* Capture of Plymouth.

Immediately above written by former Major Rufus W. Wharton on April 9, 1901, and provided as Pages 225-242, in the compilation known as "Histories of the Several Regiments and Battalions from North Carolina in the Great War 1861-'65 - Volume IV," edited by Walter Clark.
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On April 21, 1864, the 1st NC Battalion-Sharpshooters took part in the capture of Plymouth under Brig. Gen. Robert F. Hoke. When his brigade was recalled to the Army of Northern Virginia in May, the battalion appears to have been detached and left at Kinston on Provost Guard duty.

Immediately above written by former Captain Neill W. Ray in 1900, and provided as Pages 293-336, in the compilation known as "Histories of the Several Regiments and Battalions from North Carolina in the Great War 1861-'65 - Volume I," edited by Walter Clark.
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Under command of Brig. Gen. Robert F. Hoke (NC), a Confederate force, which included Brig. Gen. Hoke's brigade, moved on Plymouth, NC in April of 1864. With the help of the ironclad C.S.S. Albemarle, Brig. Gen. Hoke laid siege to the town and captured it April 17-20, 1864. From Plymouth, Brig. Gen. Hoke moved to occupy Washington, NC, which had already been evacuated by the Union forces stationed there.

On April 18th our forces drew nearer the town, and on the evening of that day the 8th NC Regiment, with some other regiments of Brig. Gen. Matthew W. Ransom's (NC) Brigade, made a reconnaissance of the enemy's works. The 8th NC Regiment formed in a strip of woods several hundred yards from the main line of fortifications. A battery of artillery was to take position on the left of the 8th NC Regiment. At the order to advance the regiment moved out of the woods into the open field and began pressing and driving the enemy's strong skirmish line. The battery of artillery came in at a rapid run, and taking position at the left of the 8th NC Regiment, about three hundred (300) yards from the enemy's works, opened a rapid fire on the main fort in our front. The gunboats in the river also took part in shelling our battery and line. One shell from a gunboat came over the town, struck the ground about one hundred and fifty (150) yards in front of the 8th NC Regiment, ricocheted and the next time struck the ground in the line of the regiment, exploded, killing and wounding fifteen (15) men of Company H. Three (3) of the men were killed outright, two (2) were mortally wounded, and of the others, some were severely and some slightly wounded. The firing was kept up about two (2) hours, when it ceased, the enemy's forts having been apparently silenced. The wounded were carried to the rear during the action and the dead buried that night.

On April 19th nothing except some skirmishing took place in the forenoon. In the afternoon our regiment, with Brig. Gen. Ransom's brigade, was ordered to move around towards the eastern side of the town and take position down the river from the enemy's works. In attempting to pass Conaby Creek, on that side of the town, a sharp fight occurred at the bridge over the stream. It was about two o'clock at night before the crossing could be effected. The passage of the creek having been forced, the brigade formed with its right resting on the river. The position the 8th NC Regiment held in the brigade placed it directly in front of one of the enemy's forts.

At early dawn on the morning of April 20th the signal rockets went up and the order came to advance. In the meantime a battery of artillery took position in front of the 8th NC Regiment and opened a rapid fire on the fort in our front. The regiment, in fact the whole brigade, as ordered, moved off in common time. Not a rifle was fired, not a word spoken. The artillery was doing its full duty in keeping the enemy's infantry quiet. When the regiment had advanced to within about one hundred and fifty (150) yards of the fort the order to charge was given. The "yell" was raised and the regiment rushed forward to mount the fort. Just at the moment the "yell" was raised the enemy's infantry poured a destructive fire into the ranks of the regiment. Our artillery ceased firing as the regiment approached near the fort. The men rushed on, leaped into the ditch and attempted to scale the fort.

While the men were attempting to climb over the outside of the fort the enemy threw hand grenades into the ditch. Those who were in the ditch had to get out of it. The regiment then swung around to the right and attempted to break through the palisades on that side of the fort. The palisades had loop holes, through which the enemy fired on our line. At this point many of the men were shot through the head. The regiment rushed up to the palisades, and as the enemy pulled their guns out of the loop holes our men put theirs in and fired at those on the inside. Such deadly work could not last long. The 8th NC Regiment swung a little further around to the gate leading to the rear of the fort. The gate was burst open. The regiment rushed in and the fort surrendered. "Three cheers for North Carolina" were given by the regiment, thus announcing that the assault had been successful.

One fort having been captured, the line within was easily taken. But one strong fort (Fort Williams) remained in possession of the enemy. The 8th NC Regiment formed and attempted to storm that. The men charged up to the edge of the surrounding ditch, only to find that it could not be crossed. There was but one of two courses to take, to-wit: either to fall back or surrender. The regiment chose the former. When the retreat began the enemy poured a fearful volley, into the ranks, killing and wounding many of the men. This charge was reckless and unnecessary. It was made under the flush of victory, not by the order of the commanding general. The fort, being surrounded, would have had to surrender anyhow, as it did a few hours afterwards. With the fall of Fort Williams the capture of Plymouth was made complete. It was a brilliant victory, but the 8th NC Regiment paid dearly for its share in it. The regiment lost one hundred and fifty-four (154) men killed and wounded, about one-third of its number. Lt. David P. Langley of Company G was killed; and Capt. Jonas Cook of Company H, and Lt. Littleton J. Thompson of Company F, were among the wounded. Francis J. Perkins of Company A, color-bearer of the regiment, fell mortally wounded on the morning of April 20th. A few days afterwards Jacob R. Earnhardt, Company H, was appointed color-bearer.

To illustrate another phase of war, it may not be without interest to narrate an incident or two that occurred on the battlefield of Plymouth. The following two are, therefore, given:

As the ambulance corps was following the regiment, and having come to the point where the first charge began on the morning of April 20th, one of the first men they found lying on the field was James Misenheimer, of Company H, who was mortally wounded. A member of the corps went to him and asked if he was wounded. He answered yes, that a whole shell had gone through him, and that it was from our own artillery. Poor fellow, he thought that after passing our battery the artillery had shot him. This was a mistake. The artillery fired over the heads of the men. He was shot by the enemy's infantry, the ball passing through the stomach. He said to the one speaking to him: "Tom, is that you?" On being told that it was, he added: "Write to mother and tell her I am killed." He died that day.

Again, color-bearer Perkins was carried to the rear mortally wounded, and as he lay in a barn which had been taken for use for the wounded and dying, in conversation with a friend and member of the regiment, who was with him, he asked what the men thought of his conduct that day. On being told that all were praising him for his gallantry, he then said: "If that is so, if it were not for my sister, I would not mind dying."

Thus, among many others, fell two brave men, their last thoughts wandering far away to their homes, the one thinking of a dear mother living among the hills of Cabarrus County, the other of a dear sister whom he had left at his home in Virginia. How many thousands of similar incidents might be recorded! How many thousands of dying soldiers, whose last thoughts were of loved ones at home, but for whom there were no friends present to receive the parting messages! But, then, such is war.

After a few days' rest at Plymouth the regiment, with the other troops of the expedition, began the march to Washington, NC, which place the enemy abandoned on our approach.

Immediately above written by former Drummer of Company H, H. T. J. Ludwig on April 26, 1900, and provided as Pages 387-415, in the compilation known as "Histories of the Several Regiments and Battalions from North Carolina in the Great War 1861-'65 - Volume I," edited by Walter Clark.
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Under command of Brig. Gen. Robert F. Hoke (NC), a Confederate force, which included the 8th NC Regiment (State Troops), moved on Plymouth, NC in April of 1864. The 8th NC Regiment was temporarily detached from Brig. Gen. Thomas L. Clingman's (NC) brigade and ordered to report to Brig. Gen. Matthew W. Ransom (NC) at Weldon on April 13th, and moved to Tarborough with Brig. Gen. Hoke's army.

On April 17th, the Confederates drove in the Union pickets, and on April 18th, the 8th NC Regiment took part in a heavy skirmish with the enemy's reinforced skirmish line. Brig. Gen. Hoke decided to surround the town, and on April 19th, Brig. Gen. Ransom's brigade and the 8th NC Regiment moved around towards the eastern side of the town of Plymouth. On this move they had a sharp fight with a Union outpost at the bridge over Conaby Creek.

The brigade went into position with its right on the Roanoke River bank. Early on the morning of April 20th, the entire Confederate line advanced. The 8th NC Regiment's objective was one of the forts, and it succeeded in breaking through the gate after swinging around to the right of the fort. After capturing it, the 8th NC Regiment reformed and moved against Fort Williams, the strongest position still held by Union forces. The men charged up to the open ditch around the fort and were forced to retire when they found it could not be crossed.

The attack was reckless and needless since the fort was surrounded and would have been forced to surrender under siege. The 8th NC Regiment lost about one-third of its men at this engagement. From the opening skirmish to the attack on Fort Williams, the 8th NC Regiment lost 154 men killed and wounded. After a brief rest, the 8th NC Regiment was ordered to move on to Washington, NC, with other troops of this expedition.

Immediately above written by former 1st Lieutenant John W. Sanders on April 25, 1900, and provided as Pages 499-536, in the compilation known as "Histories of the Several Regiments and Battalions from North Carolina in the Great War 1861-'65 - Volume I," edited by Walter Clark.
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In March of 1864, detachments of the 10th NC Regiment (1st Artillery) accompanied Brig. Gen. Robert F. Hoke's (NC) expedition to Plymouth, NC and assisted in the capture of that Union-occupied town.

It was indeed a gallant defense. The 21st GA Regiment and 21st NC Regiment, as at the first of the war, again fought side by side in this fierce conflict—mingling their voices together in the same deafening yell of triumph. Many of them were stricken down on this bloody field and many of them sleep in a common grave. In this fight officers and men in both regiments, vied with each other in deeds of unsurpassed courage. Where all acted as heroes, it would seem invidious to make any special mention of names, but I must call attention to the distinguished and daring courage of Capt. James O. Blackburn of Company G, and Private Francis Clinard of Company A. Both fell far in advance of our line in making the assault. The command then laid down under arms, in line of battle, among the dead and wounded, hearing all night the distressing cries of the wounded. Knowing what was before us, we slept but little, expecting to make an attack on the main fort near the town early the following day. But the Confederate ram, the "Albemarle," coming down the Roanoke River, sank or ran off the Federal gunboats. Then, after a brief and futile resistance to our combined land and naval forces, the entire garrison surrendered unconditionally to Brig. Gen. Hoke, who paid the brigade a handsome tribute by saying: "My men, my confident expectations in you have been fully realized in this fight."

Immediately above written by former Major James F. Beall on April 9, 1901, and provided as Pages 131-146, in the compilation known as "Histories of the Several Regiments and Battalions from North Carolina in the Great War 1861-'65 - Volume II," edited by Walter Clark.
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In April of 1864, A Confederate force, including the 21st NC Regiment (State Troops), under Brig. Gen. Robert F. Hoke (NC) attached Plymouth, NC, and with the help of the Confederate ironclad C.S.S. Albemarle, captured the town on April 17-20, 1864. Brig. Gen. Hoke then went to Washington, NC.

