, and Nathan G. Evans defended the bridge. Foster’s men attacked from the other side of the railroad and, after pushing back the Confederates, succeeded in setting the bridge on fire. The Federal artillery then bombarded the burning structure to prevent the Confederates from extinguishing the blaze, while infantrymen destroyed the railroad tracks atop the embankment. Late that afternoon, as Foster marched back to New Bern, Confederate forces attacked the Federal rear guard, but were repulsed by a heavy fire of small arms and artillery. The Confederates suffered about 150 killed, wounded, and missing during the battle, while Union losses were fewer than 100. The Confederates repaired the bridge within a few weeks.