ARMY OPERATIONS. 



63 



on the Federal outpost at Bachelor's Creek, 

 eight miles from Xewbern, and captured it 

 with seventy-five prisoners. They then ad- 

 vanced toward Xewberu, where an attack was 

 greatly feared. Before daylight on the next 

 morning a party in barges captured the gun- 

 boat Underwriter, with her officers and a por- 

 tion of her crew. The steamer was aground, 

 but so lay as to cover a portion of the fortifi- 

 cations between Fort Anderson and Fort Ste- 

 vens, at Xewbern. Gen. Picket thus reported 

 his expedition : 



Krssxox, February 3, 1S64. 

 To Gen. S. Cooper: 



I made a reconnoissance within a mile and a half 

 of Xewbern, with Hoke's brigade, and a part of 

 Corse's and Clingman's, and some artillery; met the 

 enemy in force ^at Batchelor'a Creek, killed and 

 wounded about one hundred in all, captured thir- 

 teen officers and two hundred and eighty prisoners, 

 fourteen negroes, two rifled pieces and caissons, 

 three hundred stand of small arms, four ambulan- 

 ces, three wagons, fifty-five animals, a quantity of 

 clothing, camp, and garrison equipage, and two 

 flags. Commander Wood, Confederate 'States nary, 

 captured and destroyed the United States gunboat 

 Underwriter. Our loss thirtv-five killed and wound- 

 ed. G. E. PICKET, 

 Major-General Commanding. 



The next movement of importance made by 

 the enemy was the capture of Plymouth. This 

 town is on the south bank of the Roauoke 

 River, about eight miles from its mouth. The 

 river flows in an easterly direction into Albe- 

 marle Sound. The town originally contained 

 about one thousand inhabitants, but was burn- 

 ed by the Union fleet two years previously. It 

 had been held for some time as a key to the 

 river, and had been strongly fortified. A 

 breastwork with strong forts at different points 

 along the line, had been constructed. Another 

 strong work, called Fort Gray, had also been 

 constructed about a mile further up the river, 

 opposite which a triple row of piles had been 

 driven, to which torpedoes were attached, to 

 serve as a protection to the fleet below. The 

 enemy had a powerful iron-clad ram in the 

 river above. Still further up there was another 

 row of piles with torpedoes, near which a pick- 

 et boat was stationed to watch the iron-clad. 

 The Federal gunboats Southfield and Miami 

 were anchored in the river opposite the town. 

 The garrison of the town was about twenty- 

 four hundred men, under command of Gen. 

 "NVe-^els. They composed the 85th Xew York 

 infantry regiment, 101st Pennsylvania infantry 

 regiment, 103d Pennsylvania infantry regi- 

 ment, 16th Connecticut infantry regiment, two 

 companies of the Massachusetts heavy artil- 

 lery, two companies of the 2d Xorth Carolina 

 volunteers, two companies of the 12th Xew 

 York cavalry. 



The approach of the enemy was unknown, 

 until they began to appear about 3 p. M., April 

 17th, in the rear of the town, driving in the 

 Union pickets. A brisk artillery fire was soon 

 opened upon Fort Gray, which continued with 

 Borne vigor until near midnight. About daylight 

 ou the next morning the contest was renewed, 



and two charges were made daring the fore- 

 noon, which were repulsed. In the afternoon, 

 two guns of the enemy were captured by a 

 sortie from the fort. The gunboats then took 

 a position, one above and the other below the 

 town, and the contest continued fiercely until 

 night, when it ceased without any advantage 

 to the enemy. Early the next morning the 

 picket boat up the river reported that the iron- 

 clad had passed down. The gunboats wero 

 immediately lashed together, to make a joint 

 iv-i-tance to the iron-clad. This had scarcely 

 been done when she appeared within a hun- 

 dred yards. As they approached each other, 

 the gunboats fired without effect. The ram 

 first struck the Miami, and gliding off struck 

 the Southfield on her left side, crushing in six 

 or eight feet- square. The Miami now fired a 

 shell at the iron-clad, which rebounded and 

 killed her captain, Flnsser, and wounded eight 

 persons. Becoming separated from the South- 

 field, the Miami was swung round by the cur- 

 rent, and unable for a time to render further 

 assistance. The Southfield was now rapidly 

 sinking, and her crew took to the boats and 

 fled. The Miami, after her loss, withdrew. 

 The iron-clad, called the Albemarle, under 

 command of J. "W. Coke, came down to the 

 mouth of the liver, outside of which were 

 four gunboats. Her position in the river cut 

 off ah 1 hopes of sending reinforcements to Gen. 

 "\Ve~els, and he surrendered to Brig.-Gen. Hoke 

 on the next day. This surrender was thus an- 

 nounced by Gen. Peck, in command of the de- 

 partment : 



HEAPQUAETERS OF THE ARMY AXD DISTRICT OF > 

 XOETII CAROLINA, XEWBEEX, X C., April 21, ISOi. j" 



7 Orders Xo. 66: 



With feelings of the deepest sorrow the command- 

 ing general announces the fall of Plymouth, X.C., 

 and the capture of its gallant commander, Brisr.-Gen. 

 H. W. Wessels, and his command. This result, how- 

 ever, did not obtain until after the most gallant and 

 determined resistance had been made. Five times 

 the enemy stormed the lines of the general, and as 

 many times were they repulsed with great slaughter; 

 and but for the powerful assistance of the rebel iron- 

 clad ram, and the floating sharpshooter batterv, the 

 Cotton Plant, Plymouth would still have been in our 

 hands. For their noble defence the gallant Gen. 

 Wessels and his brave band have, and deserve the 

 warmest thinks of the whole country, while all will 

 sympathize with them in their misfortune. 



To the officers and men of the navy the command- 

 ing general tenders his thanks for their hearty coop- 

 eration with the army, and the bravery, determina- 

 tion, and courage that marked their part of the 

 unequal contest. ~ With sorrow he records the death 

 of the noble sailor and gallant patriot, Lieut. -Com. 

 C. W. Flusscr, U. S. Xavy, who in the heat of battle 

 fell dead on the deck of his ship, with the lanyard 

 of his gun in his hand. 



The commanding general believes that these mis- 

 fortunes will tend, not to discourage, but to nerve 

 the army of Xorth Carolina to equal deeds of brave- 

 ry and gallantry hereafter. 



Until further orders, the headquarters of the sub- 

 district of the Albemarle will be at Roanoke Island, 

 The command devolves upon Col. D. W. Wardrop, 

 of the 99th Xew York infantry. 



By command of Maj.-Gea. JOHX G. PECK. 



J.'A. JCDSOX, Ass't Adj't-Gen. 