Brig. Gen. Robert F. Hoke (NC) established his lines on the upper town or river, and Brig. Gen. Ransom's brigade on the south or front part of the town, all under the command of Brig. Gen. Hoke. On April 18th, Brig. Gen. Ransom was ordered to assault the works in front of the town which, by the way, was that part of the work that embraced the three (3) principal forts and could not be carried by an assault made directly in front.

Preparatory to making this assault the 24th NC Regiment was drawn up in line of battle in a skirt of woods, some three-quarters of a mile from the enemy's works, and a detail made, to intercept and drive back the enemy's sharpshooters, posted some two hundred (200) yards in front of us in the open field. Our line advanced about half the distance, when the firing commenced, and we can truthfully say, that this was the finest work of the kind we ever saw, our lines steadily advancing, while the enemy's retreated into the forts.

The 24th NC Regiment followed the line of skirmishers to within a short distance of the forts, where we were halted and ordered to lie down in a deep ravine. At this moment (dark) all the artillery on both sides, that could be brought to bear was in full play, and from then until a late hour at night it was a sublime, as it was also an awful scene, to watch the transition of the bursting shells, dealing death and destruction on every hand. The light caused by the vivid flash of the cannon and the explosion of shells, made it sufficient at times to have picked up a pin from the earth. In this assault our casualties were comparativelv light, considering how terriffic was this artillery duel.

We withdrew late at night, and the next day Brig. Gen. Ransom's brigade was sent around in rear of the town on the river to make the assault from below. Company E, of the 24th NC Regiment, was thrown forward as skirmishers and to find out, if possible, if the bridge at the creek had been burned. As we have before stated in this sketch, the writer was acting as courier from the skirmish line to Brig. Gen. Ransom's headquarters. It was now night, and I had delivered a message from Capt. Barney Lane, in charge of the skirmishers, to Brig. Gen. Ransom, with regard to the force of the enemy at the creek, when Lt. Applewhite, of Texas, and acting as an Aide to Brig. Gen. Ransom, was standing by and asked permission to take "this man" (myself), and go to the creek and ascertain if the bridge had been burned. Brig. Gen. Ransom at first objected, but finally yielded, and Lt. Applewhite and myself set out, but did not go far before we met Col. James Dearing (VA), of our cavarly, and one other man.

On learning that we were going to the creek, Col. Dearing and his man joined us and we four soon stood on the bank of the creek. The bridge had been burned and a small boat was on the opposite side. Col. Dearing asked who would swim the creek and get the boat, and no sooner said than the man we did not know was across the creek and had the boat. The enemy, as we soon learned, was about forty (40) paces from us behind breastworks. The man that swam the creek, we have learned since the war was Private Cavenaugh, from Onslow County. It was a brave deed, and we mention it simply to show the material that composed the Southern army, then around Plymouth, and no doubt there were hundreds of equally brave spirits in that unequal contest, some of whom fell that night and the next morning in the storming of this strong citadel.

Capt. Barney Lane, with Company E, of the 24th NC Regiment, now arrived at the creek, and soon after a pontoon was fixed and Capt. Lane and his company went across to the Yankee side. When he gave the order to forward, the enemy poured into them a heavy fire from behind breastworks, wounding several of Capt. Lane's men. Capt. Lane, however, maintained his ground until reinforcements arrived, which was about ten (10) minutes later, when the Yankees fled.

We followed on to a hedgerow about one thousand (1,000) yards from the main forts, when Company E held the skirmish line during the night. At dawn of April 20th, Capt. Durham of Brig. Gen. Ransom's Staff, ordered Capt. Lane to forward his line of skirmishers. This order was greeted by a shower of minie balls from the enemy. At the time all of his artillery that could be brought to bear upon us was in full play, which made the earth quake beneath our feet. Amid this storm of shot and shell, Capt. Lane led his line in advance of the line of battle to the first fort. On arriving at the fort, Daniel King, Orderly Sergeant of Company E, mounted the parapet and demanded its surrender, which order was obeyed. The second fort was then stormed and carried; the third also, and our victory was complete. The 24th NC Regiment and Brig. Gen. Ransom's Brigade had stormed and taken an army greater in numbers than they themselves, and the enemy well fortified within these strong forts, but this was not done without some loss to us, for in Company E, Capt. Lane's alone, we numbered twenty-one (21) killed and wounded.

Brig. Gen. Robert F. Hoke's (NC) Brigade occupied the line above town on the river and consequently did but little of the fighting on this day. This was a complete victory for our side and it was greatly due to Brig. Gen. Matthew W. Ransom (NC) and his brigade.

The recapture of Plymouth, NC, under the existing circumstances, was one of the most splendid victories achieved by Southern arms in this great contest, and about the only hard fought battle on North Carolina soil. At night, the troops were marched out of town and the dead buried with military honors. On the following day, the 24th NC rested for a day or two, when we were relieved by the 50th NC Regiment, and Brig. Gen. Ransom's Brigade was sent to lay siege to Washington, NC.

Immediately above written by former Corporal William N. Rose, Jr. on April 9, 1901, and provided as Pages 271-290, in the compilation known as "Histories of the Several Regiments and Battalions from North Carolina in the Great War 1861-'65 - Volume II," edited by Walter Clark.
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Brig. Gen. Matthew W. Ransom's (NC) brigade, which included the 24th NC Regiment (State Troops) remained in the vicinity of Weldon, NC until April 14, 1864, when it moved to Tarborough to take part in Brig. Gen. Robert F. Hoke's (NC) attack on the Roanoke River town of Plymouth, NC. On April 17th, Brig. Gen. Hoke, with Brig. Gen. Ransom's brigade on the right of his line, surrounded the town on the land side and awaited the arrival of the Confederate ironclad ram C.S.S. Albemarle, which was descending the Roanoke River to prevent Union reinforcement or escape by the river.

Brig. Gen. Ransom's brigade was involved in heavy fighting on April 18th but failed to penetrate the Union defenses; however, Brig. Gen. Hoke's brigade succeeded in capturing the Union defensive works at Fort Wessells. After a day of artillery exchanges on April 19th, the C.S.S. Albemarle, which had been delayed by low water, river obstructions, and Union gunboats, arrived on the morning of April 20th. Brig. Gen. Ransom's brigade then began a successful push against the Union defenses at the south end of the town. Fort Williams, the last Union stronghold, was compelled to hoist a white flag after an artillery bombardment, and the garrison surrendered around 10:00 a.m. on April 20th.

Immediately above written by former 2nd Lt. Garland S. Ferguson on April 9, 1901, and provided as Pages 291-301, in the compilation known as "Histories of the Several Regiments and Battalions from North Carolina in the Great War 1861-'65 - Volume II," edited by Walter Clark.
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P.353 of "North Carolina Troops: 1861-1865, A Roster, Volume VII," has the same writeup for the 25th NC Regiment as it had for the 24th NC Regiment (p.250) above, so it will not be duplicated here.

On April 20, 1864, Brig. Gen. Robert F. Hoke stormed and carried the Union works, but not without heavv loss, Brig. Gen. Matthew W. Ransom's brigade alone losing 87 killed and more than 500 wounded. The loss of the 35th NC Regiment was the greatest sustained by any regiment. It fell to the lot of this regiment to assault the formidable fort on the eastern front of the town. It was taken from its regular place on the left of the brigade and placed in the center so as to strike this work.

During the night of April 19th, Brig. Gen. Ransom forced the passage of Conaby Creek, a narrow, but deep stream, on the east of the town. Brig. Gen. Henry W. Wessells, the Union commander, in his report of the battle, says: "After dark the enemy in strong force succeeded in effecting the crossing of Conaby Creek below the town and massed his columns on my left. This disaster is unexplained, and placed me in a most critical position."

Undoubtedly the passage of this stream was a great tactical move on the part of the Confederate commander. During the night Brig. Gen. Ransom formed his lines for the assault and gave his men a few hours of much needed rest. When the order to charge was given, which was at daybreak on April 20, 1864, officers and men seemed animated with but one determination, and that was to be the first troops to enter the fort. Reaching the deep ditch surrounding the fortifications our regiment rushed into it and climbing up its sides, bristling with guns, crowded through the embrasures, over the parapet and wherever they could find an entrance, and were in possession of the works before the enemy could recover from the audacity of the attack. During this time the 24th and 8th NC Regiments captured a fort on the right on the east front of the town, and nearer the river. The enemy now retreated into the houses, making barricades of them and firing from the upper stories. To dislodge them it became necessary to capture the works directly on the river bank and then its fortifications on the western front.

Reforming his brigade Brig. Gen. Ransom successively carried these works, then a fight from house to house took place. The enemy were at length driven from all their positions, losing in captured some two thousand (2,000) prisoners; the balance fled to Fort Williams, the main fortification of the town. Brig. Gen. Ransom, preparatory to assault, made a reconnaissance of the place. It was seen to be thoroughly defended by good guns; was surrounded by a ditch thirty (30) feet deep and thirty (30) feet, wide, with a stockade in the center of pine poles ten and twelve (10-12) inches in diameter, joined together by iron cables, and the entrance protected by a massive iron door.

Brig. Gen. Ransom now signalled for the C.S.S. Albemarle to come up, which was below the town, having attacked and destroyed or driven off all the gunboats in the river, killing Union Lt. Commander Charles W. Flusser of the gunboat U.S.S. Miami, and sinking the gunboat U.S.S. Southfield.

C.S.S. Albemarle Sinks U.S.S. Southfield - April 19, 1864

The C.S.S. Albemarle steamed up to the foot of the main street leading from the river to the entrance of Fort Williams and opened fire. The first shot falling short, killed and wounded several of the 35th NC Regiment, which lay across the street a short distance from the fort, awaiting the order to assault. This regiment was withdrawn nearer the river and the C.S.S. Albemarle again opened on Fort Williams.

After exploding three or four (3-4) shells inside the work, Brig. Gen. Ransom sent Col. James Dearing (VA), acting on his staff, to demand its unconditional surrender. Brig. Gen. Henry W. Wessells desired to see the officer in command. Brig. Gen. Robert F. Hoke (NC) was sent for, and after a brief interview between them, Brig. Gen. Wessells, satisfied that further resistance was in vain, hoisted the white flag. Brig. Gen. Wessells says his loss in killed, wounded, and missing was 2,834.

Brig. Gen. Wessells in his official report of the battle, enumerating his forces, says: "There were also present portions of two (2) companies Second North Carolina volunteers, native troops, under Captains Johnson and Haggard. * * * During its siege and in the night a considerable number of North Carolina soldiers (many of them deserters from the enemy, and all of them fearing bad treatment in the event of capture), left their companies without authority, escaping in canoes, being picked up, as I have understood, by our boats in the sound."

This was one of the most brilliant minor victories of the war. Brig. Gen. Robert F. Hoke was telegraphed by Confederate President Jefferson Davis his promotion to be Major General (April 20, 1864). The Legislature of North Carolina, by formal resolution, thanked Brig. Gen. Hoke and Brig. Gen. Ransom and Commander James W. Cooke, of the C.S.S. Albemarle, and the officers and men of their commands for this great feat of arms, and the Confederate Congress passed similar resolutions.

