New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-05-06
TIE CAPTURE OF PLYnOUTH.
Details By One OF the Garrison.


To the Editor Qf The ". Y. Tribune.
SIR; Seeing such incorrect accounts OF the
fall Of Plymouth hasten to give you more correct
statement OF that fierce and bloody conflict.
On Saturday evening April II, at about 81 O'Clock,
the Rebels attacSed Fort Gray, the Roanoke, two
miles above the town. with six pieces Of field artillery
They speedily repu'sed doing but little damage,
except sinking our gunboat BomhsheI by firing into
her. She dropped down and sunk opposite Plymouth,
much injured On Monday they fred occasionally all
day Fort Vessels, and took by assault on Monday
night with loss of some 90 killed. Here our men
fou ;t like tigers and the heroic Capt Chaplin Of Com
pany X s5th York fell. This little fort is about
mile from the town. in il had about 90 men and four
" Founders Here through mistake the Rebels fired
their own men, and it is said killed several Of them.
Our loss here, far known only two killed, be-
side Capt Chaplin. OR artillery played heavily upon
this fort all day Tuesday ceasing at intervals On Mon
day at dusk they drove in our Tckets in front, killing
one and wounding one; and at dark they opened and
continued for tgO hours and half most fierce fire Of
artillery upon Fort Williams, strongest fort IN
which Gen. Vessels had his headquarters during the
siege. Fort Williams fred in upon them heavily with
great slaughter AID received bat little injury except
n the death Of ent. Cline Of the l03d Pennsylvania
Just after dark Of our gunboats opened upon them
u most CALLING fro, The oanRoHadng now for more
tlan two hours was most grand awful terrific, and sub
lime / stood upon tho piazza Of my own room with
shells and balls dropping around NE. Men who lad
been iu Tie Pcnnsuar campaign said they never saw
anything to equal the firing here. one shell from our
gunboo', commanded by Capt. Ilusser, who aerward
fell dead on tie deck Of his own slip it said killed
three and wounded 9 Rebels. About O'Clock all fir
W ceased anl tie Rebels retired TO the woods in front
OF Font Williams
Tho women children, and our sick were sent to Ro-
anoke Island on Saturday night together with a
schooner load Of old negroes. Another load went on
Monday night.
About o'clock on Tuesday morning tie Rebel ram
with two guys came down aud swept out all our gun
boats upon which we had depended much to pro,cct
the lclt and lower part Of the town. The gunboats
Miami all Sou,lf.d were linked together and the
ran ran between them. and ran into tie southhe.d,
and 81 e soon sank Then the Miami went below
An day on Tuesday the ram lay some two miles below
town. and Kept up firing al day, but with little or no
execution. save PENETRATING the houses. Size threw
81 els most awfllly swift l could dodge balls from
Of er pcces bat It would be hard 10 dodge one from
her. Her guns are 32-poundersi good many Of hex
shells never burst II takes her about eight minutes to
load and fire.
Early ON Wednesday morning, about daylight the
Rebels with five brigadcs COMMANDED by Gen. Ran
som "a part OF stonewnn Jacksor's diyision) made
assault after assault upon Cornfcr Redoubt on the lc
in 7hich We had a,out 900 and foar S2ponndcrss
Coming up with such an overwhelming force they
succeeded with the loss of Of killed in taking
this little fort which let them into the town, up Main
street shortly after their entrance into the town
about 800 Of were taken pTRDacrs OF war and
marched nearly two miles below town leaving our
beautiful flag stiI coating Font lliam-, with the
brave Gen. Wesscs his STAFF and some 200 men ST
holding out and refusing 20 SUR endeF until 10 P III
on "wednesday.
Their force engaged has been estimated at 10000
with a reserve Of four five thousand Our effective
force was about 1000 Their killed and wounded l
suppose, is about l.OO0-some put it at / 800. Gen
Hoke, commanding tie Rebel forces, heard to say
that their loss about 500. Our killed won't ex'
coed twenty. and wounded not eighty, captured in
Guiding citizens 220O They shot great many blacks
after the fight was oyer-some say 80 The following
4, nst Of the killed and wounded so far as known,
two DAYS after the surrender;