Battle of Plymouth (1864)

Battle of Plymouth
Part of the American Civil War
Date April 17, 1864 (1864-04-17)– April 20, 1864 (1864-04-20) Location Washington County, North Carolina, C.S. Result Confederate victory
Belligerents
United States (Union)	Confederate States
Commanders and leaders
Henry W. Wessells   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 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]

Order of battle

Union forces

Plymouth Garrison: Brig. Gen. Henry W. Wessells

• 1st North Carolina Infantry (Union)
• 2nd North Carolina Infantry (Union)
• 101st Pennsylvania Infantry
• 103rd Pennsylvania Infantry
• 16th Connecticut Infantry
• 85th New York Infantry
• 10th US Colored Infantry
• 37th US Colored Infantry
• 2nd US Colored Cavalry
• 12th New York Cavalry
• 2nd Massachusetts Heavy Artillery
• 24th New York Independent Battery

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

• USS Miami
• USS Southfield
• USS Ceres
• USS Whitehead
• USS Mattabesett
• US Army transport Bombshell

Confederate forces

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

• Hoke's Brigade: Col. John T. Mercer (k)
  • 6th North Carolina Infantry
  • 21st North Carolina Infantry
  • 43rd North Carolina Infantry
  • 54th North Carolina Infantry
  • 57th North Carolina Infantry
  • 21st Georgia Infantry
• Ransom's Brigade: Brig. Gen. Matt W. Ransom
  • 8th North Carolina Infantry
  • 24th North Carolina Infantry
  • 25th North Carolina Infantry
  • 35th North Carolina Infantry
  • 49th North Carolina Infantry
  • 56th North Carolina Infantry
• Kemper's Brigade: Col. William R. Terry
  • 1st Virginia Infantry
  • 3rd Virginia Infantry
  • 7th Virginia Infantry
  • 11th Virginia Infantry
  • 24th Virginia Infantry

Dearing's Command: Col. James Dearing

• 8th 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

• CSS Albemarle: Cdr. James W. Cooke
• CSS Cotton Plant

External links

• National Park Service battle description
• Civil War Plymouth Pilgrims Descendants Society
• US American Civil War Regiments NC

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.

35°51′59″N76°45′07″W / 35.86648°N 76.7519°W / 35.86648; -76.7519