The Chicamacomico Races / Exodus from Chicamacomico Marker

HMdb.org

THE HISTORICAL
MARKER DATABASE “Bite-Size Bits of Local, National, and Global History”

Home — My Markers — Add A Marker — Marker Series — Links & Books — Forum — About Us

Word or Phrase

Add Photo — Add Link — Add Commentary — Correct this page — Print

Rodanthe in Dare County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

The Chicamacomico Races / Exodus from Chicamacomico

The Chicamacomico Races Marker Photo, Click for full size

By Kevin W., June 23, 2009

1. The Chicamacomico Races Marker

Inscription. The Chicamacomico Races
Soon after the capture of Hatteras Inlet, Union Colonel Rush C. Hawkins anticipated an assault to dislodge his troops from their new foothold on Hatteras Island. He dispatched 600 troops of the 20th Indiana Regiment from Fort Hatteras to Camp Live Oak, two miles south of here. On October 1, 1861, Captain William A. Lynch of the Confederate Navy, commanding the "Mosquito Fleet," seized the USS Fanny in Pamlico Sound. Three days later, the fleet returned to this vicinity with Colonel Augustus R. Wright's 3rd Georgia Infantry and quickly forced the Federal troops to retreat. They hurriedly left their equipment and provisions and were preceded by the fleeing residents of Chicamacomico. They reached the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, over twenty miles away, at midnight. "It was maddening." one soldier wrote, "the sea rolling to our feet and nothing to drink."

The next morning, reinforced Union troops drove the Georgians back over the same ground under heavy shelling from the USS Monticello. "We marched 16 miles," wrote a Confederate officer, "and it was a miracle numbers of us were not killed." As the Confederates and the "Mosquito Fleet" disembarked, they traded cannon fire with the Monticello across this narrow stretch of beach. Chicamacomico was subsequently

Exodus from Chicamacomico Marker Photo, Click for full size

By Kevin W., June 23, 2009

2. Exodus from Chicamacomico Marker

abandoned by both sides - each convinced they had repelled a major enemy offensive.
Exodus from Chicamacomico
Residents of Chicamacomico, after being routed from their homes by Confederate troops, precede the 20th Indiana Regiment as they escape southward towards Fort Hatteras. Many residents had earlier taken the Oath of Allegiance reaffirming their loyalty to the United States and feared reprisals if they remained. Their empty houses were pillaged and some were torched by marauding soldiers of the 3rd Georgia Infantry from nearby Roanoke Island.

Erected by Dare County Tourism Board.

Marker series. This marker is included in the Markers with Artwork marker series.

Location. 35° 35.738′ N, 75° 28.074′ W. Marker is in Rodanthe, North Carolina, in Dare County. Marker is at the intersection of State Highway 12 and Myrna Peters Road on State Highway 12. Click for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 23645 NC Highway 12, Rodanthe NC 27968, United States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 2 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, as the crow flies. "Mirlo" Rescue (within shouting distance of this marker); The Fanny (approx. 4.3 miles away).

Also see . . .

By Kevin W., June 23, 2009

3. The Chicamacomico Races Marker

The Battle of Chicamacomico Races. ...Thus the “Chicamacomico Races” ended with everyone back where they started. Each side felt they had foiled a major enemy offensive, and had succeeded in spite of being outnumbered by no less than two to one by their opponent. (Submitted on September 15, 2008.)