Maj. Gen. Hoke moved at once on Washington, NC.

Immediately above written by former Captain William H.S. Burgwyn on April 9, 1901, and provided as Pages 591-628, in the compilation known as "Histories of the Several Regiments and Battalions from North Carolina in the Great War 1861-'65 - Volume II," edited by Walter Clark.
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PP.356-357 of "North Carolina Troops: 1861-1865, A Roster, Volume IX," has the same writeup for the 35th NC Regiment as it had for the 24th NC Regiment above, so it will not be duplicated here.

"Resolved by the Congress of the Confederate States of America, That the thanks of Congress and the country are due and are tendered to Major General Robert F. Hoke and Commander James W. Cooke, and the officers and men under their command, for the brilliant victory over the enemy at Plymouth, NC."

Immediately above written by former Col. Thomas S. Kenan on April 9, 1895, and provided as Pages 1-18, in the compilation known as "Histories of the Several Regiments and Battalions from North Carolina in the Great War 1861-'65 - Volume III," edited by Walter Clark.
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In April of 1864, the 43rd NC Regiment took part in Brig. Gen. Robert F. Hoke's (NC) attack on Plymouth, NC. Supported by the ironclad C.S.S. Albemarle, the Confederate forces succeeded in capturing the town on April 20th after four (4) days of fighting. The rebels then went to seize Washington, NC.

From this time Lt. Col. William G. Lewis was in command of our brigade and was soon made Brigadier General for his heroic conduct on this occasion.

We then moved on the town, and after a feeble demonstration by the enemy it was surrendered April 20, 1864, with 2,500 prisoners, 100,000 pounds of bacon, 1,000 barrels of flour, and a vast amount of other stores. Among these prisoners, 22 had formerly belonged to our army, and had gone over to the enemy and taken up arms against us. These prisoners were sent to Kinston, given a fair trial by Court Martial, convicted of high treason, and duly executed by our brigade.*

* After the war, Federal Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton had in contemplation calling Brig. Gen. Robert F. Hoke to account but the latter took the initiative by going to Washington and calling on Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant who promptly stopped the proceedings.—Ed.

After this we went to Washington, NC.

Immediately above written by former 1st Lt. John Marshall Williams on April 9, 1901, and provided as Pages 267-285, in the compilation known as "Histories of the Several Regiments and Battalions from North Carolina in the Great War 1861-'65 - Volume III," edited by Walter Clark.
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The editors of "North Carolina Troops: 1861-1865, A Roster, Volume XIII" assert that the 54th NC Regiment (State Troops) did NOT directly participate in the capture of Plymouth, NC. They assert that the 54th NC Regiment remained at Kinston to "guard against a movement from New Bern" and to discourage Union officers from sending reinforcements from New Bern to Plymouth. The 54th NC Regiment was sent down the Dover Road, presumably as a feint, on April 15th, but returned that night to Kinston. On April 17th, at midnight, the 54th NC Regiment set off for Free Bridge near Trenton, NC, where they are reported to have remained through April 20th.

April 15th. The column, consisting of Brig. Gen. Robert F. Hoke's (NC) Brigade under Col. John T. Mercer of the 21st GA Regiment, which was then with it; Brig. Gen. James L. Kemper's (VA) Brigade, under Col. William R. Terry, and Brig. Gen. Matthew W. Ransom's (NC) Brigade with Pegram's Battery, under Brig. Gen. Ransom, and Stribblings', Graham's Virginia, Miller's, Moseley's, and Read's batteries of artillery belonging to Col. James Dearing's command, and Dearing's Battalion of cavalry, took up the line of march against Plymouth, NC. At Hamilton we were joined by the 35th NC Regiment. Passing through Williamston and Jamesville, we reached the vicinity Sunday, April 17th, a little before nightfall.

Immediately a strong line of skirmishers, including Company I, of the 56th NC Regiment, was thrown out from Brig. Gen. Ransom's Brigade, under Maj. John W. Graham, and pushed forward nearly to the entrenchments. A picket post of eleven (11) men was surprised, nine (9) captured, one killed and one escaped. A reconnoissance in force was made in front of Fort Gray, on Warren's Neck, between the mouths of two (2) creeks emptying into the Roanoke River, two (2) miles west of Plymouth, and Col. Dearing's artillery crippled one of the gunboats so that it sank on reaching the wharf. A redoubt was immediately begun on the Jamesville Road leading south for our 32-pound Parrott gun. The ironclad C.S.S. Albemarle, Cdr. James W. Cooke, was expected during the night. Fort Gray's armament was one 100-pounder and two 32-pounders.

April 18th. The C.S.S. Albemarle, for some reason, was making slow progress down the Roanoke River, and the day passed without a sign of it. Shelling at intervals was kept up, the 56th NC Regiment suffering but one casualty, the wounding of a man in Company H. During the night Col. Faison, with 250 men, had completed the earthwork near the Washington and Jamesville Road from which to bombard the fort at Sanderson's.

At sundown a demonstration on both sides of Lee's Mill, Bath Road, was made against the enemy's south front by the artillery and Brig. Gen. Matthew W. Ransom's (NC) Brigade. Our assaulting column was formed with the left resting on Frank Fagan's house on the Jamesville Road, a mile and a quarter south of town, and two (2) regiments, the 24th and 8th NC Regiment, beyond the Lee Mill Road at Redd Gap. The 56th NC Regiment was next on the left, and then the 35th NC Regiment, while the 25th NC Regiment connected us with Brig. Gen. Robert F. Hoke's (NC) right. The batteries following on the heels of a battalion of sharpshooters composed of Companies B, I, E, and A, of the 56th NC Regiment, under their worthy Captains—Franklin N. Roberts, Lawson Harrill, Joseph G. Lockhart, and Noah H. Hughes, led by Capt. John C. Pegram, Assistant Adjutant General, driving the enemy over their breastworks, advanced steadily from position to position, firing with the utmost rapidity, while the rest of the brigade in the line of battle kept pace with them. Brig. Gen. Ransom was conspicuous on the field, keeping his mount throughout the engagement. This was kept up till 10 p.m., the enemy replying with great spirit from his forts and gunboats, carrying twenty (20) pieces. The object was as far as possible to draw the enemy's fire in this direction, while Brig. Gen. Hoke's Brigade assaulted in earnest the "85th Redoubt" at the Sanderson House, some distance to our left. The fort was carried after a very stubborn resistance and the death of its commander, Captain Chapin. Among our killed we mourn the loss of the brigade commander, the gallant Col. John T. Mercer, of the 21st GA Regiment. 3rd Lt. Charles R. Wilson, of Company D, and 14 men of the 56th NC Regiment were wounded at our end. Col. Mercer was a West Point classmate of Maj. Gen. J. E. B. Stuart (VA), Lt. Gen. John B. Hood (TX), Brig. Gen. George Washington Custis Lee (VA), and Maj. Gen. William D. Pender (NC). He is buried at Tarborough beside his last named comrade.

April 19th. Towards day Col. William J. Clarke, with his own, the 24th NC Regiment, and the 56th NC Regiment, was posted below the town on the Columbia Road, to prevent escape in that direction. But the enemy was still confident in the strength of his fortifications, even after the loss of the "85th Redoubt" and the arrival of our ram, C.S.S. Albemarle, the same night passing the big guns at Warren's Neck unharmed. It sank one of their gunboats, the U.S.S. Southfield, and chased off the other two (2), the naval commander, Charles W. Flusser, being killed on the deck of the U.S.S. Miami. The enemy still held a continuous, thoroughly fortified line, well constructed, from a point on the river, near Warren's Neck, along their west and south fronts, and terminating on the east in a swamp, bordering which a deep creek, known as Conaby, a mile or two further east, runs into the Roanoke River, on the south bank of which Plymouth is situated. It has four (4) streets parallel with the river and five (5) at right angles to it. Fort Williams, projecting beyond the south face of the parallelogram, is ready for action on all four (4) sides and enfilades, right and left, the whole south front of the fortifications, while Battery Worth was built to command the west, water and land, approach.

Between the latter and Warren's Neck was "85th Redoubt" at Sanderson's House. At Boyle's steam mill near the road entering Second Street from the west was another redoubt outside the entrenchments, and within the southwest angle still another at Harriet Toodles'. On the east center was Fort Comfort, with a redoubt on either side of the Columbia Road at James Bateman's and Charles Latham's. Brig. Gen. Robert F. Hoke (NC) ordered an assault from this (east) side by Brig. Gen. Matthew W. Ransom's (NC) Brigade. Accordingly that night our sharpshooters effected a crossing of Conaby Creek on felled trees with some opposition. A pontoon bridge was laid, and before the night was far advanced, the brigade was over. With a line of skirmishers out in front, the brigade slept in line of battle, and perhaps never more soundly, for tired nature's sweet restorer was welcome, even on the eve of certain battle.

April 20th. At the first break of day Brig. Gen. Matthew W. Ransom (NC) was again in the saddle, and his ringing voice came down the line: ''Attention, brigade!" Every man was upon his feet instantly, and the adjusting of twisted blankets across the left shoulder and under the belt at the right hip was only the work of another moment; the line of battle was formed, "Fix bayonets," "Trail arms!" "Forward march!" and the charge began. The alignment was as follows: The 56th NC Regiment on the right, flanked by Company I, as sharpshooters, (resting on the Roanoke River and near the C.S.S. Albemarle, then engaged, as it had been at intervals through the night, with Battery Worth on the river face of the town), and 25th, 35th, 8th, and 24th NC Regiments successively on to the left. On our part of the line a large drove of cattle was encountered and driven on as a living wall between us and the enemy until they reached the canal, down which they refused to plunge, or escort us further. Maddened by this strange spectacle of "man's inhumanity to man," they turned about, and "with no reputation to lose," dashing through our line, sought safety in flight. The canal was found with steep banks, but fortunately with fordable water. Ranks were necessarily broken in getting across, but were soon in perfect order on the farther side, and the forward movement resumed. The next obstacle was a swamp, in places waist deep, through which the regiment floundered as best it could, impeded by the mire and cypress knees with which it abounded. The 56th NC Regiment was the first through, and immediately reforming under an oblique fire from the left, charged up a slight hill, and routed the opposing regiment sheltered behind a fence of palings, here the outer line of the town. This and the adjacent houses blocked further advance in regimental line of battle.

But the halt here was only for a moment. Company I pressed straight forward, sweeping everything before them between Water Street and the river bank, while the 25th NC Regiment on getting through the swamp and finding the 56th NC Regiment in its front, debouched to the right and thus went up Water Street between the 56th NC Regiment and its detached company. At the same instant Brig. Gen. Ransom, reaching this point, the 56th NC Regiment moved off by the left flank and entered the town on the next street east, by filing to the right, left in front. Maj. John W. Graham was at the extreme left, now head of column, and on gaining the open space about the county jail, deployed the regiment forward into line of battle, just in time to checkmate a battery of artillery taking position to rake the street with its guns. These movements and the obstacles encountered, again divided the regiment, carrying the Colonel and Lieutenant Colonel back to Water Street to direct the extreme right, while the Major, with eight (8) companies, pressed forward to silence the artillery. The fire, delivered before we could reach them, was fortunately a little too high, the shells in a direct line being plainly visible as they passed over, and the guns were at once in our possession—not, however, until one brave fellow had blown up his limber in our faces, killing his nearest horses and wounding several of our men. It would be a pleasure here to record his name. The man retreating with the caisson was killed in the street, with four (4) of his six (6) horses, by a shell from Fort Williams.

