The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1901-02-28
RANSOM'S BRIGADE
AT PLYMOUTH, NORTH CARROLL
Ma,

By Edwin q. Moore, Of Co. A 24th
N. 6. Regiment.
Atlanta Journal.
In the winter of 1862, the captur
OF Hatteras, Roanoke Island and Ne,
Berne, all the tide water region of Nortl
Carolin: east OF Wilmington lay at tn
mercy OF the Union forces.
To render these conquests perma
nent, and to serve as bases for fu,the
inroads into the state, they seized and
strongly fortified several strategic
points; among these was Plymouth
situated on the eouth bank of the Roam
oke river, few miles above the AL
bemarle sound.
The region of country thus brought
under subsection included the prlnci'
pal waterways OF the state, the most
valuable fisheries OF the south, and
many thouaand acres of fertile and pro-
ductive agricultural lands. Indeed, on
account OF the tall OF Roanoke Island,
southeast Virgins, including Norfolk,
Portsmouth and its great navy yard,
was abandoned to the enemy.
These disasters naturally produced
great depression among tho people ol
North Carolina, and in certain quarters
discomfort and unmeasured criticism OF
the Confederate authorities.
But there was no waverlng in devo-
ton to the cause the state contributed
her treasure, almost to the last dollar,
and her sons, to the number of 12O, 600,
before the conflict ended.
The Confederate government made
and Intellectual effort to regain New
Berne In the winter of 1923, but 1t
was not until April, 1864, that any
important success to regain the lost
ground was accomplished. This was
the recapture of Plymouth by force
under General Robert F. Hoke, consis-
ting of his own division, composed OF
North Carolinians, Georgians and Vlr-
ginans,and the brigade of M. w. Ram
som, composed of the oath, Both, 10Th
and Seth North Carolina regiments.
The 8th North Carolina regiment was
temporarily attached to Ransom's brig
sde for this expedition. and 1t should
be mentioned that Branch's artillery
of Virginia formed a part of the
brigade.
The first step taken for the capture
of Plymouth was tho construction OF
the Albemarle, small but powerful
iron-clad steam ram. This boat had been
commenced the year previous at Hail.
fax on the Roanoke, and when COM
pletsd the forces under General Hoke
were put in motion and arrived at their
destination OH tho evening OF April II
1864.
The town of Plymouth was directly
accessible from two directions, the west
and south. By q flank movement it
could be approached from the east, but
on the north was the river, held by a
feet OF gunboats, and beyond was an
impossible swamp.
The object OF the preliminary opera
lions was to enable the Albemarle to
pass the river batteries on the western
side. The disposition of the forces for
this purpose was as follows: General
Hoke's brigade approached the western
side OF the town and General Ransom's
the southern. In the absence OF the
official reports of this battle the details
of the narrative which follows must
bs confined mainly to the operations of
Of Ransom's brigade and even these to
limited view OF the writer's observation
and experience. So, on the evening OF
the 17th of April while Ransom's g brig
ade was restlng about a mile distant
from the southern Notifications Col
onel William ]. Clarke, of the 24th
North Carolina regiment, called aside
the officers of Company A. of which
the writer was member, and instructed
them that he wished the company to
deploy as sklrmishers, and develop
what force held 4 certain point which
he indicated, and drive them if posi-
BILE. The order was Immediately obey
cd, and the company encountered
spirited resistance In few moments.
The object for which Company A had
been sent out had scarcely been accom-
plished before the entire brigade ad-
vanced in fine array, firing as they
moved. This demonstration drew forth
the concentrated fire of all the
enemy's batteries on tho south side, In
cluding the heavy guns on board their
fleet.
General Hoke was making a similar
show of attack on the western side. and