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These pages are dedicated to the memory of all the men from North Carolina that fought in the Civil War. PLYMOUTH Fayetteville Observer, Monday, May 9, 1864 For the Observer Camp near Plymouth, April 23 It affords me infinite pleasure, Messrs. Editors, to chronicle the valiant deeds of our North Carolina soldiers. The fighting in the streets for a whole raged with great fierceness and desperation. The Yankees had held possession of the town so long; and had fortified it with much skill and industry, that they doubtless began to regard it as their home from which no earthly power could expel them. They thought their fortifications, with the troops they had to defend them, adequate to keep back a force of 20,000 rebel soldiers, so favorable was the ground and so skillfully and industriously had they plied their spades and shovels to shield themselves against attack. But Hoke’s, Ransom’s and Kemper’s Brigades of infantry and Branch’s and Reade’s artillery, under the command of General R.F. Hoke (the ranking brigadier) have taught them the invincibility of brave men when commanded by officers of energy and skill. Fort Wessell, about three quarters of a mile from the town, was the first point attacked and on the first trial were repulsed when artillery was brought up to their aid and with a loud shout the fort was carried, yielding us two cannons and between 50 and 60 prisoners. The affair was well executed and sheds additional luster on the reputation of the troops who did it. This, however, was only the prelude of another victory of far more importance—the capture of the town by General M. W. Ransom’s brigade. As I rode over the battlefield and surveyed the stupendous fortifications erected by the enemy, and was told how unflinchingly they were carried, as the intrepid Ransom led his men to the charge, in spite of the shot, shell and canister that were literally raining down from the Yankee forts, I momentarily fancied that it was all unreal. But this delusion was dissipated by the sight of the fruits of the triumph. We have captured between 2,300 and 2,500 prisoners, immense quantities of Commissary and Quartermaster supplies, upwards of 20 pieces of cannons of the best quality and quantities of small arms, ammunition, etc. Veritas The Raleigh Confederate has been furnished with the following private letter from Plymouth, from which we make the following extracts: It was intended that the gunboat should go down, engage the enemy’s boats and pass below town on Sunday night and with that purpose she left Hamilton on Sunday at 3:00 and took on her deck enough iron to tack on imperfectly on the way down. Twenty sailors overtook her on the Cora, below Hamilton, increasing her crew to 50; but her machinery had become damaged on the way—her rudder-head twisted off. This delayed her twelve hours, and she only reached Gray’s Landing at 8:00 pm Monday. Meantime Dearing’s Cavalry surrounded Plymouth Sunday evening and took some of their pickets. That night they sent off the women and children to Roanoke Island. Monday the infantry got around Plymouth and Warren Neck, and through the afternoon they kept up a pretty skirmishing. Late in the evening, the artillery, followed by an advance of infantry, which at 9:00 captured the fort on the site of Sanderson’s house, and surrounded the fort on Warren Neck, within 20 yards, where our infantry remained until Wednesday evening—silencing but not occupying it. The enemy had forts over on Warren Neck, one where Darden’s house stood, one at Sanderson’s, one at Boyle’s Mills, one at Harriett Toodles, one very near Jim Bateman’s house, and one, the largest, where Garrett’s house stood. From Boyle’s Mills by Toodles’, Garrett’s, Latham’s and Bateman’s, extended their lines of entrenchments, well made. Their forts wee all enclosed, surrounded by deep ditches, very high walls and chevaux de frise. On Wednesday evening, our infantry gallantly charged Ft. Sanderson from Welch’s Creek Swamp and took it—loss about 150. This was done by part of Hoke’s and Kemper’s Virginia brigades. Here Col. Mercer of the 24th Georgia and Capt. Macon