Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1864-05-05
The Capture of Plymouth. N. G..

Line nrSt news OF the Impending at
tack was brought to our pickets outside
Of Plymouth by little boy who had
been out gathering pine chips The
alarm was communicated to Gen. Yves
sells while his troops were at dress pa
rade, and consequently found him pre-
pared for any emergencies. The caval-
ry was at once sent out to reconnoitre,
and in an engagement with the rebel ad-
vance guard, the Union dragons lost
some six or seven men and a lieutenant
in killed, and about as many wounded
They, however succeeded in repulsing
the euemy, and after splendid engage
ment withdrew ..,.s......- ~.
The rebels followed up, and as soon as
they came in range, the guns of the fort
opened upon them with grape and
shrapnel, and repulsed their attack
with fearful slaughter. -... f.. Wy.
The next point of attack was Fort
Gray, situated two and half miles
above Plymouth on the Roanoke River.
AS soon as Gen. Vessels found the enc
my advancing, he communicated with
Capt. Flusser of the gunboat Miami,
commanding the naval fleet, and re-
quested him to send one or two of his
gunboats to assist him. The White
head and lBombshell were accordingly
dispatched, followed by the Miami and
Southf1eld, to check the advance of the
rebel ram, which it was expected would
move down to the assistance of Ran
SONS land forces. se.s-s....
Three several attacks were made upon
FIT. Gray, and each time the enemy was
handsomely repulsed. The slaughter in
this action was terrific, and disconcert-
ed the rebels not little. The gunboats
after attaining the proper range, poured
their murderous broadsides into the
ranks af the enemy, killing many at ev-
cry discharge. Finding our lines so
bravely defended, and disappointed at
not having found Gen. Vessels mapping
the rebels withdrew carrying their killed
and wounded with them. This ended the
affair Of the 18th. - +..
During Sunday niyht Gen. w. ordered
all the women, children and non-com-
batants from the place. The gunboats
were posted in the most advantageous
positions, and the earthworks around
the town strengthened and the guards
doubled.
After the moon had set the rebel ram
foated silently down the tide on the op-
posite bank Of the river, unobserved by
our guuboats. The Miami and South
field had been chained together by heavy
cables, in order to present a strong bar
rier to the iron-clad monster. AS soon
as the enemy's gunboat had passed Fort
Gray she started her machinery, and be-
fore any one was aware of danger. she
came full tilt upon the Southfield. and
buried her prov, projecting about eight
feet, and made like saw, into her port
side, ripping open an aperture of six feet
IN width The stern of the Southfield
sank instanter, while her how. being
kept up by the Miami, continued to float
for about ten minutes, when the cable
parting, the doomed boat sank in ten
fathoms of water.
The crew of the Southfield, as brave
as that of the i'll fated Cumberland, fired
100 FOUNDER Parrot gun into the iron
clad, which, however, rebounded with
out injuring her in the slightest.
Captain Flusser, who was in his cabin
while this brief engagement was pro-
crossing, hurried on deck, and at once
took charge Of one of the guns bearing
on the ram He asked of his gunner
what charge the gun contained, and
was answered shell. He said: "Let
us fire this of, and afterwards we will
give him something else" He accord
ingly fired the gun, having sighted it
himself. The distance between the Mi
ami and the iron clad was only about 70
feet. The fuse In the shell was ten sec
onds. The shell, on striking the slnshed