This wing of the regiment, then, without waiting for any support, as all seemed to have enough to do, swept on fighting between these two (2) streets the entire length of the town, and without a halt charged the redoubt in their front, constituting a west section of the enemy's heavy line of fortifications, facing front and rear. Here they captured a Pennsylvania regiment, and Maj. John W. Graham, mounting the works with the regimental flag, waved it to Brig. Gen. Robert F. Hoke's (NC) Brigade, now under Lt. Col. William G. Lewis (afterwards Brigadier General), and thus announced that the way was open on that side. In this last charge the 24th NC Regiment went in abreast with us, having entered the town by the Columbia Road, which leads into Second Street, after crossing Conaby Creek with a northwest trend and then midway changing to due west. While the 8th and 35th NC Regiments swung around to invest Fort Comfort, the 24th NC Regiment overcoming all opposition before them at the Bateman and Latham redoubts, pushed forward and connected with our left flank as we struck the fortifications—redoubt and entrenched camp.

Maj. Graham's prisoners, some 300 of infantry and artillery, were turned over to Capt. Joseph G. Lockhart, when, under shelter of a ravine, uniting his battalion with Brig. Gen. Robert F. Hoke's (NC) Brigade, he swept down first the west and then the south entrenchments to Fort Williams, into which Federal Brig. Gen. Henry W. Wessels had withdrawn with the remnant of his army. The 24th NC Regiment came up on the other side. After consultation with Lt. Col. William G. Lewis, it was deemed unnecessary to assault it, as its surrender would be compelled by our artillery with the aid of sharpshooters being rapidly posted to overlook its interior from the windows and tops of the nearest houses. The two (2) opposing generals then met in a personal interview, and the demand to capitulate was refused. But the inevitable was soon acknowledged by raising a white flag, as we had silenced every gun in the fort.

Meantime, the part assigned to Capt. Lawson Harrill's men, under their fearless leader, had been as effectually accomplished. Through water hip deep, they had crossed the canal and swamp, and keeping near the river, passing around houses and bursting through garden and yard fences, they reached the rear of Battery Worth, containing the 200-pounder, specially provided to anticipate the coming of our ironclad C.S.S. Albemarle. One volley was sufficient. The white flag was run up and the battery, with some twenty (20) artillerymen, surrendered to him.

Taking the prisoners with them from this battery on the river, they immediately charged to their left and thus struck in the flank and rear the right section of the enemy's line of battle occupying the breastworks, here on Water Street, facing up the river. His demand to surrender was promptly complied with, and while Capt. Harrill here gathered in his prisoners, largely outnumbering his own rank and file, Lt. Col. Lewis' men who had held the attention of the enemy in their front, came in at a double-quick over the causeway leading through the swamp on the west of Plymouth, passed Capt. Harrill's position, and joined Maj. Graham's detachment at the upper ravine further to the south, as above noted.

How does it happen, then, that the capture of Battery Worth, or Fort Hal, noted above as by Company I, has been claimed for Company B, with whom were Col. Paul F. Faison and Col. James Dearing (VA), a portion of the 25th NC Regiment supporting the artillery? Both claims are literally true.

A correspondent to the Fayetteville Observer, on April 22, 1864, says: "On the river face of the town was a camp entrenched to resist any attack from the water, and a little lower down an earthwork for the same purpose." The latter, admitted to be Battery Worth, we must observe the distinction between the two, though close together.

As to the time of the first movement, Capt. Lawson Harrill's report is embodied in the foregoing narration. Federal Brig. Gen. Henry W. Wessells report: "At daylight the following day, 20 April, while my right and front were seriously threatened, the enemy advanced rapidly against my left, assaulting and carrying the line in that quarter, penetrating the town along the river and capturing Battery Worth." This left the entrenched camp not yet captured, and as no other Confederate troops were in that quarter at that early hour, the claim of Company I to Battery Worth is thus afiirmed.

From this point of time Brig. Gen. Wessells thus continues: "A line of skirmishers was formed from the breastworks perpendicularly towards the river in hopes of staying the advance. This effort succeeded for a time; but the troops seemed discouraged and fell back to the entrenchments."

The conduct of the 56th NC Regiment was well calculated to create such discouragement, as it broke through all obstacles, driving the enemy from the streets, yards, houses, cellars, and bombproofs, from which Maj. Graham says they came out like a colony of prairie puppies, or groundhogs on the 2nd of February. As those not captured in this charge were thus gradually pressed back to their double-faced entrenchments, the infantry garrison in the entrenched camp at Battery Worth, guarding the water approach and, owing to the contour of the ground, not in sight from his side of the fortifications when Capt. Harrill some two (2) hours before had taken the artillerymen out of the battery, appear now to have had their attention diverted from the commotion of the C.S.S. Albemarle downstream to their right and Brig. Gen. Robert F. Hoke (NC) up the river to their left. They now for the first time saw their enemy in the town, and were ready with the portion of the retreating line that had joined them, to enfilade Company B as it came up. Here Col. Faison, with this gallant company under Capt. Franklin N. Roberts, had his hands full for some time and accomplished important results, as described by the subsequent Captain, then 1st Sergeant Alexander R. Carver:

"In this charge our 3rd Lt. Benjamin W. Thornton, fell on Water Street with a bullet through the side of his forehead near the eye. I stopped long enough to see the wound, and thought him dead; but he survived for a day or two. Our company had become detached by the evolutions and obstacles in getting through the town. Just before Brig. Gen. Henry W. Wessells capitulated, say by 9 or 10 o'clock, we had reached the vicinity of Fort Hal, with the 200-pound gun bearing on the river. It was full of the enemy, on whom we were firing with our rifles and they were briskly returning our fire. Col. Paul F. Faison came up to me during this firing, when I pointed to a hill on the right overlooking the fort, and said if the artillery were posted there, we would have the fort in five (5) minutes. Soon after he left me, I saw our battery open from the hill, and immediately a white handkerchief was hoisted on a bayonet above the fort. I was very near and ran for the fort. Col. James Dearing got across the moat and into the fort ahead of me, and jumped on tbe big gun as if he were going to spike it, when I met an officer at the gate and demanded his surrender. He asked to be allowed to surrender to some higher officer. I called Col. Dearing and he told him to surrender to me. He thereupon handed over his sword and pistol, which I kept during the war. I think he belonged to the infantry. He had on his overcoat."

So there were two (2) captures of the same fort, separated by an interval of two or three (2-3) hours.

Col. James Dearing subsequently fell [as a Brigadier General] on April 6, 1865, at High Bridge [aka Farmville], on the retreat towards Appomattox Court House, in a hand-to-hand contest with Major Read, of Maj. Gen. Edward O.C. Ord's staff, both antagonists going down together. The big gun was naturally the chief attraction to him, and of course he believed to the day of his death that his portion of the line had captured it, whereas it clearly appears that it had been silent for at least two (2) hours, ever since Capt. Lawson Harrill carried off the artillerymen who had served it. It was the infantry of the adjoining entrenched camp, together with some others, who had taken refuge in the vacant fort, that he and Col. Faison so effectually silenced; and we may say in the spirit of the generous Admiral Winfield Scott Schley, who later said in 1901 "there was glory enough for all."

The possibilities of such independent actions by detachments may be better understood when it is remarked that within the fortifications on the west side were three (3) ravines, and on an elevation between the lower one and the river was planted Battery Worth, with the entrenched camp lower down. The redoubt at Boyle's Steam Mill on the road on this side of the town, appears to have been blown up by a shell entering its magazine, and so it offered no resistance to our infantry, while that at Harriet Toodle's, about the southwest angle, and the intervening entrenched camps were taken with the connecting breastworks.

The writer was near Brig. Gen. Robert F. Hoke (NC) when he received Union Brig. Gen. Henry W. Wessels, accompanied by his officers, as his prisoner. There was everything in his courteous and considerate bearing to lessen the sting of defeat. Dismounting from his horse and clasping the captive's hand, he assured him of his respect and sympathy, and added: ''After such a gallant defense you can bear the fortune of war without self-reproach."

Brig. Gen. Henry W. Wessels' official report, made after his exchange four (4) months later, says that Brig. Gen. Hoke's conduct was courteous and soldier-like. His return of casualties, killed, wounded, and missing was 127 officers and 2,707 men, from the 16th CT Infantry, 2nd MA Heavy Artillery, 2nd NC (Union) Infantry, 12th NY Cavalry, 85th NY Infantry, 24th NY Battery, and 101st and 103rd PA Infantry. Besides 3,000 stand of small arms and some twenty (20) pieces of artillery, there was a large quantity of all other supplies.

In our advance there were no shirks. The respective muster rolls might be exhibited as lists of those deserving honorable mention. The splendid conduct of Color Guard Corporal Job C. Hughes, of Camden County [Company A], is here gratefully remembered.

The regimental colors were carried by a Sergeant, later on given the rank of Ensign by the Confederate Congress, and he was supported by eight (8) volunteer Corporals. This guard of three (3) ranks in line of battle formed the extreme left of the right center company. This position fell to Company D, and was retained by it to the end of the war. It was thus in the assault upon the redoubt beyond the head of Second Street that the Captain of this company found Corporal Hughes at his side while a blue coat in front was drawing a bead on him within a space less than the width of the street—"Hughes, kill that Yank," followed, and the enemy's aim was as deliberately changed to save his own life. There was one report from two (2) rifles, and both men went down. It was the last shot ever fired by the Federal. His sight was as good as that of his foeman, his minie ball perforating Corporal Hughes' blanket (13) thirteen times, as it was twisted and worn as above described, but ended with the penetration of the breast-bone—probably owing to his not having driven the ball home in too rapidly loading his piece. Within about a month he was at his post again. He was a brother of the gallant Capt. Noah H. Hughes of Company A. In this charge the brave Corporal William J. Daves, volunteer to the Color Guard from Company I, was killed, and Private James P. Sossaman, of Company K, was also severely wounded at the flag.

The C.S.S. Albemarle had advanced along the river front with the charge, firing over the line. The honor of capturing Fort Comfort on our left, fell to the 35th NC Regiment and it was renamed Fort Jones in honor of its Colonel [John G. Jones].

Brig. Gen. Robert F. Hoke (NC) was thereupon promoted to Major General in recognition of this successful initiation of this campaign, and of a well earned record for gallantry and efliciency in the Army of Northern Virginia, and Col. James Dearing (VA) was made a Brigadier General. Lt. Col. William G. Lewis [43rd NC Regiment] was soon thereafter promoted to Brigadier General.

