On this date 150 years ago, in a continuing discussion of his position regarding slavery, President Lincoln attempted to justify the proposed financial compensation to slaveholders. Lincoln felt that such recompense "would not be half as onerous as would be an equal sum, raised now for the indefinite prosecution of the war."

In North Carolina, the town of New Bern was taken by General Burnside's 11,000 men, who pushed General Branch's 14,000 Confederates out. This position was maintained by the Federals for the duration of the war, proving to be an effective point of departure for inland expeditions. There were some 600 Confederate casualties after this battle, including 64 deaths. Union troops suffered 90 killed and 380 wounded.

The capture of New Madrid, Missouri, by General John Pope's Federals placed the Northern forces in a position which would enable them to make an assault on Island No. 10 in the Mississippi River. The latter Confederate post defended east Tennessee.

Source: "The Civil War Day By Day" edited by John S. Bowman, page 62