The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1864-05-03
THE CAPTURE OF PLYMOUTH, N c.
Particulars

Correspondence of the Petersburg Express.
PLYMOUTH, N. C., April p, 1864.
I embrace this opportunity to send you brief
account OF the attack and capture Of this place.
Plymouth, as your readers well know, is situated
on the south bank of the Roanoke river, miles
from its mouth, in Washington county. 1t has
been in she quiet possession Of the Yankees for
:ime, and is of the most strongly fortified
places in North Carolina. But the God of battles
has given the victory to the right and we are now
in the quiet possession Of it with the Confederate
banner flying from the ramparts of the fort.
Twenty-three hundred prisoners, with the Brig
General commanding, (WesselO large quantities
Of quartermaster, commissary and suffers stores,
and about twenty-five or thirty pieces of artillery
fell into possession.
Our loss is small when We consider the terrific
assault forces had to make on the works Of the
enemy We have to mourn the loss of some brave
and officers.
The town is surrounded by immense fortifca-
tons with large square fort ediately in front,
commanding all the roads, and containing FIVE
lurge guns. To the lett of the town, approaching
it, is situated another fort, with two guns COM
handing the country for mile around All the
trees have been cut down, and there remains an
open plain to the range of their guns. Through
this, our boys had to charge, capturing fort after
fort in detail, and being exposed to the raking fire
Of their guns The attack was well planned and
as we'll executed, and reflects great credit upon
Gen Hoke, who has already won for himself rep
utation in the army of Northern Virginia, and the
capture of plymouth adds another feather to his
war-plumex/ The attack commenced Sunday even
ing, the 18th inst, and ended Wednesday morn
ing Che Goth, at II o'clock. Thus you see we had
something to do Gen Vessel, who commanded
the Yankees, stubbornly resisted, fighting from
fort to fort, and after the town was captured, re-
treated into Fort Williams, and only surrendered
amid the booming of our guns
The attack OF the town made by the brig
ade of Gen Ransom, on the Goth, at Wight, and
all joined in the praise of its gallantry and success
IS they had to charge work after work, and fight
hand to hand in the streets they drove the enc
my before them into their large stronghold, Fort
Williams.
The Branch Field Artillery from Petersburg,
(now Pegrams' Battery conducted itself nobly,
md suffered from the terrific fire of the forts in
the open field eight hundred yards distant. Eight
of the hoses we've killed and seven wounded
The destruction of property in the town is awful
TO behold. Caissons are blown up, dead horses
and men I'll up the streets, and the place is
pletely riddleG by cannon shot
But before | close this desultory letter, must
do justice to the Navy, which so ably performed
the part assigned to it. Capt Cook, with his iron
clad Albemarle, out-fousht himself: He cleaned
out the river sinking the gunboat Southfed
mounting six guns, aud disabling two others, which
finally escaped, besides capturing several tug boats
and lighters.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
Our forces arrived in front of Plymouth on
Sunday afternoon, 18th April, about o'clock, and
succeeded in capturing most Of the enemy's pick
cts, which were stationed few miles from town.
and felt their works, and finding them much
hausted by long days march, the attack was
Monday the artillery and sharpshooters
gagged with their gunboats and forts, which result
ed in one Of the former being sunk. At about
dusk on the same evening Fort Sanderson, very
strong earthwork, assaulted and carried by
storm, after spirited resistance. During this as
saRlt number Of our were killed by hand
grenades in the ditch. After carrying the above
named fort our forces advanced close up to the
main works Of the enemy, the west side Of the
town. On Tuesday morning at two O'Clock the
Albemarle, one of our iron-clad gunboats, com
manded by Capt Cook, down the river and
engaged the enemy's batteries and gunboats which
were lying in front of the town. The enemy's
boats attempted to board her, which attack was
handsomely repulsed. They also attempted to
trap her, having stretched chain under water
across the space that interviewed between their
poatSJ W. iusteau VI running between them CapL
Cook made direct for the largest, striking her
amidship, and sunk her in few minutes, together
with most of the officers and crew, only few of
whom were picked up. He Immediately engaged
the other, and pursued her some distance down
the river, but not deeming it prudent to venture
too far down the river, he returned to his former
position in front of Plymouth.
After daylight on the same morning Gen Hoke
demanded surrender of the place and its offences,
which demand :he enemy declined to accede to-
During the day their works were reconnoitered
and felt at different points. Tuesday night the
position OF our troops was moved around through
very difficult route to the east or opposite side of
the town. At daylight Wednesday morning they
charged and carried the entire line of Notifications
on the east side, driving the enemy at the point of
the bayonet completely through the town to the
opposite side, where some of troops were left,
who succeeded in capturing large number of
prisoners.
During all day Tuesday and. Wednesday MORN
ing the Albemarle, with the gallant Cook IN COM
mand, engaged the euemy's batteries, taking them
IN reverse. The town now being entirely in our
possession, together with all the enemy's works,
with the exception Of the main fort, demand was
made for its surrender, which was refused, but as
soon as our sharpshooters commenced to advance,
the enemy began to desert by twos, threes and
tweEties, coming into our lines and throwing down
their arms. The flag of the fort was then soon
hauled down. which resulted in :ne surrender by
Brig. Gen. Vessels of four regiments of infantry,
one squadron of cavalry, a battalion of artillery,
and two or three companies of N c. "Butfalocs,"
together with the large amount of stores, provis-
ions. siege guns nreviously renortod tLis