Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1864-05-19
From the Fayetteville Observer.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT OF THE CAPTURE OF


! PLYMOUTH
Among all the accounts Of the signal Confederat
> victory at Plymouth, we doubt whether better on
has been written than the following, which we are al
lowed to copy from letter written to his mother il
his place by private Lewis D. Burklow, of Capt. Ro
berts's Co., seth Reg't, youth of H. who some TIVE
years ago. to our great Inconvenience exchanged th
'composing stick in the Observer Office for shoot
ing stick" in the army.
MILES OF WASHINGTON, n, C.,
April 29th. (
My dear Mother Your very kind letter of the ISL
inst came safely to band last evening while il
line of battle mile of Washiug,on and tie cannon
IVES pealipg forth its loud noise aud thuDdr and j:
only through the mercy of God that l permitted to
write you these hurried lines, and you know not how
thankful feel 10 Him for thus watcbing and pr0tect-
ihg me through the many dangers that have lie y
passed through shat forever feel thankful and praise
Him for preserving Since wrote you a at We have
seer some OF the hardest have ever seep We
received loving orders the l4ih April sd eft Weldon
leaVng our baggage IL camp The SINE day the
train for Marlborough. We arrived there late in the
night and went into camp. TIE next morning. the
Lotto, after getting breakfast, we took up our lice of
march On foot for Plymouth, distant from Tarboro'
81 miles. We were joined in Tarborough with Gen
Hoke's Brigade and Kempers Va. Brigade ard 40
pieces of cannon, g nrral Hoke in command of the
whole, which made lie some three four miles long
OF nothing but The ladies and citz ns cheeged
passed through the town. and our brass bands
played few choice tunes which ade the time quite
lively. We knew there was fighting to be DONE as it
was reliably reported that Plymouth to be attack
ell, and we knew that Gen. Hoke was MOI going down
there With as big pie of men as that and not have
ight. We marched about 20 miles that day (paased
over the same ground where the Yankees las
Fall year ago. and took up camp pretty we'll tircd
Out from our days march, and glad to lie down
under any pine tree to rest weary limbs. W drew
ratiODs early next morning and had until o'clock
cook and eat aud fill haversacks. We then fell in
and stared again and at O'Clock took up camp with
in II miles of Plymouth The next morning SUNDAY
| he ok of br,d p'o
rived within 212 miles Of Plymouth We were order
ed to load part Of the artillery the front
and slowly advanced on the town. We got up TO
the Yankee picket post in mile ard half of tG Wn
and captured nine OF their pickets. There twelve
post but three made their escape A line of skrn-
shers was thrown out, and formed line of battle in
skirt OF woods. Our skirmishers upon the Yam
KEGS and diminishing began. Our batteries sent few
shells over in the Yankee forts-they replying The
town very strongly fortified They had four forts
with heavy guns mounted them besides strong
breastWOrks for Infantry, nd two gunboats in the
river. Night came on end we lay down in line of bat
tie to s.ap not allowed 10 have spark of fire. for we
were within sight OF the town, and it would not have
been healthy for to have had any fire. for the enemy
would have thrown few shells into During the
night there shots from and the Yankee ar
tiIery, and just before day it began to be heavy.
Monday, the lSth formed in line of battle nearer
the town, and lay there until IL O'clock but had b
ing to do during the time the artillery and skrmsh
ers keeping up continual noise At 4 O'Clock
our brigade and l5 pisces of artillery sent around
on the right. Three companies out of each regiment
had to in and relieve the front line Of skrmehera
our company being ooe of the number. We relieved
them while they were in 100 yards Of the Yankees,
aud shooting al each other good fashion II was
not many minutes before heard the nitric balls
whstling over our beads. We within 600 yard
Of the main Yankee fort, and exactly in front Of it,
and nothing but stumps of trees between W.
fired few rounds into the enemy and then order
ed Up, and the order to charge given We rose Oh
teet and with yell put cut double quick after
them, and them ck 100 yards, and were then Or
dered to lie down sgain. We fred into them
again and they into for a few minutes,
and the order to charge again given. We
put out after the retreating Yankees firing them
pursued them, until them within their breast
works 1t dark and we were within 200
yards Of the fort. We then ordered to lie down.
and about that time "a pound shell burst our
heads then tor three successive hours latter night they
threw shells and grape shot at Us from two forts and
two gunboats. Fifteen pieces of our artillery moved
up in and opened on them, aud you may be-
leve there was some noise for awhile. l lay hat on
the ground and watched the Yankees cannon as they
would fire, and here would come tie shell with its
streak of fire following it and right heads it
would burst. 1t not at time but % min
ute and at one time so minute. Il was the
hottest place was ever in. There were few killed
and wounded We didn't sutfar quite so badly, for we
in the front line The artillery suffered very much
About o'coCiit ceased and We were taken off THE
field latter being in the fight six hours and halt anG
after being under of the heaviest shengs since
began) very much fatigued, and returned to our
position in the woods and then lay down to rest
We be ! one man in our company badly wounded by
mnnie bail during the engagement. He was~puite q
JuUg fellow, only Ii years DID, and joined the
F! - VIII } we were in Wilkes county | was within
five steps OF him when he was wounded
Tuesday the 19th there was nothing going on but
diminishing and artillery duelng, until bout O'Clock
10 the evening, when our brigade ard some artillery
were aroupd IN the of the town to attack it
in the by chrring fort if the fort was taken
the other fort WC3I have surrender and the town
would then be ours. We had to drive tie Yankees
away from creek before We could put down
tom bridge to After little skirmish with them
we ran them pack and by at MI ht our roDtcniers
put the bridge down aid crossed and formed line OF
battle the FORT but could not it of
the night. Skirmishers were throwL out and pretty
soon they commenced popping at each other. The
Yankees threw few shell and grape shot at us, and
our gunboat (lronclad) which had come down that
morning and sunk two of tie Yankee gu0boats AID
driven of Others returned the fire. The charge on
The tort was not to be made until morning, and we
threw up breastU o"Ss to protect from the
mys fire and then lay down to sleep. Although the
Yankees ird heir she'll at during the night, L slept
as soundly as ever did and did not wake until |
LrOueed up the next morning to tall in
WEDNESDAY morning before sunrise The order for ard
was given and the whole line moved with quick Step
Z, fort opened On with grape shot, but still
kept on, and when got within 800 yards of the
fort gave loud yell and put out at double quick.
They poU it into from behind their breastworks.
We fixed bayorets as we ran and right up to the
beastwo1ks we went and planted our hIg the fort.
We were then irs tie town the Yankees got behind
houses ard in houses, and fought heavily, but Ran
SONS brigade backs out, and with another yell
put out through the streets, firing on them Then
followed of the most horrible sclDes ever wit
messed, the wounded screaming and meaning and
the b5lIs coming thich hail. Lieutenant Thorn
ton WIS seriously wounded here through the head with