Battle of Plymouth (1864)

Battle of the American Civil War in North Carolina

This article is about the engagement during the American Civil War. For the naval battle in the First Anglo-Dutch War, see Battle of Plymouth.

Battle of Plymouth

Part of the American Civil War
| Date| April 17, 1864 (1864-04-17) - April 20, 1864 (1864-04-20)

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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 ironclad sunk

one ironclad damaged|  800

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Operations Against New Bern and Plymouth

* Battle of New Bern (1864)
* Battle of Plymouth
* Battle of Albemarle Sound
* Sinking of CSS Albemarle
* Capture of Plymouth

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[edit]

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[edit]

### Union forces[edit]

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[edit]

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
* 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

* Pegram's Battery
* Miller's Artillery
* Bradford's 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)
* Bloundt's Lynchburg Artillery (Co. D)

Naval

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

## External links[edit]

* National Park Service battle description
* Civil War Plymouth Pilgrims Descendants Society

## References[edit]

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.

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North Carolina in the American Civil War

1861|

* Battle of Hatteras Inlet Batteries

1862|

* Battle of Roanoke Island
* Battle of Elizabeth City
* Battle of New Bern
* Siege of Fort Macon
* Battle of South Mills
* Battle of Tranter's Creek
* Battle of Kinston
* Battle of White Hall
* Battle of Goldsboro Bridge

1863|

* Battle of Fort Anderson
* Battle of Washington
* Siege of Suffolk

1864|

* Battle of New Bern
* Battle of Plymouth
* Battle of Albemarle Sound
* Sinking of CSS Albemarle
* Capture of Plymouth
* Rainbow Bluff Expedition
* First Battle of Fort Fisher

1865|

* Second Battle of Fort Fisher
* Battle of Wilmington
* Battle of Wyse Fork
* Battle of Monroe's Crossroads
* Battle of Averasborough
* Battle of Bentonville
* Battle of Morrisville
* Bennett Place

Units|

* Confederate
* Union

Places|

* Wilmington

* Category
* Commons

Authority control databases: National |

* Israel
* United States

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