In the 56th NC Regiment, we have one complete company report of casualties:

Company D: Mortally wounded, Private James W. Hall, Private John W. Holsemback, and Private Simpson Riley—3. Severely wounded, 3rd Lt. Charles R. Wilson, Corporals Green W. Montgomery, and William W. Redding, Privates William F. G. Barbee, DeWitt W. King, Cyrus Laws, James R. Miller, Burroughs Pool, James Roberts, Lewellyn Taylor, Thomas J. Taylor, Harris Wilkinson—12. The commander of the company and others were also struck, but not put hors du combat.

In Company F, 1st Lt. Valentine J. Palmer, bravely leading Company F, was severely wounded as we passed the court house. 3rd Lt. Benjamin W. Thornton, of Company B, was mortally wounded, the ball entering just above the eye, and coming out near the ear, but was still able, though his sight was gone, to recognize the writer when he visited him with other wounded that evening. He was a faithful and efficient soldier from Fayetteville. The other regiments of the brigade also bore conspicuous parts. One company, at least, of the 56th NC Regiment, and perhaps nearly the whole regiment, here secured a complete equipment of first class rifles.

Company I was most fortunate in doing its gallant part, having none permanently disabled and the ever faithful Corporal William J. Daves at the colors being its only man killed today.

Since writing the above we have found in the files of the Fayetteville Observer, on May 9, 1864, the report of Adjutant John W. Faison, and give the casualties accordingly:

Company A—Killed: Lemuel Sawyer. Wounded: Sergeant Samuel S. Smith, Corporal Thomas G. Ferrell, William Garrett, Job C. Hughes (in breast), James H. Johnson, Henry Williams, William G. Gallop, and William Gilbert.

Company B—Wounded: 3rd Lt. Benjamin W. Thornton, mortally. Sergeant Leonidas H. Hurst, Warren Carver, John T. Moore, William Handy, and Richard H. Averett.

Company C—Wounded: Joel S. Sawyer, Basil A. Hackney, John Howard, Pleasant M. Pendergrass, Levi W. Williams, and John Parker.

Company D—(Given above, 3 killed, 12 wounded).

Company E—Wounded: 2nd Lt. Jacob M. Jacobs, Sergeant Lemuel Harrell, Corporal William H. Turner, Hector M. McNeill, Hezekiah Wheeler, William H. Holland, William H. McBryde, William H. Turner, and Joseph Banks.

Company F—1st Lt. Valentine J. Palmer, Corporal Anderson Nowlin, Allen C. Cogdale, Adney C. Cogdale, William Chitwood, Hosea M. Gladden, John G. Webb, J. W. Lindsay, Thomas P. Cabaniss, and Noah W. Ross.

Company G—Killed: Thomas W. Noblin and Ozark D. Kimzey; wounded, Hewit Allen, Ellsberry Carlan, James B. Holinsworth, Landon M. Greer, Henry R. Perry, Leroy Smith, and Stephen Taylor.

Company H—Wounded: 1st Lt. Samuel R. Holton, Charles D. Donoho mortally, Thomas F. Barnwell, Noah C. Fox, Thomas Gately, James H. Miles, David Miller mortally, Bedford J. Page, William M. Thompson, David A. Thompson, and John Chisenhall.

Company I—Killed: William J. Daves; wounded, Thomas R. Campbell, Samuel Green, Housand D. Harrill, J. P. Philbeck, Henry W. Price, and Riley H. Wall.

Company K—Wounded: John Strider, James P. Sossaman, and James W. Auten.

In the same issue is found the report of Capt. Sterling H. Gee, Assistant Adjutant and Inspector General, giving Brig. Gen. Matthew W. Ransom's total casualties in the three (3) days' operations, as follows:

	KILLED		WOUNDED		TOTAL
	Officers	Men	Officers	Men
8th NC Regiment	2	18	5	102	127
24th NC Regiment	2	11	3	85	101
25th NC Regiment	0	3	0	20	23
35th NC Regiment	1	19	4	84	108
56th NC Regiment	0	4	4	80	88
Maj. Moseley's Artillery	0	0	0	17	17
Maj. Read's Artillery	0	2	1	9	12
	5	57	17	397	476

Immediately above written by former Capt. Robert D. Graham on April 9, 1901, and provided as Pages 313-404, in the compilation known as "Histories of the Several Regiments and Battalions from North Carolina in the Great War 1861-'65 - Volume III," edited by Walter Clark.
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For the attack on Plymouth, NC, Brig. Gen. Robert F. Hoke (NC) marshaled his own brigade (commanded by Col. John T. Mercer of the 21st GA Regiment), Brig. Gen. Matthew W. Ransom's (NC) brigade, and Brig. Gen. James L. Kemper's (VA) brigade (commanded by Col. William R. Terry of the 24th VA Regiment—a total of about 7,000 men. In addition, Col. James Dearing (VA) brought his 8th Confederate Cavalry and thirty-five (35) guns. They were soon joined by the C.S.S. Albemarle, which was nearing completion upriver at Edwards Ferry.

Brig. Gen. Ransom's brigade left Weldon, NC on April 14th and joined with Brig. Gen. Hoke at Tarborough that evening. At 10:00 a.m. the next day, they began moving eastward. After bivouacking for the night about two (2) miles from Hamilton (Martin County), they then marched to Foster's Mill, on Sweetwater Creek, where they rested until 5:00 a.m. on April 17th. The army then crossed the creek on pontoons and advanced down the Jamesville Road to a point about five (5) miles from Plymouth, where Brig. Gen. Kemper's brigade and most of Col. Dearing's cavalry were detached to attack Fort Gray.

Brig. Gen. Hoke's (under Col. Mercer) and Brig. Gen. Ransom's brigades advanced to the junction of the Jamesville-Washington roads, where some of Col. Dearing's troopers surprised and routed a Union picket outpost. Col. Mercer then deployed his men astride the Washington Road with Brig. Gen. Ransom on his right. Heaving skirmshing broke out and continued throughout the night.

During that first night, Col. Mercer's brigade was moved farther to the left to get into position for an attack on Fort Wessells the next day. At about 2:30 a.m., 250 men of the 56th NC Regiment (State Troops) were put to work constructing an artillery redoubt. These men were relieved at daylight by others from the regiment, who continued to work one company at a time under enemy fire. At noon on April 18th, Brig. Gen. Hoke opened a heavy, five-hour bombardment of Fort Wessells. The fire was returned by the enemy within Fort Wessells and Fort Williams. At about 6:00 p.m. Brig. Gen. Ransom was ordered to move forward to conduct a diversionary demonstration against Fort Williams [as described above by former Capt. Robert D. Graham].

While Brig. Gen. Ransom was tying down the Union force at Fort Williams, Col. Mercer's brigade—"yelling like so many wild beasts"—advanced through a lethal storm of musketry and hand grenades... and captured Fort Wessells. Meantime, the C.S.S. Albemarle had started down river on the evening of April 17th. Engine failure and a broken rudder brought the ungainly vessel to halts of six (6) and four (4) hours, but at 10:00 p.m. on April 18th she dropped anchor about three (3) miles above Plymouth. At this location, she was stymied by mines and underwater obstructions until, around 1:00 a.m., a boating party sent out to sound the river returned with word that the water was sufficiently high to permit her passage.

Shortly thereafter, the C.S.S Albemarle sailed past Fort Gray, which greeted her with an innefectual flurry of shot and shell. After ramming and sinking the Union gunboat U.S.S. Southfield and driving off her sister vessel, the U.S.S. Miami, the C.S.S. Albemarle requested instructions from a jubilant Brig. Gen. Hoke, who ordered her to shell the nearby Union fortifications.

April 19th passed with heavy artillery firing from both sides but no further Confederate attacks. During the afternoon, Brig. Gen. Ransom's brigade was ordered to move east of the town to the Columbia Road and prepare to attack the next day. Around 11:00 p.m., his men, after crossing Conaby Creek on a pontoon bridge, reached their assigned positions. The 24th NC Regiment (State Troops) was on the brigade's extreme left, with the 35th NC Regiment (State Troops), the 8th NC Regiment (State Troops), the 25th NC Regiment (State Troops), and the 56th NC Regiment (State Troops) in sequence to its right.

Leaving the 8th NC Regiment (State Troops) and the 35th NC Regiment (State Troops), and part of the 24th NC Regiment (State Troops) to deal with Fort Comfort, the remainder of the brigade paused briefly to dress its lines. These troops then charged into Plymouth, precipitating a "most terrific street fight" with Union infantrymen firing from windows and doors and from behind barricades. Overpowered by this assault, the Union troops fled from the "houses, cellars, and bombproofs like a colony of prairie puppies, or ground hogs on the 2nd of February," according to former Capt. Robert D. Graham [as provided earlier herein].

Joined by the 43rd NC Regiment (State Troops) of Brig. Gen. Hoke's brigade, Brig. Gen. Ransom now turned his attention to Fort Williams, where an unauthorized charge by the 8th NC Regiment (State Troops) was repulsed with severe casualties. Brig. Gen. Hoke demanded a surrender, which was rejected by Union Brig. Gen. Henry W. Wessells. Confederate artillery, assisted by the C.S.S. Albemarle and some of the captured Union batteries, opened a devastating bombardment. Brig. Gen. Wessells was forced to surrender... "I consented to hoist a white flag, and at 10 a.m. of April 20 I had the mortification of surrendering my post to the enemy with all it contained."

Confederate casualties were heavy. No detailed figures were published, but Capt. Robert D. Graham estimated total losses as 75 men killed and about 450 men wounded. CSA President Jefferson Davis's personal observer, Col. J. Taylor Wood, put Confederate casualties at "about 300 in all," however, that figure is most likely very low. For the Union forces, the battle was a small but almost perfect disaster encompassing the lost of the town and its fortifications, two (2) gunboats, and virtually the entire garrison with all its weapons, stores, and appurtenances. Official casualty reports included 2,834 officers and men, most of whom were captured.

A report in the Raleigh Daily Confederate from a "gentleman" who observed asserted that Brig. Gen. Hoke's men captured "2,437 Yankee prisoners, 1,000 barrels flour, 150,000 rations of pork and beef, 50 or 75 bags coffee, 20 barrels ground coffee, 10,000 lbs sugar, a large quantity of coal, a splendid machine shop, 12 forges, any amount of tools, 40 pieces of artillery, 25 wagons and teams, some 200 fine horses, a good supply of medicines, a large supply of ammunition, and the best fortification in the State..."

Newly promoted to the rank of Major General for his, in President Davis's words, "brilliant success" at Plymouth, Maj. Gen. Robert F. Hoke (NC) almost immediately advanced on "Little Washington," which he reached on April 26th.

