New Bern Battlefield Site

New Bern Battlefield Site is a park covering over 30 acres where Union and Confederate forces fought in March 1862. The grounds feature walking paths, a large concrete map at the entrance, more than 35 interpretive panels, and preserved earthen fortifications showing where soldiers once held their positions.

The Battle of New Bern was fought on 14 March 1862, when Union forces under General Burnside attacked and captured the town of New Bern. The battlefield site, made up of two discontiguous parcels near the town in Craven County, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2001.

The name reflects the nearby town of New Bern, which held strategic importance during the war. Visitors today walk the trails and read the panels that help them understand how people lived and fought at this location over 150 years ago.

The New Bern Historical Society owns about 27 acres of the battlefield and runs it as New Bern Battlefield Park, with a visitor center and monument. Guided tours are offered by appointment, and self-guided brochures can be downloaded from the Society's website. The American Battlefield Trust and its partners have preserved 25 acres of the field as of mid-2023.

The battlefield is split into two separate parcels, both listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2001. The New Bern Historical Society owns about 27 acres, run as New Bern Battlefield Park with a visitor center and monument, while the American Battlefield Trust and partners had preserved 25 acres by mid-2023.