of the 43rd N.C., were killed. Tuesday evening about 3:00 one gunboat passed Warren Neck. However, Monday evening the Yankee steamer Bombshell, at Warren Neck, in supporting the fort, received six shots from a light battery commanded by Col. Dearing, and sank that night at the steamboat wharf at Plymouth. The Yankee steamer Whitehead was at the mouth of the thoroughfare when the Albemarle passed and immediately steamed into the Cashia(?) and to Plymouth and reported her coming. Cooke’s passage was slow, to avoid the obstructions and torpedoes. Having passed them safely, he steamed past Plymouth, not answering their shots from the forts, and made for the Miami, Flusser’s and Southfield, French’s, Yankee boats. They had been chained together that they might get Cooke between them and press him back on a river flat. He avoided their trap and ran into the Southfield—his prow was as sharp and his momentum so great, that he ran ten or twelve feet into her, sinking her instantly. The whole weight of the sinking boat rested on his bow, depressing it so that the water poured into his forward parts, threatening to sink him—the water was seven inches on his gun deck. The Southfield delivered her broadsides, six guns, at ten feet distant, making not the least impression. This was on her bow, which had been finished. The current swept his stern around and disengaged him from the wreck. Meantime, Flusser, seeing his companion wrecked, steamed to Cooke’s stern, and gave him a broadside of 6 100 pounder rifle guns, at a few feet distant, upon the iron that had been imperfectly bolted and damaged the iron in three places. Throughout Tuesday, skirmishing was kept up; that evening Ransom took his brigade across Conaby Creek with the pontoon train. At daybreak Wednesday morning, the 35th, 8th, 24th, 25th and 56th, formed and charged the works of Bateman’s and Lathem’s under the most terrible fire of shell, shrapnel, grape and rifle I ever saw; but they did not waver or falter a moment. It is an open field, 1200 yards or more, and the batteries placed with special view to command that approach. Both places were taken with a shout, and all not required to hold the place and take charge of the prisoners, went into the town, where every house was filled with sharpshooters, who poured a galling fire into them. All were, however, caught, and our men pressed on to Boyle’s Mill. Before they reached it, their magazine was exploded and they abandoned it. Some say it was blown up by the garrison and some that it was exploded by a shell from Fort Sanderson, fired by our men. We had been pegging away at them from that place all day Tuesday and Tuesday night with good effect. Our men then went to plundering and completely gutted all the Yankee stores, which were well stocked. Thus matters stood, we holding Water Street, with about 800 prisoners; the Yankees at Garrett’s fort with 1,600 men. Random firing was going on all the time between them and some of our men as could spare time from plundering. At 10:00 General Hoke met General Wessell about 100 yards from Ft. Garrett, on the entrenchments, and demanded his surrender, and told him that if he was forced to carry the fort by assault, that the garrison would not be spared. At this point of the interview our boat fired a shot into the fort, and the garrison hauled down their flag. Wessell said that it was against his order; that he did not surrender. Hoke replied that the fort was his and that unless he surrendered he would have him shot. Wessell caved in. 56th Regiment, Casualties Company A Killed: (First name illegible, starts with an ‘L’, but could be ‘Lt.” Sawyer Wounded: Sgt.