Windsor in Bertie County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
The Battle of Windsor
January 30, 1864
Union forces scattered in the eastern towns responded quickly. Just prior to midnight on January 29, 1864, three warships silently embarked from Union occupied Plymouth loaded with 1,200 Federal troops in an attempt to make a surprise attack on Windsor. A battle plan had been designed to capture 125 Confederate mounted cavalry troopers comprised of Company B of the 62nd Georgia Cavalry Regiment commanded by Captain B.B. Bowers, and his commanding officer Colonel Joel Griffin. The troopers had come to Windsor from their headquarters in Harrellsville to oversee a civil election.
The Union plan called for three prongs of attack to cut off all escape routes for the Confederates in Windsor. The USS Massasoit was directed to steam to Cedar Landing on the Roanoke River and discharge its troops before dawn. This force was to advance and cut off all escape from Windsor to the Roanoke River crossings. The USS Bombshell was to land troops before dawn at Cooper’s Landing on the Cashie River. This detachment was to divide and capture both the Hoggard’s Mill Bridge and the Windsor Bridge, cutting off all possible escape for the Confederates to Colerain, Edenton, and other Chowan River crossings. And at daylight, the USS Whitehead, commanded by Lieutenant Commander Charles L. Flusser, was to steam straight up the Cashie River and land at Windsor near this spot.
After the initial landing, a firefight began at Hoggard’s Mill and 31 loyalist Union troops from Bertie County comprising Company E, 2nd NC Volunteers, led the successful capture of the bridge there. The early morning firing attracted the main body of Confederate troopers in town to this first phase of the battle. The main body of 1,000 Federal troops that had landed at Windsor proceeded up King Street towards the Southerner’s rear. The Confederates, outnumbered nine to one in this second phase of the battle, were forced to shift to the south and the battle’s third phase. Riding up Cobb’s Hill, they were engaged by the detachment of Federal troops arriving from Cedar landing. Making a flanking turn west, the Confederates raced up the Lewiston Road and crossed the Cashie River at Craig’s Mill where they turned and made as escape back to their base in Harrellsville.
Although successful in the landings, 1,200 Union troops captured only two civilians and three Confederate troopers. Also taken were about 40 “contraband,” slaves who had asked to return with the Federal forces. These former slaves joined others from Bertie County already enlisted in the union Army, totaling 349.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical month for this entry is January 1862.
Location. 35° 59.64′ N, 76° 56.557′ W. Marker is in Windsor, North Carolina, in Bertie County. Marker is at the intersection of South King Street (State Highway 308) and East Water Street (U.S. 17), on the right when traveling north on South King Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Windsor NC 27983, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Gray’s Landing (here, next to this marker); Historic Windsor (here, next to this marker); Engagement at Windsor (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); Wellington and Powell Railroad (approx. 0.2 miles away); Roanoke/Cashie River Center Grave Site (approx. 0.2 miles away); Eden House Root Cellar (approx. 0.2 miles away); WWII POW Camp (approx. 0.2 miles away); William Blount (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Windsor.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on October 29, 2012, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 874 times since then and 53 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 29, 2012, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.