Battle of Plymouth (1864)

Battle of Plymouth
Part of the American Civil War
DateApril 17, 1864 (1864-04-17) – April 20, 1864 (1864-04-20)
Location
Washington County, North Carolina, C.S.
Result Confederate victory
Belligerents
United States United States (Union) Confederate States
Commanders and leaders
Henry W. Wessells Surrendered
Charles W. Flusser †		 Robert F. Hoke
Units involved
Plymouth Garrison Hoke's Division
Strength
2,500 4,500
Casualties and losses

2,000
one ship sunk

one ship damaged		 800

The Battle of Plymouth was an engagement during the American Civil War that was fought from April 17 through April 20, 1864, in the city of Plymouth and surrounding Washington County, North Carolina.

Battle

Map of Plymouth Battlefield core and study areas by the American Battlefield Protection Program.

In a combined operation with the ironclad ram CSS Albemarle, Confederate forces under Maj. Gen. Robert F. Hoke, attacked the Federal garrison at Plymouth, North Carolina, on April 17. On April 19, the ram appeared in the river, sinking the USS Southfield, damaging the USS Miami, and driving off the other Union Navy ships supporting the Plymouth garrison. Confederate forces captured Fort Comfort, driving defenders into Fort Williams. On April 20, the garrison surrendered.

"Lieut Charles W. Flusser. Killed April 19, 1864 in a naval engagement off Plymouth NC on the USS Miami"
Site of Union earthworks on Washington Street

Plymouth citizens are believed to have taken refuge in the basement of the Latham House during the Battle of Plymouth.[1]

Aftermath

As the possibility of surrender grew imminent, several federal soldiers, fearing harsh treatment at the hands of Confederate captors, mounted intensive efforts to escape.[2] One took a canoe down river and was rescued by steamer a week after the battle, while others hid in surrounding swamps and lowlands before sneaking back to Union lines. Others changed their identities to those of deceased federal soldiers who bore no connection to North Carolina. Most of the captured enlisted men were sent to Andersonville Prison, where many later died.[3]

Order of battle

Union forces

Plymouth Garrison: Brig. Gen. Henry W. Wessells

Naval: Lt. Cdr. Charles W. Flusser (k)

Confederate forces

Hoke's Division: Brig. Gen. Robert F. Hoke

Dearing's Command: Col. James Dearing

  • 7th Confederate Cavalry
  • Virginia Horse Artillery Battery

Branch's Battalion

  • R.G. Pegram's Petersburg (VA) Battery
  • M.B. Miller's Washington (LA) Artillery Co. C
  • W.D. Bradford's Mississippi Guards Battery

Moseley's Battalion

  • Montgomery (Alabama) True Blues Artillery
  • Wilmington Light Artillery

Guion's Battalion

  • 1st North Carolina Artillery (Companies B, G and H)

Read's Battalion

  • 38th Virginia Light Artillery Battalion
    • Fauquier Artillery (Co. A)
    • Richmond Fayette Artillery (Co. B)
    • Blount's Lynchburg Artillery (Co. D)

Naval

References

  1. ↑ Janet K. Seapker and John B. Flowers III (n.d.). "Latham House" (PDF). National Register of Historic Places – Nomination and Inventory. North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office. Retrieved 2015-06-01.
  2. ↑ Browning 2000, pp. 337–338.
  3. ↑ Browning 2000, p. 337.

Works cited

  • Browning, Judkin Jay (July 2000). ""Little Souled Mercenaries"? The Buffaloes of Eastern North Carolina during the Civil War". The North Carolina Historical Review. 77 (3): 337–363. JSTOR 23522270.

35°51′59″N 76°45′07″W / 35.86648°N 76.7519°W / 35.86648; -76.7519

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