(?) Samuel Smith, Corp. T.G. Ferrell in both knees, William Grant, through body, severely, J.C. Hughes, J.H. Johnson in thigh, Henry Williams, head, Kinsey(?) Sliter(?), shoulder, Wm. Gallup, neck, Wm. Gilbert Company B Wounded: Lt. B.W. Thornton(?), in head, mortally, since dead, Sgt. L.H. Hurst(?), mouth, Warren Carver, mouth, John T. Moore, hand, Wm. Handy, shoulder, severe, R.H. Averitt, breast Company C Wounded: Corp. J.S. Sawyer, ear, B. Hackney, leg, Jno. Howard, P. Pendergrast, side, Levi Williams, thigh, Jno. Parker, foot Company D Killed: J.W. Holsenbeck(?) Wounded: Lt. C.R. Wilson, ankle, Corp. T.W. Montgomery, concussion by shell, Corp. J.B. Laycock, hand, J.R. Miller, leg, W.W. Redding, head, L. Taylor, both legs, severe, J.W. M— abdomen(?), mortally, since died (first two letters could have been ‘Mc’), C. Laws, B. Pool, foot, S. Riley, shoulder, severe, Jeff Taylor, leg, R. Wilkerson, leg Company E Wounded: Lt. J.M. Jacobs, arm, Sgt. Lemuel Harrill, head, Corp. Wm. Turner, leg, R. McNeill, leg amputated, H. Wheeler, hand, W.H. Holland, hand, W.H. McBryde, thigh, W.H. Thomas, knee, severe, Joe Banks, concussion by shell Company F Wounded: Lt. V.J. Palmer, thigh, severe, Corp. A. Nelson, thigh, Allen Cogdale, head, (first name illegible, Adecy?) Cogdale, thigh, severe, William Caitwood, thigh, H.M. Galdden, abdomen, mortal, since died, Peter Price, breast, severe, J.G. Webb, breast, severe, J.W. Lindsey, hand, T.P. Cabaniss(?), side, N.W. Ross, breast Company G Killed: Thomas W. Nobbin and Izark D. Kinney Wounded: H. Allen, right thumb shot off, Ellsberry Carlan, side, severe, Jas. Hollingsworth, right arm broken, L.M. Greer, shoulder, severe, R. Perry, right thigh broken, Lee Roy Smith, thigh, S. Taylor, thigh Company H Wounded: Lt. S.R. Holton, leg, C. Danebe(?), mortal, T.J. Barnwell, hand, Noah Fox, leg, Thomas Gately, thigh, Jas. Miles, leg, David Mider, leg amputated, B.J. Page, thigh, Wm. Thomson, thigh, severe, D. Thompson, ankle, J. Chisenhalt(?), side, severe Company I Killed: Wm. Davis Wounded: T.R. Campbell, hand, Samuel Green, foot, H. Hargill, thigh, J.P. Philbeck, shoulder, H.W. Price, thigh, R.H. Wall, head Company K Wounded: Jno. Strider, leg, severe, J.P. Sossaman, arm, W. Auten, mouth Jno. W. Faison, Acting Adjutant, 56th N.C.t. Casualties 35th N.C.T. Company A Killed: Robert W. Brown Wounded: Capt. H. W. and Lt. Jesse Humphrey, slightly, Wm. Alphin, Sam Gorman and Rufus Ferrier, mortally, Hosea Barden and John Costen, slightly Company B Not engaged Company C Wounded: W.W. Fry, J.M. McDuffie and Corp. J.A. Currie, severely, Neill Smith, slightly Company D Killed: Corp. W.H. Council Wounded: J.W. Utley and W.B. Council, severely, J.B. Thrailkill, Jesse Bland and M. Womble, slightly Company E Killed: Lt. (first initial illegible) N. Loy (or Ley), Sgts. H.W. Oakley and J.J. Yarborough, T.S. Drake, T.R. Gentry and A. Evans Wounded: S.W. Oakley, Frank Oakley, and M. Clayton, severely, H.(?) S. Jones, Jas. Walker, Jno. Rogers, W.J.T. Shotwell, Corp. J.J.(?) Lawson, W. Oakley and W.S. Lawson, slightly Company F Killed: Lt. E.M. Adams, Sgt. J.M. Stancil and Corp. A.L. McCall Wounded: Sgt. A.M. Houston, Jno. L. Ritch, W.A. Aldridge, J.J. McCain and A.J. S - - nnen, severely, Sgt. M.M. Yandle, L. Thompson, and B. Brown, slightly Company G Wounded: J.P. Case and A.R. Staton, severely, B.A. Staten, J.B. Kingkendell, S. Howard, J.W. Ripley and Jno. Brown, slightly Company H Killed: Sgt. Jno. Dulin, J.F. Harris and Jno. Noles Wounded: J.W. Autin, T.J. Flow, J.M. Hunter, J. (last name illegible, starts with a ‘R’), L.W. Harris, R.A. Hall(?), C.T. Hodges(?), R.A. (last name illegible), McKey Jordan, J.C. Kirk, J.J. McLaughlin, J.S. Miller, W.A. Roberts, J.W. Rogers, W.A. (last name illegible, seven letters, starts with an ‘R’), A.W. Walker, slightly Company I Wounded: Lt. Jesse Scott, Sgt. H.G. Ellis, Wiley Ellis, R.H. Harrison, and P. Hinson, slight, Freeman Jones, Levi Jones, H.F. Smith and D. Vinson, severe Company K Killed: Sgt. T.W. Conley, J.W. Abernathy, D. Denton, D. Moore, J.C. Waisenhurdt(?), P.S. Whitaker Wounded: Lt. D.P. Glass, mortal, H.H. Childeer(?), A. Erwin, A.M. Hewn (Hown?), W.W. Huntley, W.A. Laughridge, J.H. Michaels, D.H. Whitener, M.L. Whetstill, A. Wagener, D. Zimmerman, H. Zimmerman, N. Hoyle, J.S. Ward, Hawk(?) and F.L.Brindle(?), slightly Adjutant, 35th N.C.T. Casualties 24th N.C.T. (Col. W.J. Clarke) Killed: 18th April, Lt. J. Wilkins Wounded: Thomas Sweeny, A; Jno Collins, O.E. Pitman, Jarvis Jones, B; D.G. Clifton, K, severely 20th May: Sgt. Maj. A.C. Huggins, severely wounded, leg amputated Company A Wounded: Sgt. E.G. Moore, Corp. J.D. Horton, R. Bowen, E.B. Barker, J.W. Bowles(?), Ruffin