The United States has authorized the first ever Medal of Honor for gallantry in action by noncommissioned officers and privates who have distinguished themselves by their gallantry in action and other soldier like qualities.(Plus two morale)
Jackson engages Dix on day five. It's a perfectly even battle. Dix enjoys favorable terrain -- woods and the Neuce River -- plus some rudimentary sandbag defenses. Both sides have 30,000 troops and a large amount of guns -- Sumner 156, Jackson 136.
Notably, almost all of Sumner's guns are 10 pounders, which are not the best guns on the defensive. Jackson has an assortment of 10 pounders, 20 pounders and a few 12 pounders, and so mostly has offensive guns. Jackson also enjoys the advantage in command traits. On the other hand, most of the Confederate troops are fairly green. The most experienced is Ewell's at 79. Walker's division took the brunt of the cavalry charge at Lynchburg and is still smarting at three-quarter strength. Dole's division is almost entirely militia and has a cohesion of only 58. The union divisions are veteran divisions with cohesion well into the mid-and high 80s and they're all at almost complete strength. Edwin Sumner has only just arrived, however, his troops are fatigued and gathering when Jackson arrives.Jackson arrives midday with the sun at his back. He has surprised his foe. Many of the Union regiments were resting following a late lunch.
Manstein goes in with assault posture and the standard sustained attack. He avoids the river obstacle by moving south of it. Runyan is in standard defensive posture, no change to the standard rule. Both of Sumner's divisions are far to the rear and not battle ready when the fighting starts. Both sides roll even luck. The Union Second Division under Van Cleve is on the left flank where Jackson advances first. A heavy artillery duel ensues and then the lines engage. It's a bloody bloody battle. Van Cleve and Ewell are locked in a death grip. Ewell loses 50% of his strength, Van Cleve is nearly wiped out. Van Claws, Jones and Walker join the engagement as does The Union Schenk division. Jackson actualloy divides his forces, sending some around to the rear of the federals and causing a route. What a novel move and fine general.

Sumner never joins the engagement. Probably the casualties that Van Cleve suffered caused the Union lines to collapse before they could muster. Jackson's skill won the engagement hands down.
Dix has orders to fall back to the coast, Sumner covering his retreat. Inexplicably Jackson decides not to give chase and instead heads back by rail to Wilmington. The capture of New Berne does raise Confederate morale however.
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