The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-06-09
THE SEIGE OF PLYMOUTH
now THIS NORTH CAROLINA TOWN
MAS CAPTURED.
A yerv Interesting Address Before Pickett
Camp, &. ", by Capt. Charles
4. Loehr.

The following address was delivered
before Pickett Camp, c. y. by capt
Charles r. Loehr. of this city;
mo subject OF my story IS that OF one
Of our brilliant victories. the capture u
plymouth. y. G.
r,,he town OF Plymouth lies on the
southern bank Of the Roanoke river about
eight miles from the sound. ana was az
that time and some years previous, USED
a. q depot OF supplies by the fcacrai
Army In North Carolina. and as such. was
q very important point IL was garrison
ed by four regiments Of infantry-to-wit:
The 10th Conn, s5th y. y. the lOist anu
.l3i Penn, the oath ~. Y. Independent
battery. two companies OF the "a Mass
Heavy Artillery, part Of the 18th \. T.
Cavalry. and a force OF recruits (white
and black. from the ola North state
all under command Of Brigadier-Gcneral
H. W. Vessels. Three wei constructed
forts. Gray, Williams. and vessels, con
noctod with redoubts and breast-worK'
afforded strong protection for It's oe-
tenders, added thereto the gunboats MIA
mi. .Southficld. Ceres. whitehead, an"
nombshell. under command Of Capt. Flus.
ser. the enemy had every reason 10 feel
himself secure: the force present num-
bcrod (see vol 30. page Soi, Of the war
100 effective men for duty; our force des-
ignated for the capture OF this strong
hold consisted Of fiansom's Brigade the
24,h. 18th 18th. 18th, and Seth n. G. Regis.
Hoke's Brigade the 2ist Ga. the 9th. 2ist.
4sd 5fth. and 57th n. g. Regis. Kempcr's
Brigade the lst 3D. eth. 18th, and oath Va.
Reg'ts the 3Sth Va Battery OF Artillery.
four companies OF the Rich'd Fayette Ar
tilery, Blunt's, Stribling's, and Caskics
81 coll ria Of "a r
tilery and Bearings Cavalry. the whole
under command OF Brlgadicr-Generai
Robert r. Hcke, numbering not exceed
ing 5000 men.
VICINITY or PLYMOUTH REACHED.
IL was on a lovely Sunday evening
April nth. 1864 when our command reach
N the vicinity OF Plymouth. our p'ls"~v ,
Glemner'o was halted in the woods OH
Tho SIDE ora road running parallel WIN
the river short distance from rort
GRAY which was IN plain view. Inc
Richmond Fayette Artillery was placed III
oosition close to the river, whlch was
lined with our skirmshers. A party o.
the First Virginia Infantry. OF which l
was one, were sent to farmhouse apou'
midway between the opposing INES CLOS
~ the river Soon after we reacneu Jul
position one Of the enemy's boats passeu
us. not. however, without being serious
lv injured by our shells ana hushe'iS,
having a number Of her crew wouiiueu
md killed. We fired about SIX rouhus pe
fore she got out Of our range, the palis
making the glass Jingle as they struck
tho windows During the night we hau
unite n feast With the usual instinct OF
an old Confed for victuals, cur boys us
covered a big supply of eggs, butter hour'
and other good things; then there was
big fire lighted, cooking and eating com
monced: suddenly. without. notice. th'Ie
was an explosion Of a shell heard III
front OF our quarters, and TO our sur
prise our own battery vas found 10 De
firing on us. taking us for gunDoa',
being led into the error on account OF
the lighted window which was facing
our guns. Matters having been rectifed,
we passed a comparative quiet night Inc
next morning however we found 10 our
sorrow that Fort Gary, which was aDout
GO yards off, had taken notice OF us, anu
soon shell after shell made the place I'M
tenable. We tried to dix into the ground In
rear Of the building. but the holes hlled
with water however, after some OF the
BOYS got the bedding out the house. ana
PLACED that In bitches, most of us lay
down and thus escaped being torn to
pieces by the enemys shells: when the
Smelling commenced, Jos. Rockingham
and myself occupied one OF the trenches
we had dug. Just before ms Delaware Nc
MINI was sitting on the ground, and
Tom Minor was standing on the steps
leading 10 the upper story of the house
near by 1t. Jesse A. Payne was standing,
The6 j. Robertson had sheltered himself
under the house. and the others were
laying around, very. low; then one OF the
shells came crushing through the build
Ing and knocked the steps and with them.
Tom Minor over 1t. Payne was also
slightly wcrLdod this made McMinn
howl with laughter. l called to him TO
lay down. but he paid 10 attention to my
advice. and the next shell that exploded,
after tearing through the building killed
the poor fellow before my eyes; pieces
OF the shell tore through our blankets.
which we had In front of u.s. then came
another she'll. and Theo. Robertson was
badly wounded and disabled this brought
our occupation of that post TO an end; we
were recalled and as we ran across the
field, the fort sent us a few more chasters
which caused us TO make fast time 10
Join our command and safety.
PRETTY DISPLAY OF FIREWORKS.
Late IN the evening" our brigade was
marched TO the right; passing through
swamp, we halted near the Washington
road on the edge OF a ravine some lit-
Tie distance to our right we found Hoko's
brigade engaged in charging Fort Wes-
sci. and after a short conflict, they were
forced 10 fan back, being unable 10 get
ri the fort this work being so construct
ed as to make 1t impossible for infantry
% get into It: It had In front ana d.,
around it's four sides a high abbaus OF
tree tons. then very deep often an
mis- happened in the middle OF the hieh',
the Smelling. musketry, and the hanu
yrenadcs used by the enemy made very
nrottv. but dangerous. display or hre-
works The fort was defended by onS
sixtv-aye en- and two pieces OF ar'h-
ierv a thirty-two and six-pounder gun
After the ropulse of Hoke.s men, III
which Col. Mercer OF the Twenty-his'
Georgia Regiment, was killed, our piA,
ysde was thrown forward and depioyeu
ss administers, completely encircling 'ae
Sort then the Richmond fayette Arui-
iery was brought up. and what theh DC.
Cured / copy from letter by sergeant
A Harrison Jones. of the II. #. A, one
81 the most gallant men OF that famous
artillery company. Sergeant Jones states
as follows: II rccollect distinctly tne
state OF my nerves. when / heard Col.
Jim Bearing tell his orderly 10 ask III
ebackelford to bring all the ambulances
IL xxl