Davis, J.D. Day, Jas. Daniel, David Dillehay, Jas. Ellis, W.H. Fashee, J.R. Hobgoad, N. Petree(?), S.B. Reed, Thomas Willeford, J.H. Peel, severely, Corp. G.W. Burch, Green Cash, Julius McRory, J.T. Dillehan, slightly Company B Killed: J.W. Pecket(?) Wounded: D.J. Scott, Jno. Morris, Z. Jones, severe, John Speight, Jos Howard, John Jones, slight Company C Killed: E.R. Hocutt Wounded: Sgt. H.H. Richardson, Corps. J.A. Woodard and B.H. Richardson, W.R. Wall, Merrill Mcready, slightly, J.H. Green, J.J. Barnes, severely Company D Wounded: Capt. W.J. Squiggins, J.E. Anderson, B.V. Butts, G.W. Long, W.Y. Marcom(?), M.D. Walker, severely, J.H. Boswell, slightly Company E Killed: A.J. Young, K.B. Taylor Wounded: Lts. E.S. Sanders and T.T. Lee, C.R. Toler, slightly, R.C. Britt, J.P. Greech(?), W.A. Hinnant, J.W. Hudson, J.W. Lne, W. Massingill, A.N. Overby, J.A. Parker, J.E. Thompson, Jonah Woodward, severely Company F Already reported (Transcriber’s note, not sure what that meant) Company G Absent on duty at Gaston Company H Killed: Jos. Mangum Wounded: J.F. Morris, Moses Walker, Gabriel Nelson, severely, M.B. Jones, W.B. Jones, slightly Company I Killed: Joshua Cannady Wounded: Corp. H. Barbee, Alex Woodall, J.G. Allen, Wm. Allen, Wm. Austin, J.B. Greech, Jos. Stancill, severely Company K Killed: J.F. Baker Wounded: Sgt. J.A. Baker, S. Ross, D.G. Clifton, W.L. Williams, W.G. Brannen, severely, H. Horton, Wm. T. Melton, H.H. Harris, Calvin Gibson, M. Perry, J.S. Cheeves, slightly Casualties, 21st N.C., Hoke’s Brigade Company A Killed: Sgt. F.C. Gileard(?) Wounded: Sgt. P.M. Eccles, Corp. E.W. Smith, J.F. Hedrick, R.W. Leonard Jacob Tosh Company C Killed: J.W. Hodges, A.F. Patterson Wounded; C.B. Norman, Aug Ray, W.R. Francis, Herbert Hodges Missing: Squire Griffith Company D Killed: Corp. J.F. Beck, Charles Kellum Wounded: Ed Banner, J.C. Boyles Company F Killed: Wm. Hancock Wounded: Cal Edwards (since died), Powel Lawson, A.M. King, Jr., F.M. Shackelford Company G Killed: Capt. J.O. Blackburn Wounded: G.W. Leak Company H Killed: A.D. Ray Wounded: W.W. Ashburn, J. R. Flinn, Jno. Marion, G.T. Messick Company I Killed: S.W. Dick Wounded: C.H. Boyles, F.B. Savage, Corp. A.J. Durham Company K Killed: B.F. Leinback, Jno. Long Wounded: Sgt. J.H. Leinback, W.H. Hester, Peter Marshall Company L Killed: Corp. J.G. Wilkinson Wounded: A.M. Mitchell, J.M. Lackey Company M Killed: J.M. Wright, Geo. Wyrick, Wm. Richardson Wounded: J.W. Wharton, Jesse Pegram, Riley Ingold(?), Milton Clapp(?), J.M. Nelson, Elihu Russum, H. Albright Casualties, 6th N.C.T., Hoke’s Brigade Company A Wounded: E.J. Barton, slight Company B Wounded: N.H. Tessley, J.M. Sanders, J.E. Sanders, J. Tilly, A. Werdle Company C Killed: Jno. McDaniel Wounded: J. Tally, left arm amputated, Lt. W.S. Clinton, Sgt. J.E. Lyons, A.J.(?) (last name illegible, starts with a ‘C’), J.W. Poe Company D Wounded: F.S. Powell, J.A. Mitchell Company E Wounded: J.E. Whiserhunt, J.C. McGee, J. Suttles, T.N. Coxe, M. Woody, R. Pitman, P. Pecter Company F Wounded: Jno. W. Faucett, since dead Company G Wounded: G. Hevener(?) Company H Killed: Harvey Hanus, Joshua Jebneen(?) Wounded: R. Bradley, F.(?) Page Company I Wounded: B.(?) Ahee(?), J. Childers Company K Wounded: Henry Caps(?), since dead, Jno. S. Shaw, B. Fenville(?), E.P. Hyatt, J. Reece, A.J. Williams Fayetteville Observer, May 9, 1864 8th N.C.T. Casualties (Col. J.R. Murchison) This regiment belongs to Clingman’s Brigade but is temporarily assigned to Ransom’s Brigade) Transcriber’s note: Take each of the names followed by the “?” seriously because this paper was extremely faded. Company A Killed: H.C. Stokely(?) Wounded: Color Sgt. Frank Perkins, Corp. Jas. S. Spencer, Daniel Evans(?), Jos. Hood, Joshua(?) Cook, Seth(?) Morgan, Jr. Company B Killed: Geo.(?) W. Graves Wounded: Joseph Garris(?), Wm. Gregory, Dumphrey(?) Harris, Emerson Walker, Jno. A. Ethridge, Jas. W. Kingsley(?), Robert Balance(?) Company C Killed: W.J. Baker Wounded: R.W. Lawyer, A.J. Tebaten(?), J.L. Moore Company D Killed: R.F. Patterson Wounded: Lts. A.H. Gregory and D.W. Weaver, W.B. Dabsen(?), S.A. Hunt, Pinckney Cozart(?), W. Brinkley(?), A.L. W- - tt (does not look like Wyatt) Company E Killed: Lt. D.A. Patterson, Jno. Coddle(?) Wounded: Lt. Jas. H. McKethen, Jas. T. Beard, Henry Canady, Jno. Knight, Peter McMillen, B.G. Morris, B. Jenkins, Jno. Spivey Company F Wounded: Lt. L.J. Thornton, S. Davis, J. Cowan, J.F.