+ April 19th — Dispatch to Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant (U.S. Army) informs him that the Confederates attacked Plymouth, but their ironclads have yet to come into the action. He directed Maj. Gen. John J. Peck to do his best to repel this movement—he "must have 10,000 men under his command."
+ April 21st — Rebel ram [C.S.S. Albemarle] came down the Roanoke River, passed Plymouth, sunk the U.S.S. Southfield, disabled the U.S.S. Miami, and killed Lt.Cdr. Charles W. Flusser (U.S. Navy).
+ April 21st — He asserted that his posts at Plymouth, Washington, and New Bern are well garrisoned and they "ought to hold out."
+ April 21st — He provided some details about the sinking of the U.S.S. Southfield, the damage to the U.S.S. Miami, and the death of Lt. Cdr. Charles W. Flusser. "It is reported Plymouth is captured, but not credited." He has sent three (3) army gunboats with 30-pounder Parrotts under Graham.
+ April 24th — Enclosed reports of Maj. Gen. John J. Peck and Brig. Gen. Innis N. Palmer [below] about the capture of Plymouth. He opined that Plymouth fell because the original presupposition that the U.S. Navy gunboats would protect the town proved to be incorrect. "When the naval force was driven out by the rebel ram then her fire flanked our defenses instead of our fire enfilading the enemy."

+ April 14th — Brig. Gen. Henry W. Wessells wrote to him on April 13th and expects an attack on Plymouth by land and water [4 days before] and reports 10,000-12,000 Confederates at Hamilton, NC [Martin County]. Brig. Gen. Wessells asks for 5,000 fresh troops and the steamer U.S.S. Commodore Perry to thwart any Confederate ironclad.
+ April 18th — He learned that Brig. Gen. Montgomery D. Corse (VA), with 2,200 men and four (4) pieces of artillery demonstrated at Union outposts this morning, but returned to Kinston. Confederate deserters claim that Maj. Gen. George E. Pickett (VA) would attack Little Washington tomorrow morning, therefore he dispatched 600 infantry to that town, along with the U.S.S. Tacony.
+ April 19th — More Confederate deserters confirm that Little Washington is the current target. But, he ordered up the U.S.S. Farrow, with infantry, to Plymouth. He asserts that the number of Union forces in North Carolina to be 10,150 present for duty, with about 1,400 sick.
+ April 20th — His command has been threatened by the enemy with a general attack. He found it necessary to redirect the 25th U.S. Colored Troops from going to New Orleans and to send them to Plymouth, NC. He also sent a number of troops under Brig. Gen. Innis N. Palmer in New Bern for the reinforcement of Plymouth and Washington, NC. He telegraphed Col. Edward H. Ripley of the 9th VT Infantry and commanding the Sub-district of Beaufort to send up the 25th U.S. Colored Troops — Col. Scroggs declined to obey, the major also refuses execute the orders, but the senior captain said he would obey — Maj. Gen. Peck immediately ordered the arrest of the colonel and the major, and the regiment complied under the senior captain.
+ April 20th — Forwarded a dispatch from unknown officer — Plymouth has been attacked, the Confederate ram has sunk the U.S.S. Southfield, disabled the U.S.S. Miami and killed Lt. Cdr. Flusser. Washington, NC is also threatened. "Unless were are immediately and strongly re-enforced, both by land and water, all of Eastern North Carolina is lost to us."
+ April 20th — Plymouth is lost by this time, and the Confederate ram will probably come down to Roanoke Island, Washington, and New Bern. The ram is heavy and very formidable, and none of the gunboats here can stand against its power.
+ April 21st — Maj. Gen. Peck reminded Maj. Gen. Butler that Brig. Gen. Wessells asked for more troops and was told that North Carolina must be defended with "your present force." He received dispatches from Brig. Gen. Wessells and Lt. Cdr. Flusser on April 19th announcing the Confederate attack on Plymouth by land in the afternoon of April 17th. The Confederate ram had control of the Roanoke River on April 19th, and with the C.S.S. Cotton Plant was attacking the town in the rear while land forces were in the front. The reinforcements he had sent from Beaufort and New Bern were detained by Confederate gunboats which had escaped into Edenton Bay — it is very unfortunate that the non-arrival of the infantry at Plymouth, and they must have fallen into the hands of the enemy. The garrison at Plymouth had been supplied with provisions, forage, ammunition, and other requisites for a long siege. Casualties were "very small, nothwithstanding some five successive assaults upon his lines." Without the arrival of the C.S.S. Albemarle, the garrison "could have held the land forces at bay for weeks." Maj. Gen. Peck asserted that Confederate Brig. Gen. James G. Martin (NC) had been assigned to go after the Newport Barracks again. The reinforcements that did not make it to Plymouth were redirected to Roanoke Island.
+ April 22nd — Maj. Gen. Peck sends two dispatches to Maj. Gen. Benjamin F. Butler, one enclosing a report from Brig. Gen. Innis N. Palmer of New Bern. In the second one, he reports that refugees from Plymouth assert that New Bern is the next target of the Confederates, and that Union losses were about 400, while that of the enemy was not less than 1,500 killed and wounded. The enemy's force was estimated at 12,000. All Union prisoners were sent off, except for Brig. Gen. Henry W. Wessells and staff, who were paroled to the limits of Plymouth.
+ April 25th — Maj. Gen. Peck submitted a seven (7) page report outlining all the earlier communications regarding the "state of affairs" in North Carolina prior to the loss of Plymouth, along with reasons for its capture. He again recounted actions of April 17-20. He notified Brig. Gen. Edward Harland at Washington, NC of the actions at Plymouth and that Washington was likely to be next. The garrison at Plymouth numbered about 2,500 under Brig. Gen. Henry W. Wessells and his casualties were very small considering that the Confederates made five (5) assaults on the town. He then went into his earlier requests for his own ironclad gunboat and provided multiple citations from earlier dispatches about this and news about the Confederates building their own (the C.S.S. Albemarle). He then criticized the disapproval of his requests for new fortifications and armaments, and the lack of proper ordnance.
+ May 23 — "On the 4th instant Col. F. Beach, U.S. Army, second in command at Plymouth, reported to me in person that Major-General Hoke informed General Wessells and himself that the works I had constructed since Pickett's demonstration on New Berne in February saved that place from attack at that time. The works referred to are thos pronounced unnecessary by General Butler." He included a May 3rd dispatch of Maj. Gen. Robert F. Hoke (NC) to Brig. Gen. Walker concerning instructions for the planned assault on New Bern; and ended with "Hoke's forces, estimated at 12,000, left the vicinity of New Berne on the 6th for Richmond, and New Bern is still ours."

+ For some months he was satisfied that a "vigorous effort on the part of the enemy would be made to wrest the State of North Carolina from our possession." He expressed this opinion in many communications with the hope that military force would be strengthened and that at least one ironclad gunboat would be added to his meager naval squadron. His fears were realized when Confederate Maj. Gen. George E. Pickett (VA) unsuccessfully went after New Bern in February. He knew then that it would only be a short time before the rebels would be back.
+ During the month of April 1864, he received conflicting reports about the enemy's movements—some asserted the rebels were were concentrating on Roanoke, others said the Tar River, and others said Plymouth or Washington, NC. He reminded that he requested a reinforcement of 5,000 men on April 13th, thinking that these had to come from Virginia since North Carolina had none to spare.
+ At 4:00 p.m. on April 17th, one of his mounted patrols was captured by an advance guard of the enemy's cavalry on the Washington Road, and his cavalry outpost was driven back to the town of Plymouth, including reinforcments sent out to assist. Confederates soon appeared on the Washington Road in great numbers, but his skirmishers remained steady. Fort Gray, two (2) miles above and on the river bank, was assailed until dark with a heavy cannonade. The garrison at Fort Gray included detachments of the 85th NY Infantry and the 2nd MA Heavy Artillery, and they returned the enemy's fire with great vigor, and with very few casualties.
+ Another garrison extended from Fort Gray to Conaby Creek, below the town, a distance of 2-1/2 miles, and included the 16th CT Infantry with 400 effective men under Col. Francis Beach; the 85th NY Infantry with 450 men under Col. E. Fardella; the 101st PA Infantry with 300 men under Lt. Col. A.W. Taylor; the 103rd PA Infantry with 400 men under Col. T. F. Lehmann; 24th NY Independent Battery with six (6) guns under Capt. Cady; a detachment from Companies A and F of the 12th NY Cavalry; two (2) companies of the 2nd MA Heavy Artillery under Capt. Sampson; two (2) companies of the 2nd NC Regiment (Union) under Capt. Johnson and Capt. Haggard.
+ Naval forces included the U.S.S. Miami under Lt. Cdr. Charles W. Flusser, the U.S.S. Southfield under Lt. French, with two smaller boats, the U.S.S. Whitehead and the U.S.S. Ceres, all under the direction of Lt. Cdr. Flusser.
+ He learned that the C.S.S. Albemarle, although not 100% complete, had been floated down as far as Rainbow Banks in Martin County, NC by April 10th.
+ The line of defense of the town of Plymouth was divided into three nearly equal portions. The right was commanded by Col. E. Fardella (85th NY Infantry); the center was commanded by Col. T.F. Lehman (103rd PA Infantry); and the left was commanded by Col. Francis Beach (16th CT Infantry). The 85th Redoubt (named after the 85th NY Infantry) was a small detached work in front of the right, garrisoned by detachments of the 2nd MA Heavy Artillery and the 85th NY Infantry, commanded by Capt. Chapin of the 86th NY Infantry.
+ Brig. Gen. Wessells asserted that the Confederates consisted of Brig. Gen. Robert F. Hoke's (NC) brigade, Brig. Gen. Matthew W. Ransom's (NC) brigade, and Brig. Gen. James L. Kemper's (VA) brigade—he incorrectly stated that the latter was led by Col. John T. Mercer (he led Hoke's brigade), while it was Col. William R. Terry (VA) who led Kemper's brigade. The enemy was accompanied by "several formidable field batteries and a suitable force of cavalry.
+ At daylight of the morning of April 18th, a severe cannonade was opened upon Fort Gray. The army transport Bombshell received several shots below her water line, and she sank at the wharf. The transport U.S.S. Massasoit made two (2) trips to Roanoke Island, carrying away a large number of women and children, contrabands, and other non-combatants. The U.S.S. Ceres, being above Fort Gray at the time of investment, passed down the river under a destructive fire and rejoined the squadron, with a loss of nine (9) men killed and wounded.
+ During the whole day of April 18th, there was incessant skirmishing along and between the main approaches in front of the town at a distance of 1,200 yards, but soon after sunset the enemy advanced his batteries, supported by an overwhelming force, and an imminent attack was apparent. Union skirmishers fell back firing and in good order, then under cover of darkness the enemy opened a furious cannonade upon the town in every direction. This fire was returned by Capt. Sampson from Fort Williams with great coolness and precision, inflicting heavy damage and loss upon the enemy.
+ Finding our front too well prepared for an assault, the attack was discontinued about 8:00 p.m., and the enemy directed its attention to our 85 Redoubt. After a desparate resistance was forced to surrender after a rumored threat of "no quarter." Capt. Chapin (85th NY Infantry) fell nobly at his post, and Confederate Col. John T. Mercer (GA), commanding the attacking column, was killed.
+ At 3:00 a.m. on the morning of April 19th, Fort Gray was again fired upon. Soon thereafter, under cover of night and shadow of trees, the C.S.S. Albemarle passed unnoticed and without injury from the 200-pounder at Battery Worth. She was immediately engaged by the U.S.S. Miami and the U.S.S. Southfield, which was sunk by collision, and Lt. Cdr. Charles W. Flusser fell on his own quarter deck aboard the U.S.S. Miami with a lanyard in his hand. Our wooden gunboats moved down the river leaving it in full possession of the enemy.
+ The Confederates were now on every side of town, and this fact greatly discouraged our troops. Hitherto every hardship and exposure had been met with cheerfulness and confidence. During April 19th, the enemy planted a battery near the 85th Redoubt, and partly covered by that work, opened fire upon the town. The C.S.S. Albemarle also opened from below; both were returned from Fort Williams and Battery Worth, but without effect.
+ By nightfall, the enemy succeeded in crossing Conaby Creek below town and massed a large column on his left. Some changes were made during that night in the disposition of the troops and Brig. Gen. Wessells made arrangements to repel attack both on the right and the left.
+ At daylight of April 20th the enemy advanced rapidly against the town along the river and captured Battery Worth. A line of infantry was formed from the breastworks perpendicularly toward the river in hopes of staying the advance, which succeeded for a time, but our troops became discouraged and finally fell back to pre-made entrenchments.
+ At the request of Brig. Gen. Robert F. Hoke (NC), commanding the Confederate forces, a personal interview was granted, at which a surrender was demanded in consideration of my untenable position, of the impossibility of relief, and that the defense had been highly honorable to all concerned. His demand was refused and preparations were made to renew the contest.
+ The Union garrison was now completely enveloped on every side, Fort Williams, an enclosed work in the center of the line, was his only hope. In less than an hour a cannonade of shot and shell was opened up on Fort Williams from four (4) different directions. This terrible fire had to be endured without reply, as no man could live at our guns. Men were killed and wounded, and more could be expected. Brig. Gen. Wessells consented to hoist a white flag, and at 10:00 a.m. he had the mortification of surrendering his post with all it contained.
+ Brig. Gen. Wessells and all officers were plundered of all their effects except such as were on their persons at the time of capture. In all other respects, they were treated by Brig. Gen. Hoke and his officers with kindness and courtesy. It was his understanding that his casualties did not exceed 150, while information derived from medical officers who remained in Plymouth, the "lowest loss of the enemy in killed and wounded is given at 850, many believing it to be far greater."
+ With his personal staff, he was separated from his troops and on Saturday, April 23rd, he was conveyed to Richmond via Weldon and Petersburg, then confined at Libby Prison on April 26th. The enlisted me, with regimental officers, were marched to Tarborough, NC, then by rail to Macon and Andersonville, GA. On May 7th, in company with 850 captive officers, he was taken to Danville, VA. He left Danville on May 12th and taken to Macon and there confined until June 10th, then he and 50 senior officers were sent east to Charleston, SC on June 12th. He was confined at Morris Island, then exchanged on August 3rd and sent to New York on August 9th.
+ Brig. Gen. Wessells ended his lengthy report with a tabulation of casualties of April 17-20, 1864:

