The Battle of Plymouth was an engagement during the American Civil War

American Civil War

The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...

 that was fought from April 17 through April 20, 1864, in Washington County, North Carolina

Washington County, North Carolina

-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 13,723 people, 5,367 households, and 3,907 families residing in the county. The population density was 39 people per square mile . There were 6,174 housing units at an average density of 18 per square mile...

.

Battle

In a combined operation with the ironclad ram CSS Albemarle

CSS Albemarle

CSS Albemarle was an ironclad ram of the Confederate Navy , named for a town and a sound in North Carolina and a county in Virginia...

, Confederate

Confederate States Army

The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...

 forces under Maj. Gen.

Major General

Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...

 Robert F. Hoke, attacked the Federal garrison

Union Army

The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...

 at Plymouth, North Carolina

Plymouth, North Carolina

Plymouth is the largest town in Washington County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 4,107 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Washington County...

, on April 17. On April 19, the ram appeared in the river, sinking the USS Southfield

USS Southfield (1857)

USS Southfield, was a a double-ended, sidewheel steam gunboat of the Union Navy during the American Civil War. She was sunk in action against the Confederate ironclad ram CSS Albemarle during the Battle of Plymouth ....

, damaging the USS Miami

USS Miami (1861)

The first USS Miami was a side-wheel, double-ender gunboat in the United States Navy during the American Civil War.Miami was launched by Philadelphia Navy Yard on November 16, 1861, and commissioned there on January 29, 1862, Lieutenant Abram Davis Harrell in command.-Battle of New Orleans:The...

, and driving off the other Union Navy

Union Navy

The Union Navy is the label applied to the United States Navy during the American Civil War, to contrast it from its direct opponent, the Confederate States Navy...

 ships supporting the Plymouth garrison. Confederate forces captured Fort Comfort, driving defenders into Fort Williams. On April 20, the garrison surrendered.

Union forces

• 1st North Carolina Union Volunteers
• 2nd North Carolina Union Volunteers
• 101st Pennsylvania Volunteers
• 103rd Pennsylvania Volunteers
• 16th Connecticut Infantry
• 85th New York Light Infantry
• 10th US Colored Infantry
• 37th US Colored Infantry
• 2nd US Colored Cavalry
• 12th New York Cavalry
• 2nd Massachusetts Heavy Artillery
• 24th New York Independent Battery

Naval

• USS Miami
• USS Southfield
• USS Ceres
• USS Whitehead
• USS Massasoit

Confederate forces

Hoke's Division

• Hoke's Brigade
  • 6th North Carolina Infantry
  • 21st North Carolina Infantry
  • 43rd North Carolina Infantry
  • 54th North Carolina Infantry
  • 21st Georgia Infantry
• Ransom's Brigade
  • 8th North Carolina Infantry
  • 24th North Carolina Infantry
  • 25th North Carolina Infantry
  • 35th North Carolina Infantry
  • 49th North Carolina Infantry
  • 56th North Carolina Infantry
• Kemper's Brigade
  • 1st Virginia Infantry
    1st Virginia Infantry
    The 1st Virginia Volunteer Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment raised in the Commonwealth of Virginia for service in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. It fought mostly with the Army of Northern Virginia....
    
    
  • 3rd Virginia Infantry
    3rd Virginia Infantry
    The 3rd Virginia Volunteer Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment raised in Virginia for service in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. It fought mostly with the Army of Northern Virginia....
    
    
  • 7th Virginia Infantry
  • 11th Virginia Infantry
  • 24th Virginia Infantry

Dearing's Battalion

• 8th Confederate Cavalry
• Virginia Horse Artillery

Branch's Battalion

• Pegram's Battery
• Miller's Artillery
• Bradford's Battery

Moseley's Battalion

• Montgomery (Alabama) True Blues Infantry
• Wilmington Light Artillery

Guion's Battalion:

• 1st NC Artillery - Co.s B, G & H.

Read's Battalion:

• 38th Virginia Battalion of Light Infantry
  • Fauquier Artillery (Co. A)
  • Richmond Fayette Artillery (Co. B)
  • Bloundt's Lynchburg Artillery (Co. D)

Naval

• CSS Albemarle
• CSS Cotton Plant

External links

• National Park Service battle description
• Civil War Plymouth Pilgrims Descendants Society