(or P.?) Skipper, B.(or R.?) Harris, J. Wilson, A.J. Rogers Company G Killed: Lt. L.D. Langley, Sgt. J.J. (last name illegible, starts with a T, maybe Talmage??) Wounded: Sgt. Theophilus Krel, R. Beaver(?), R. (last name illegible, might be Crandell), Gray Harris, Gilford Harris, S.C. Moore, G.L. Moore, W.H. Moore, S. Tyson Company H Killed: 1st Sgt. J.A. (last name illegible B- - - - ger, maybe Barringer??), J.C. (last name illegible, starts with a K—K - - - - s), W.M. (last name illegible, starts with an L—Li- - -), Nelson (last name illegible, starts with a B—B- - - - r), Moses Dey(?), C.J. (last name illegible starts with an L—Lin - - - rger), B.J.Patterson(?), J.E. Barringer, Corp. J. Cook, (first letter of name illegible) M. Aliman(?) or Allman(?), W.D. Barringer, A.G. Best(?) Bost(?), T.A. Camps, Wiley (last name illegible, starts with a C—C - - - -), A.E.(or B.) Harkey, Gilford Hatbey(?) Hatley(?) (note, last letter of name could also have been an ‘r’), J.M. M - - anheimer, J.H. Murro(?), Matthias Bost(?) Boat(?), J.W. Moose, A.M. Page, J.F. Rine, J.J. Sill(?-second letter of name not legible), A.(?) D. Sides(?) Siges(?), E.C. Watts(?), Alex (last name illegible, starts with an S—S - - ick), M.C. Rinehart, J.A. Dudman Company I Wounded: Sgt. W.H. Harris, Corps. Belsley(?) and J.D. Marterly(?), M.(?) Simpson, Benj.(?) James, A. Bogg(?), W. Farbee(?) Farbes(?), D. Clapp, L.C. Tickle, Francis Faust, Jas. Tyler, Josiah Younger Company K Killed: J.J. Ketchey, Jno. Raney(?), J.S. Murph (note, no y on the end, might have been an error and the name actually Murphy), Wiley W. (last name illegible, starts with an S--S - - - rd) Wounded: Lt. P.J. Miller, Corps. B.(?) (last name illegible, starts with a C—C - - l – y), Lewis B. Agner(?), Jno. Brockman, Jacob Barger, S.A. (last name illegible, starts with an S—S - - - - - ), J.B. (last name illegible, starts with a C—Caddell???), Chas.(?) A. (last name illegible, four letters starting with a D), Wm. M. Ethridge, J. (last name illegible, four or five letters starting with a G), Calvin Huffman(?), Wm. (last name illegible, starts with a K—K – sher?), A. Morgan S.H. Gee, Acting Adjt. And In. Gen. 25th N.C. Casualties (Col. H.M. Rutledge) Company A Killed: Jas. L. (last name illegible, starts with an E—Elney?), W.W. Owensby Wounded: W.E. Conner, E. Curtis(?) Company B Killed: W.R. Grant Wounded: Newton Fox Company D Wounded: Corp.(?) F.H. Hensley, G.L. Coswell Company E Wounded: H.G. Whetmore, T.C. Calloway, G.W. Fox, Thos. Hays Company G Wounded: Joshua Beems Company H Killed: J.M. Carland Wounded: J.L. Gentles, W. Dumphrey Company I Wounded: Sgt. W. Warren, N. Luther Company K Killed: G.W. Black Wounded: Corp. J.M. Justice, S.F. Edmunds(?), A.W. Ramsey, G.P. Black Col. Mercer was a brave and gallant officer, and although he was not a native of this state upon whose soil he fell, yet he has given his life in her defense. He was a military man by education, having graduated at West Point in the year 1854. At the time the war broke out, he was in California, and was a first lieutenant in the U.S. Dragoons. Hearing that his native state had seceded from the Old Union, he immediately resigned his commission in the U.S. service and tendered his services to the Confederate government. He was ordered to Richmond, Va., and appointed colonel of the 21st Georgia Regiment in the year 1861 and was attached to Ewell’s Corps. He participated in the battle of Winchester, Va., and was highly complimented by his commanding general, in his official report of the battle of Cross Keys. He also bore a conspicuous part in the battles of Malvern Hill, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. On the 20th Jan., 1864, he was attached to Hoke’s Brigade and was with the brigade on the last expedition against Newbern, acted very gallantly at the Battle of Bachelor’s