Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1864-04-26
Capture of Plymouth, N. c.

11OhC W oCliOtA% ~
the capture of Plymouth.
Capture of Plymouth, N. c.
The following official despatch was
received by Gen. Bragg on Thursday
last:
PLMourH, N. c., April goth, 1864.
fsTo General Braxton Bragg
81 have stormed and carried this place, cap.
turing one Rrigadier, one thousand six hundr co
men, stores, twenty five pieces of Artillery.
r. F. hoKE, Brig. Geni."
A telegram was also received by the
President. from Col. Jno. Tay Tor Wo cd,
dated Rocky Mount, 21st inst, giving
further particulars of the capture OF
Plymouth by the forces under Gen. Hoke
with naval cooperation.
He says that about twenty-five hun
dred prisoners were taken-three or
four hundred of them negroes, thirty
pieces of artillery, one hundred thous-
and pounds Ct meat, one thousand bar
rels of -four, and full garrison outfit.
Two gunboats were sunk, another disa-
bled, and a small steamer captured.
Our loss was about three hundred in
all. Col. Mercer was among the killed.
Plymouth is in Washington county,
near the 10 outh of the Roanoke river,
and the country around is said to be
very rich and full Of supplies. The two
other places held by the Yankees on
the North Carolina coast are Washing
ton, at the mouth of Tar river, and
Newbern, at the mouth of the Neuse.
The latter is strongly garrisoned but il
is supposed that the larger part of the
forces at Washington had been moved
up to Plymouth.
The Richmond Dispatch gives the
following additional particulars
The force engaged on our side was
Hoke's brigade, commanded by Col.
Mercer of the 21st Ca, Ransom's bri
gade, commanded by Gen. Ransom and
Kemper's Virginia. brigade, comman-
ded by Col. Terry.
On Sunday afternoon, about O'Clock,
/ our forces, under the command OF Gen
/ Hoke, arrived in front of Plymouth, the
Notifications being plainly visible
j through the trees behind which the Con
federates were drawn up. The 1st Va.
regiment, commanded BY Major Nor
Ton, was thrown forward as. skirmisflers
and the eneny3s 1880 RCD y hind
their tortifeatfoa Isl as a sse
commenced d v
the field in tl3tss; ~, 3 = q q
to be flag ss|
On insnecfiIf ~ q 3 A. IA;
tice. In the \ & 8'ys;l
.sa targets pr ~
NEE the enemy ,effecss ~ z
of all the approachs Y Y their work
The Yankees opened on the skirmish
). ers with the large guns in the fort which
they were approaching, in Which was
mounted loo pound Parrot and 8 inch
Columbiad. No assault was made or
Sunday afternoon, though the skirmlsh.
ers were kept out.
During the afternoon q gunboat came
from behind the town and started up the
river with pleasure party on board
Our artillery opened Oh her, but though
struck she proceeded up the river, land
ed her passengers, and that night at
tempted to drop down to the town. She
was again attacked by the artillery, ano
by some sharpshooters posted on the
banks for the purpose, but without stop
ping her.
On Monday our forces held the posi-
ton assumed Sunday evening, the enc
my shelling at times turiously. By this
Smelling the following casualties, Of
which we have heard, occurred in the
LIST Virginia regiment: Delaware Nc.
MINI, wounded in the side, supposed
mortally; Frank Josephs, ankle crushed
Theo. j. Robertson, in eight places, all
slight; Lieut.. Payne, face, slight.
On Tuesday, it seems, heavy fighting
occurred, with varied success, and on
Wednesday morning the place was car.
RED by assault, Hoke's brigade entering
and charging with the bayonet up the
principal streets. Col. Mercer, who
led them, was killed. During Tuesday
our artillery, including the Fayette Ar
tillery, Of Richmond, was planted with
in $50 yards of the fortications and
opened ire. The Fayette Artillery, it
is stated, suffered heavily from the enc
my's fire.
The gunboat which went out of the
Roanoke, it is said, made short work OF
the shipping in front of the town.
| Sunday morning cur cavalry pickets
found negro spy coming into our lines
wearing the dress of field hand, and
having a red handkerchief tied around
his head. Under this dress was found
the full uniform of Yankee soldier
The negro was hung On the spot.
SIX PER CENT BONDS.
In an article published in this paper
L LII