BATTLE OF PLYMOUTH

At 4 P.M. on April 17, 1864, an advanced Union patrol on the Washington Road was captured by Confederate cavalry. A company of the 12th N. Y. Cavalry attacked the Confederates but was repulsed. Soon a large force of Confederate infantry appeared on the Washington Road, and at the same time Fort Gray, two miles above Plymouth on the riverbank, was attacked by advanced Confederate infantry. During the evening skirmishing continued from the Washington Road to the Acre Road. Union General Henry W. Wessells’ garrison of about 3,000, which had held Plymouth since December 1862, was under attack by General Robert F. Hoke’s Division of over 5,000 men. At 5:30 A.M. on April 18, a heavy Confederate artillery fire was directed against Fort Gray. Both Fort Gray and Battery Worth in Plymouth returned the fire. Soon a Union gunboat, the Bombshell, was disabled by the Confederate barrage. At 6:30 P.M. on the 18th the Confederates advanced their line and began an infantry assault upon the Union position; but this attack was abandoned at 8 P.M. The 85th Redoubt was then attacked and captured at 11 P.M. At 3 A.M. on April 19, the Confederates again attacked Fort Gray. Soon the Confederate iron- clad ram Albemarle, aiding the army, passed undetected down the river. The Albemarle engaged the Southfield and the Miami at 3:30 A.M., sinking the former and driving the latter away. The Albemarle then began to shell the Union defenses. On April 19 the Confederates opened fire on the Union line from the 85th Redoubt. Fort Williams and Battery Worth returned the fire. Heavy skirmishing continued all day. At 6:30 P.M. the Confederates crossed Coneby Creek in an unexpected advance. Their infantry was now in an important position east of Plymouth. At 5 A.M. on April 20, the Confederates under General Matt W. Ransom assaulted the Union line east of Plymouth, while General Hoke, with two brigades, demonstrated against the Union right. After capturing the Union defenses east of Plymouth, the Confederates halted their advance and re-formed. Union infantry counter-attacked but were repulsed by a renewed Confederate advance. In spite of determined resistance by the garrison of Fort Williams, the town was surrendered by General Wessells at 10 A.M. The capture of Plymouth by the Confederates was significant because it returned two rich eastern North Carolina counties to the Confederacy; it supplied “immense ordnance stores” to the Southern war effort; and the Roanoke River was reopened to Confederate commerce and military operations. US 64 at rest area in Plymouth. 1962 BBB-4 HOKE'S FINAL LINE The extreme left flank of Confederate General Robt. F. Hoke's brigade was formed a few yds. N. just before the final attack, April 20, 1864. West Main Street at Alden Road in Plymouth. 1961 BBB-5 RANSOM'S ASSAULT General Matt Ransom's brigade formed in line of battle near here in the final Confederate attack, April 20, 1864. Main Street west of Conaby Creek in Plymouth. 1961 BBB-6 85th REDOUBT Union fort built by the 85th New York Regiment. It was taken on April 18, 1864, in one of the heaviest assaults of the siege. Campbell Street at Winston Street in Plymouth. 1961 BBB-7 UNION EARTHWORKS The main line of Union defenses during the Battle of Plymouth, April 17-20, 1864, was built across the road at this point. Fort Williams Street in Plymouth. 1961 BBB-8 NAVAL ACTION The Confederate ironclad ram "Albemarle" sank the Union gunboat "Southfield", April 19, 1864, one mile N.E. in the Roanoke River. East Main Street in Plymouth. 1961 BBB-9 FORT WILLIAMS Principal Union fort at Plymouth, named for Gen. Thomas Williams, stood here. It was the last fort to fall, April 20, 1864.