Creek and was afterwards assigned to the command of all the cavalry in this department. In the expedition against Plymouth, he was in command of his own regiment, and during the attack upon the town, was in command of Hoke’s Brigade (General Hoke being in command of all the troops) and fell during the charge upon Fort Sanderson, which was taken a few minutes after his fall. The remains of Col. Mercer arrived here on Wednesday night last, and were interred in the Episcopal Cemetery by the side of the late lamented General W.D. Pounder, his class mage, his comrade in arms, and his relative. Tarboro Southerner Fayetteville Observer, May 2, 1864 List of wounded received at the General Hospital Number 3, Goldsboro, N.C., on the 22nd inst. 6th N.C. Regiment Company A: J.E. Borden Company B: J. Teltery, J.E. Saunders, A Weavil Company C: Sgt. J.E. Lyon, Jno McGee Company E: E. Pitman Company F: E. Nelson Company H: F. Page Company I: Jno. Childress, A.B. Ephraim Company K: S.P. Hyatt, Jno Reece 8th N.C. Regiment Company I: A. Boggs 21st N.C. Regiment Company D: J.C. Boyles Company F: A.M. King Company H: W.W. Ashburn, Jno Martin Company I: C.H. Boyles Company K: G. Flynn 35th N.C. Regiment Company A: J.A. Costin Company C: Neal Smith 43rd N.C. Regiment Company A: L.R. Grisham, L.J. Quinn Company E: A.W. Simmons Company F: J.H. Wood Company H: W.J. Ashcraft Company K: W.H. Mecks 56th N.C. Regiment Company A: K. (last name illegible, starts with an S), R.W. Handy Company D: Lt. C.R. Wilson, J.R. Miller, G.W. Montgomery Company G: E. Carlton 21st Georgia Regiment Company F: W.B. Phillips Company G: L.W. Jones 24th Virginia Regiment Company B: H.A. Matte(?) Bradford’s (Mississippi) Artillery T.L. Russell Transcriber’s Note: The above article shows the wounded at Goldsboro, the below at Wilson The Wounded at Plymouth We are indebted to the courtesy of Dr. S.S. Satchwell, surgeon in charge of the General Military Hospital Number 2, Wilson, N.C. and for the following list of Confederate wounded at Plymouth and received at the hospital up to the 25th inst. 6th N.C. Regiment Sgt. J.E. Lyon, slight, Privates J.A. Mitchell, slight, Jno Poe, severe, right arm and shoulder, E. Nelson, slight, Isaac Suttle, head, J.E. Barden, slight, Ephraim Abee(?), slight, Jas. Tilley, slight, Reddin Pitman, slight, Albert Weavel, slight, J.M. Childress, slight, Jno. McGhee, slight, F. Page, slight, J.M. Saunders, severe in hand, C. Alsbrook, slight, Richard Poeler, severe in foot, E.P. Hyatt, slight, Jno Reese, slight, A.H. Leasely, right leg 8th N.C. Regiment Privates A. Boggs(?), Slight, B. James, left leg, Guilford Hedley, left hip 21st N.C. Regiment Privates P. Lawson, slight, F.M. Eccles, severe arm and knee, J.F. Hedrick, left knee, J.A. Tesh, right arm, A.H. Mitchell, right thigh, R.M. Leonard, left leg, J.M. Nelson, bowels, M.A. Clapp, right leg, H. Roger(?), right arm, A.M. King, C.H. Boyles, Jno. Marion and W.W. Ashburn, slight, T.A. Savage, right arm, W. H. Hunter(?), right foot, E.J. bonner, left leg, Constant Flynn, sight, H.(?) N. Albright, left arm, W.R. Dykes(?), left thigh, L. Powell, severe, left thigh 24th N.C. Regiment Private J.M. Jones, neck 25th N.C. Regiment Private A.W. Ramsey, hand 43rd N.C. Regiment Sgts. J.H. Bobbet(?), leg, W.L. Dun(?), thigh, Privates W.A. Wilson, left knee, W.F. Mosley, left ankle, J.H. Wood, W.H. Meeks, W.J. Ashcraft, A.W. Simmons(?), Lewis R. Gri - -om- partially illegible and L.J. Quinn, slight 35th N.C. Regiment Privates J.A. Costin and Neal Smith, slight 56th N.C. Regiment Lt. Charles R. Wilson, slight, Privates Jas. Miller, right, Wm. Handy, slight, L.L. Taylor, right leg, W.W. Redding, head, K. Sitton(?), G.W. Montgomery and E. Carland, slight 21st Georgia Regiment Privates D. Dyal(?), right side, J.F. Cook, right leg, W.M. Hensley, severe, left thigh and right arm, F.M. Rawls, ankle, W.B. Phillips, slight, L.W. Jones, slight, L.A. Hudgins, severe, chest, P. Marshall, left thigh, J.C. Booles, slight, J.B. Reid, right arm, J.T. Williams, left hip, Jno Dempsey, knee, L.B. Davis, arm, B.f. Goss, right arm, G.