Commands	Officers	Men	Total
Staff	10	-	10
16th CT Infantry	23	440	463
2nd MA Heavy Artillery, Companies G and H	7	262	269
2nd NC (Union) Regiment, Companies B and E	4	162	166
12th NY Cavalry, Companies A and F	3	118	121
85th NY Infantry	26	518	544
24th NY Battery	2	120	122
101st PA Infantry	27	382	409
103rd PA Infantry	24	461	485
Unattached Recruits	1	244	245
Total Killed, Wounded, and Missing	127	2,707	2,834

+ He served in Company K of the 85th NY Infantry under Capt. Nelson Chapin (mortally wounded), and was assigned to the 85th Redoubt, which was captured on April 18th. This redoubt included 42 enlisted men, the two officers mentioned aforehand, plus 2nd Lt. S.S. Peake, and 23 enlisted men of the 2nd MA Heavy Artillery led by 2nd Lt. H.L. Clark. The redoubt included a 32-pounder on a ship carriage, and an old-patter iron 6-pounder field piece, which fired occasional shots as the enemy made their appearance on the Washington Road after all Union pickets were driven in on the evening of April 17th and the morning of April 18th..
+ Around 10:00 a.m. on April 18th, three (3) rifled guns opened fire from near the Fagan house upon our pickets near the 85th Redoubt, and replying to the redoubt's artillery, which went on for nearly two (2) hours, with no damage to the redoubt, although it was hit several times. A rebel battery was brought into position in the field on our southern front of the redoubt, and it opened a rapid fire before our large gun could be shifted to bear upon it. Our 6-pounder served well under a close fire, two (2) of our infantry helping to man it. One of its first shells exploded a rebel caisson.
+ Around dark, a heavy column of Confederate infantry advanced to assault the 85th Redoubt, and we opened upon them when they were about 100 yards out, but they continued to advance, pouring in a heavy fire. Our abatis was soon penetrated, when hand-grenades were used by us, apparently with great effect, as the attacking force soon retired, to rally again in a short time. This was repeated three or four (3-4) times with little success in getting through the abatis. The enemy finally passed in line toward the town, leaving some stragglers in our vicinity. Twenty-six (26) of these surrendered in small squatds; our loss in repelling this assault was 1 killed and 8 wounded (3 mortally).
+ About an hour later, several enemy guns opened upon the redoubt from a knoll about 250 yards for our south wall, and two or three (2-3) guns at a distance of 100 yards, opposite the southwest corner, the fire crossing at a right angle. The latter guns were placed under the bank of the swamp such that neither of our two (2) guns could bear upon them. The darkness had prevented us from seeing the enemy set up these batteries. Confederate sharpshooters were active while their batteries played upon our redoubt.
+ The enemy focused its shelling on a small building in the corner of the redoubt, and this proved a source of great danger. The percussion shells struck its roof and chimney, exploding and sending deadly missiles to nearly every place within the redoubt. Capt. Nelson Chapin was struck by a fragment of one of these shells during the second cannonade, around 9:30 p.m. After this second cannonade had continued, our gunboats opened in that direction but their shells passed over and exploded far beyond the enemy's batteries. A few shells from within the town were better elevated but also had no effect on the enemy's location.
+ Shortly after the firing ceased, and demand was made for a surrender. All officers, including the badly wounded Capt. Chapin were consulted before replying. A large force was known to be between the town and our redoubt, cutting off communication. Our cartridges were nearly expended, only half a dozen grenades were left, our gunners were disabled and there was no way of spiking our two (2) guns or of making signals. It was unanimously decided to be a useless wast of life to continue the contest any longer, and that it was best to surrender, which occurred around 11:00 p.m.
+ Our casualties included 1 officer mortally wounded, 1 sergeant killed, 3 enlisted men wounded (1 mortally) of the 85th NY Infantry, Company K. The 2nd MA Heavy Artillery suffered 6 wounded (2 supposed mortally). Capt. Nelson Chapin was left in the care of the enemy and he died in some temporary hospital, or on his way to one, before morning. We were told that the Confederates lost 60 killed just in the assault on the 85th Redoubt, plus a large number wounded.

+ The vessel carrying this dispatch is on its way to Roanoke to bring back the 1st U.S. Colored Troops. On the evening of April 20th, he received a special order directing him to assume command of this district, so he is sending a copy to Maj. Gen. John J. Peck.
+ He acknowledged the Confederate capture of the town of Plymouth, and asserts they "will either hold it or evacuate it. If they attempt to hold it, I shall make no attempt to recapture it at present, and if they evacuate it, I shall not re-establish a post there at present."
+ He is convinced that the Confederates will attack Little Washington next. He thinks the Union forces there will be able to resist any attack, although he doesn't consider the garrison there to be large enough if the same forces that captured Plymouth go there next. He admits that he has no reinforcements to sent to Washington, NC — they are on their own.
+ He sees no need to reinforce Roanoke Island and will therefore withdraw those troops that were sent there by Maj. Gen. Peck and return them to New Bern. He has forces to construct a blockade to intercept the C.S.S. Albemarle; they are working day and night.

"Resolved by the Congress of the Confederate States of America, That the thanks of Congress and the country are due and are tendered to Maj. Gen. Robert F. Hoke and Commander James W. Cooke, and the officers and men under their command, for the brilliant vigory over the enemy at Plymouth, N.C."

Approved May 17, 1864.

Brig. Gen. Robert F. Hoke (NC) — Commanding Officer,

Hoke's Brigade — Col. John T. Mercer (GA) (killed),

1st NC Battalion—Sharpshooters:
Company A — Capt. Reuben E. Wilson,
Company B — Capt. John A. Cooper,

6th NC Regiment (State Troops) — Lt. Col. Samuel M. Tate,
Maj. Richard W. York,
Company A — 2nd Lt. Doctor Z. Hardin,
Company B — Sgt. Joseph G. Lunsford,
Company C — 2nd Lt. William S. Clinton,
Company D — Capt. Neill W. Ray,
Company E — Capt. John A. McPherson,
Company F — Sgt. Robert J. Albert,
Company G — Sgt. Charles F. Atwell,
Company H — 1st Lt. Levi H. Walker,
Company I — 2nd Lt. Demetrius C. Gunter,
Company K — 2nd Lt. George R. Maynard,

21st NC Regiment (State Troops) — Maj. William J. Pfohl,
Company A — "Davidson Guards" — 1st Lt. John H. Miller,
Company C — "Blue Ridge Riflemen" — 1st Lt. Logan T. Whitlock,
Company D — "Forsyth Rifles" — Capt. Reuben A Barrow,
Company F — "Mountain Boys" — Capt. John W. Beard,
Company G — "Town Fork Invincibles" — Capt. James O. Blackburn,
Company H — "Mountain Tigers" — 1st Lt. Daniel J. Cockerham,
Company I — "Surry Marksmen" — Capt. Matthew C. Moore,
Company K — "Forsyth Southrons" — 2nd Lt. Samuel D. Newsom,
Company L — "Rockingham Invincibles" — Capt. Samuel C. James,
Company M — "Guilford Dixie Boys" — Capt. John E. Gilmer,

43rd NC Regiment (State Troops) — Lt. Col. William G. Lewis,
Maj. Walter J. Boggan,
Adjutant Drury Lacy, Jr.,
Company A — "Duplin Rifles" — 2nd Lt. Thomas J. Bostic,
Company B — "Union Farmers" — 3rd Lt. Robert T. Burwell,
Company C — Capt. Ruffin Barnes,
Company D — Capt. Cary W. Whitaker,
Company E — Capt. Wiley J. Cobb,
Company F — Capt. Henry A. Macon,
Company G — "Warren Defenders" — Capt. Levi P. Coleman,
Company H — "Fisher Light Infantry" — Capt. Hampton Beverly,
Company I — "Anson Regulators" — Capt. Robert T. Hall,
Company K — "Anson Independents" — Capt. Caswell H. Sturdivant,

