The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1864-11-08
rHE4FALL OF PLYMOUTH, n. c.


of this State. has been recaptured by the enemy
dispatch dated the 31st of Oct, says:
CATER three days hard fighting the enemy passed
mn Middle river and came down the Roanoke this
morning. Gen. Baker commanded the garrison in
person, and fought until the enemy's gunboats had
nassed one fort and dismounted all guns In the
other An evacuation was then ordered, under a
severe Smelling, which was effected without much
loss"
Before attacking the place, the enemy first des
troyed, by stealth, the Confederate gunboat Abe
marie. The Goldsboro' Journal describes how that
was done as follows:
We are not in possession of what We consider the
authentic Details but the following seem to be the
facts
The Albemarle was moorcd near the wharf, a
gangway connecting her. with the shore. Some
distance down the river, in the stream, lay the hull
of the Southfeld, sunk there by Cart Cooke when
Plymouth was captured from the Yankees. The
South6eld was used as picket station by our in
fantry forces, to which they passed to and from
the shore by boat and this boat was usually kept
at the Seuthfeld.
Thursday night was very dark and stormy. In
the darkness and storm, at the hour stated, the
Yankee expedition surprised, it is said the South
field picket.station and captured all the pickets.
twenty-five in number, without firing gun, and
sent them down the river to the feet below in their
ocn boat The vessel used for the Yankee expo
dition was long low steamer, or torpedoe boat,
propelled by steam or by mufllcd oars Having
disposed of the pickets quietly, the Yankees crossed
to the side of the river opposite TO Plymouth, and
sweeping round, came upon the Albemarle from up
the stream. Our informant who says he was on
the Albemarle at the time, as visitor, and was
eomew hat injured by the explosion Of the torpedoe,
says that in consequence of the darkness and the
noise of the storm, the watch on the Albemarle
knew nothing Of the approach Of the enemy till she
boat is that p The reply was, The ALLOWANCES
by the Yankee boat, on the starboard quarter. In
this attempt, it is thought the Yankees failed to
blow up the Albemarle through defect in the
torpedoe.
They Immediately swung round their boat again
and were coming down upon the ALLOWANCES bow,
when they were again asked, "What boat is that!'
The reply was, ''You will ID soon see" and on
the instant the Alhemarle was struck and the tor
pedoe exploded. BY this time the alarm was
general throughout the ship, and the men rushed
to and made for the outside OF the armor,
where they were met by one or two voeys of grape
from howitzer in the Yankee boat The Able
marle's men commenced a rapid fire all around the
ship, but they could see nothing of the enemy in
consequence of the darkness. 1t was soon, now,
ascertained that the torpedoe had had the intended
effect, for one of the bows of the Albemarle was
stove in and she was rapidly settling down
In the mean time the Yankees, in their con-
fusion, got their boat in the midst Of some logs,
fixed around the Albemarle for her protection, and
being unable to extricate her, the whole party,
with the exception of the Captain in command,
surrendered torpedoe boat and all.
So far as We can learn none Of the crew Of the
Albemarle suffered more than a few slight wounds.
Three of the Yankees said to have been
wounded. They are reported to be all commits
stoned and non commissioned officers, volunteers
for this daring undertaking.
The Albenare went down in few minutes,
but the water being shallow her portfolios were
not submerged.
FURTHER PARTICULARS.
The Goldsboro Journal of Thursday last gives
the following particulars of the attack and capture
of Plymouth
On the evening Of the 28th ult., Gen Baker
commanding this Department, received information
by telegraph, that the enemy had succeeded in
surprising and destroying the gunboat Albemarle
near her wharf at Plymouth. General Baker,
accompanied by bis personal staff, Immediately left
Goldsboro for Plymouth, at which place he arrived
on the afternoon of the 30th in the midst of
fierce bombardment of the town from the feet Of
middle of the river out of sight OF our batteries.
The sudden appearance of General Baker among
the troops hailed by the whole garrison with
shouts of welcome. Each man felt treasured by
ihe voluntary presence of this veteran soldier, and
sprung with alacrity to their duty From their
concoalmcnt the enemy kept up continual shower
Of canister and she'll on the devoted town. Nerved
by the calm and cheering voice of the General,
each man stood bravey to his post ready execute
any order which should emenate from him Find
ing all their attempts to sail up plymouth direct,
foilcd by the stout resistance from the batteries
under command of Col. Whitford the enemy re-
tired and assembled Middle River. There they met
which they soon removed, and re-
entering the Roanoke from this direction they
attacked the town in reverse. General Baker
attempted to prevent this by throwing out sharp
shooters, but owing to the exceedingly heavy fire
of the gunboas and the accuracy of their fire these
we're driven back and the enemy finding no
opposition they assembled the Roanoke and came
down upon the town. The first or upper fort was
manned by the crew of the Albemarle This the
guuboat sailed past, though several times struck
by the shots from its guns the damage not appear
ing to be material. The feet then paid their
special respects to Fort Jones, where they sue
ceeded in dismounting all the guns and exploding
the magazine. Meantime the enemy threw an
occasional spiteful shell hot shot over into the
town, which caused several of the buildings TO fire
At this juncture, in the midst OF the confacratior
Of the town. the necessary evacuation of the several
forts and the landing of the enemy, Gen Baker
issued his orders TO blow up the magazine and
withdraw the garrison. The manpuyre of falling
back was done with such nerfcat order tn a. notb;,