alleged unnamed local historians dispute this account, claiming that one of the union objectives of the goldsboro campaign (also known as foster's raid) was to destroy an ironclad ramming boat that the confederates were building on the north bank of the neuse river at that location. this boat (css neuse) was one of several identical boats that were being built in upriver locations throughout the south, their purpose being to break the union naval blockade. only one of these boats, the css albemarle, was completed in time to be useful, and succeeded in sinking several union ships at new bern, north carolina, and opening the port to confederate shipping.