54th NC Regiment (State Troops) — Maj. James A. Rogers,
Acting Adjutant — 3rd Lt. Edward Smith,
Company A — "Holtsburg Guards" — 2nd Lt. Ira A. Fitzgerald,
Company B — 1st Lt. Martin S. Marler,
Company C — 1st Lt. John M. Williams,
Company D — "Rebel Guards" — 1st Lt. Albert Rogers,
Company E — "Highland Guards" — Capt. Lunsford A. Paschall,
Company F — "Stonewall Boys" — 1st Lt. Joseph S. Ragsdale,
Company G — "Wilkes Guards" — Capt. Augustus H. Martin,
Company H — "Western Rangers" — 1st Lt. Martin G. Shores,
Company I — "Tryon Mountain Boys" — 3rd Lt. Obadiah M. Cornwell,
Company K — "Carolina Boys" — 3rd Lt. Isham W. Kittrell,

21st GA Regiment (Infantry) — Col. John T. Mercer (killed),
Company A — "Campbell Guards" — Capt. William A. Kimbrough,
Company B — "Floyd Sharpshooters" — Unknown,
Company C — "Atlanta Volunteers" — Capt. Samuel D. Haslett,
Company D — "Cedartown Guards" — Unknown,
2nd Company E — "Concord Rangers" — Unknown.
Company F — "Ben Hill Volunteers" — Capt. Edward M. Henderson,
Company G — "Dabnet Rifles" — Capt. Napoleon B. Hudgins,
Company H — "Silver Grays" — Unknown,
Company I — "Steward Infantry" — 1st Lt. Walter J. Warren,
Company K — "Bartow Avengers" — Capt. John B. Akridge,

Ransom's Brigade — Brig. Gen. Matthew W. Ransom (NC),

8th NC Regiment (State Troops) — Lt. Col. John R. Murchison,
Maj. Rufus A. Barrier,
Company A — Capt. Daniel A. Sawyer,
Company B — "Shaw Guards" — Capt. Thomas J. Jarvis,
Company C — Capt. Charles H. Barron,
Company D — Capt. Andrew J. Rogers,
Company E — "Manchester Guards" — Capt. Luther R. Breece,
Company F — Capt. Leonard A. Henderson,
Company G — "General Bragg Guards" — Capt. Amos J. Hines,
Company H — Capt. Jonas Cook (wounded),
Company I — Capt. Junius N. Ramsay,
Company K — Capt. Pinkney A. Kennerly,

24th NC Regiment (State Troops) — Col. William J. Clarke,
Lt. Col. John L. Harris,
Maj. Thaddeus D. Love,
Adjutant Oliver D. Cooke,
Company A — "Roxborough Grays" — Capt. James A. Holeman,
Company B — "Onslow Guards" — 1st Lt. William T. Ellis,
Company C — "Clayton Yellow Jackets" — Capt. John D. Gulley,
Company D — Capt. William J. Squiggins,
Company E — "Lone Star Boys" — Capt. Barney Lane,
Company F — "Cumberland Plow Boys" — Capt. James S. Evans,
Company G — "Highland Boys" — Capt. Archibald A. McIver,
Company H — "Person Invincibles" — Capt. James C. Bailey,
Company I — "Smithfield Light Infantry" — Capt. Edwin A. Boykin,
Company K — "Poplar Spring Grays" — Capt. Janadius H. Baker,

25th NC Regiment (State Troops) — Col. Henry M. Rutledge,
Lt. Col. Samuel C. Bryson,
Maj. William S. Grady,
Adjutant Bazil B. Edmonston,
Company A — "Edney Greys" — Capt. Matthew N. Love,
Company B — "Jackson Guards" — Capt. David Rogers,
Company C — "Haywood Invincibles" — Capt. Wesley N. Freeman,
Company D — "George's Guard" — Capt. Leander B. Tatham,
Company E — "Transylvania Volunteers" — Capt. William H. Graves,
Company F — "Haywood Highlanders" — Capt. James M. Cathey,
Company G — "Highland Guards" — Capt. John R. Hayes,
Company H — "Cane Creek Rifles" — Capt. Thomas J. Young,
Company I — "Pisgah Guards" — Capt. William Y. Morgan,
Company K — "Black Mountain Guards" — Capt. Jesse M. Burlison,

35th NC Regiment (State Troops) — Col. John R. Jones,
Lt. Col. James T. Johnson,
Maj. Simon B. Taylor,
Adjutant Robert B. Peebles,
Company A — "Onslow Rough & Readys" — Capt. Henry W. Humphrey,
Company B — "Marion Men" — Capt. Thomas J. Blackwell,
Company C — "Scotch Riflemen" — Capt. Evander M. Blue,
Company D — "Haw River Boys" — Capt. Robert E. Petty,
Company E — "Person Boys" — Capt. Haywood W. Harris,
Company F — "Redwine Beauregards" — Capt. Sanford G. Howie,
Company G — "Henderson Rifles" — Capt. John J. Case,
Company H — "Mecklenburg Farmers" — 2nd Lt. John R. Baker,
Company I — "Wayne County Volunteers" — Capt. William A. Ellis,
Company K — "Burke & Catawba Sampsons" — Capt. Philip J. Johnson,

56th NC Regiment (State Troops) — Col. Paul F. Faison,
Lt. Col. Granville G. Luke,
Maj. John W. Graham,
Adjutant John W. Faison,
Company A — "North Carolina Defenders" — Capt. Noah H. Hughes,
Company B — "Cape Fear Guards" — Capt. Franklin N. Roberts,
Company C — "Pasquotank Boys" — Capt. Alexander P. White,
Company D — "Graham Rifles" — Capt. Robert D. Graham,
Company E — "Moore Guards" — Capt. Joseph G. Lockhart,
Company F — "Cleveland Riflemen" — 1st Lt. Valentine J. Palmer,
Company G — "Henderson Blues" — Capt. Henry E. Lane,
Company H — "Pettigrew Guards" — Capt. William E. Graves,
Company I — "Rutheford Rifles" — Capt. Lawson Harrill,
Company K — "Davidson College Guards" — Capt. Francis R. Alexander,

Kemper's Brigade — Col. William R. Terry (VA),

1st VA Regiment (Infantry): — Led by Unknown,
3rd VA Regiment (Infantry): — Led by Unknown,
7th VA Regiment (Infantry): — Led by Unknown,
11th VA Regiment (Infantry): — Led by Unknown,
24th VA Regiment (Infantry): — Led by Unknown,

Dearing's Battalion — Col. James Dearing,

8th Confederate Cavalry — Col. James Dearing,
VA Horse Artillery Battery —

Branch's Battalion —

Pegram's Battery —
Miller's Artillery —
Bradford's Battery —

Moseley's Battalion — Maj. Edgar F. Moseley,

Montgomery (AL) True Blues Artillery —
Wilmington Light Artillery (10th NC Regiment, Co. E)—Capt. John O. Miller,

Guion's Battalion — Lt. Col. Henry T. Guion,

10th NC Regiment (1st Artillery) Detachment:
Company B — "Cogdell's Battery" — Capt. Daniel A. Cogdell,
Company G — "Beaufort Harbor Guards" — Capt. James L. Manney,
Company H — "Topsail Rifles" — Capt. Benjamin T. Miller,

Read's Battalion —

38th VA Light Artillery Battalion Detachment:
Company A — "Fauquier Artillery" —
Company B — "Richmond Fayette Artillery" —
Company D — "Bloundt's Lynchburg Artillery" —

CS Navy Assets:

C.S.S. Albemarle — Cdr. James W. Cooke,
C.S.S. Cotton Plant —

Brig. Gen. Henry W. Wessells — Commanding Officer (POW),

1st NC Regiment (Union) —

2nd NC Regiment (Union) Detachment —
Company X — Capt. Johnson,
Company Y — Capt. Haggard,

101st PA Infantry — Lt. Col. A.W. Taylor with 300 men,

103rd PA Infantry — Col. T.F. Lehman with 400 men,

16th CT Infantry — Col. Francis Beach with 400 men,

85th NY Infantry — Col. E. Fardella with 450 men,
Company K — Capt. Nelson Chapin (mortally wounded)

10th U.S. Colored Infantry —

37th U.S. Colored Infantry —

2nd U.S. Colored Cavalry —

12th NY Cavalry —
Company A —
Company F —

2nd MA Heavy Artillery — Capt. Fisk, Capt. Sampson,
At 85th Redoubt — 2nd. Lt. H.L. Clark,

24th NY Independent Battery — Capt. Cady,

U.S. Navy Assets: Led by Lt. Cdr. Charles W. Flusser (killed),

U.S.S. Miami — Lt. Cdr. Charles W. Flusser (killed),
U.S.S. Southfield — Lt. French,
U.S.S. Ceres —
U.S.S. Whitehead —
U.S.S. Mattabesett —

U.S. Army Transport Bombshell — (sunk)

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Histories of the Several Regiments and Battalions from North Carolina in the Great War 1861-'65 - Volume IV, edited by Walter Clark, PP.225-242.
North Carolina Troops: 1861-1865, A Roster, Volume III, P. 68.
Histories of the Several Regiments and Battalions from North Carolina in the Great War 1861-'65 - Volume I, edited by Walter Clark, PP.293-336.
North Carolina Troops: 1861-1865, A Roster, Volume IV, P.265.
Histories of the Several Regiments and Battalions from North Carolina in the Great War 1861-'65 - Volume I, edited by Walter Clark, PP.387-415.
North Carolina Troops: 1861-1865, A Roster, Volume III, P.519.
Histories of the Several Regiments and Battalions from North Carolina in the Great War 1861-'65 - Volume I, edited by Walter Clark, PP.499-536.
North Carolina Troops: 1861-1865, A Roster, Volume I, PP.51, 89, 113, 125.
Histories of the Several Regiments and Battalions from North Carolina in the Great War 1861-'65 - Volume II, edited by Walter Clark, PP.131-146.
North Carolina Troops: 1861-1865, A Roster, Volume VI, PP.536.
Histories of the Several Regiments and Battalions from North Carolina in the Great War 1861-'65 - Volume II, edited by Walter Clark, PP.271-290.
North Carolina Troops: 1861-1865, A Roster, Volume VII, PP.250, 353.
Histories of the Several Regiments and Battalions from North Carolina in the Great War 1861-'65 - Volume II, edited by Walter Clark, PP.291-301.
Histories of the Several Regiments and Battalions from North Carolina in the Great War 1861-'65 - Volume II, edited by Walter Clark, PP.591-628.
North Carolina Troops: 1861-1865, A Roster, Volume IX, PP.356-357.
Histories of the Several Regiments and Battalions from North Carolina in the Great War 1861-'65 - Volume III, edited by Walter Clark, PP.1-18.
North Carolina Troops: 1861-1865, A Roster, Volume X, P.291.
Histories of the Several Regiments and Battalions from North Carolina in the Great War 1861-'65 - Volume III, edited by Walter Clark, PP.267-285.
North Carolina Troops: 1861-1865, A Roster, Volume XIII, PP.208-209.
Histories of the Several Regiments and Battalions from North Carolina in the Great War 1861-'65 - Volume III, edited by Walter Clark, PP.313-404.
North Carolina Troops: 1861-1865, A Roster, Volume XIII, PP.563-569.

Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume XXXIII, PP.278-305.  

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Plymouth_(1864)

https://vermontcivilwar.org/units/9/