(?)L. Fennell, left leg 24th Virginia Regiment Privates W.D. Mountcastle, shoulder, H.A. Metis(?) Mells(?), slight, Jas. Thanmason(?), left arm, G. H. Rutledge, right hand, J.P. Wyson, left hand 7th Virginia Regiment Private Henry Bowen, right foot Bradford’s Mississippi Artillery Corp. T.L. Russell, slight Private J.E. Martin, Company F, 16th Connecticut Regiment (Yankee), slight wound in hip Wilmington Journal Fayetteville Observer, May, 1964 Newspapers and letters have furnished us with few particulars of the late unfortunate operations in eastern North Carolina. We make up the following statement from facts gathered from a brave soldier who was with our troops. On Friday morning, 28th Oct., a torpedo boat came up the Roanoke river, passing the pickets on the river, it was so dark that you could not see your hand before you and raining heavily. The Albemarle was lying at her wharf at Plymough, with a sort of failing of logs in the water as a guard to prevent anything from running against her. The torpedo boat lay quiet some distance off from the Albemarle, felt the guards around her, and then backed off a hundred yards and came up with full head of steam. The torpedo was fixed upon a boom twenty feet long, extending from the side of the bow, which could be raised by a block and tackle; it was raised to pass over the railing as the boat came up, and lowered so as to strike the Albemarle under the forward part of the boat. It was discovered as it came up by the guard and was fired upon by the crew with musketry. It was too late when it was discovered to fire upon it with the heavy guns on the boat. The torpedo struck and exploded, blowing a hold in the Albemarle and causing her to sink partially in a short time. The captain of the torpedo boat jumped overboard and escaped by swimming across the river; the boat and crew were captured with the exception of a small boat with a few men which had been sent back down the river and captured and carried off our pickets on the Southfield, which was being raised a short distance down the river. The Albemarle was commanded by Captain Warley of S.C., who completed her destruction by blowing off her coating. During the day, the enemy attempted to come up the Roanoke and attack the fort with nine gunboats but after a severe fight with the lower fort (Fort Jones), commanded by Major L.C. Latham, 1st N.C.T., were driven off, one of the gunboats being so disabled that it had to be towed down the river. This day’s fight was a perfect success to us and great credit is due to Major Latham for the management of his fort in this fight; also to Col. John N. Whitford, 67th N.C.T., commanding the whole place. Friday night the fleet entered Middle river, and shelled the town a little during Saturday across the island between Middle and Roanoke rivers, being completely hidden from view of our batteries. Our batteries did not reply on this day, except a few shots as feelers. On Sunday the enemy renewed the shelling of the town, and kept it up very heavily from 1:00 pm until some time after night. As soon as General Baker received information of the sinking of the gunboat, he started for Plymouth, and arrived on Sunday evening. General Gaston Lewis, who was at home, wounded in Tarborough, accompanied him and was left at Jamesville, 11 miles from Plymouth, to take charge of the reinforcements, in anticipation of the enemy’s landing at Warren Neck and attempting to cut off communication with Plymouth, and to attack them if they landed. General Baker entered the town under a severe fire on Sunday evening. Col. Whitford had sent a courier to meet him on the road and state that it would be dangerous for him to attempt to come in. Upon this, Capt. Fulghum, A.D.C., gallantly volunteered to go ahead and see that the road was clear, communicate with Col. Whitford and return with the report. This he did, passing along the road going in and coming out, under a heavy fire from the enemy’s gunboats, which were firing at everything on the road. He met General Baker a short distance from the town with an urgent message from Col. Whitford, advising him not to come into the town. But he considered that as the town would in all probability have to fall, the gunboat being destroyed, it would be more generous in him to go in and assume command, thus relieving his subordinate officers of the responsibility. When he entered the town he immediately visited the forts on horseback, with col. Whitford, under a heavy fire. As he appeared to the troops, they would cheer him lustily, and this would be the signal for the fire of the gunboats to be directed to that particular point. It was a hot time. Sharpshooters had been thrown out to prevent the enemy from removing the obstructions at the junction of Middle and Roanoke rivers but without avail. The General, foreseeing that the enemy would enter the Roanoke river in the morning and make their grand attack upon the upper works, had ordered them to be strengthened, and the work was carried on during the whole night. The works had been built to resist and attack from boats coming up the Roanoke, the gunboat Albemarle having been a full protection against their coming through Middle River and down the Roanoke. But this “tower of strength” being gone; they were enabled to take the works in reverse and there was scarcely a hope that the town could be held. All was quiet Monday morning, not a shot was fired until about 10:00 am, when the whole fleet, nine heavy gunboats, steamed into the Roanoke and made for the upper fort; then the earth shook with the concussions of the shells bursting in every direction, and the booming of at least seventy guns of the heaviest caliber, unanswered by the two heavy guns of the upper fort (Fort Hal). Manfully, the crew of the Albemarle worked these guns, but the gunboats steamed down upon them in a regular “charge”. Soon a tremendous explosion told that the magazine of this fort had been exploded and the fleet passed on to attack Fort Jones. Three guns of this fort bore up the river and were worked with the greatest gallantry under the direction of Major Latham, who fought them until all his guns wee dismounted. At the opening of the fight, General Baker was at headquarters in the middle of the town, without any protection. This place was perfectly swept with a hailstorm of shot and shell, and when they came up to short range, with canister. He removed to an old work near and there remained, receiving reports of the progress of the fight. When no more guns could be brought to bear upon the boats, an evacuation was ordered and conducted under a terrible fire which was now directed upon all the avenues of escape from the town. The General brought the men off himself and halted them out of town, just out of range of the gunboats, to receive the attack if they pursued; but no forces were thrown outside of the town by the enemy. Col. Whitford displayed the most distinguished gallantry; he visited every place on horseback, was one of the last to leave the town, and saw in person that everything was brought off. To Major Latham belongs the honor of whipping the enemy from his fort on the first attack, and of fighting to the last until all his guns were dismounted; he then brought off most of his men and as the enemy were entering the dismantled debris of his well fought fort, he mounted his horse and rode up to the General to report for any other duty to which he might be assigned. The enemy are said to have lost 34 in killed, and it is said that one gunboat was so badly injured that it sank at the wharf. They cannot understand how the garrison was brought off with such small loss. The management of the whole affair was masterly in the highest degree. It required as much courage to leave that town as to charge a battery. The men were conducted by the General around the works on the outside and through the open country with scarcely any loss at all. The troops are all in position again, with confidence in their General enhanced, and ready to meet the enemy again anywhere in a fair fight. Everything was removed, nothing was left but the heavy guns which could not be brought off and three field pieces whose horses were killed or disabled. A barren, burning town, with no quartermaster or commissary stores, was all that fell into the enemy’s hands. Our loss was not more than fifty in killed, wounded and captured. |