Near Garysburg in Northampton County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
Boone's Mill Fight
Caught with Their Clothes Off
On July 28, 1863, some of Confederate Gen. Matt W. Ransom's men were bathing here in the Boone's Mill pond, when suddenly bullets began splashing into the water. At the same time, Ransom and his staff galloped across the mill bridge shouting orders, with Union Col. Samuel P. Spear's cavalrymen fifty yards behind in a running shootout. Spear had thundered through Jackson en route to destroy the Wilmington & Weldon Railroad bridge over the Roanoke River at Weldon, and surprised Ransom half a mile outside town. Ransom's naked soldiers scrambled for their weapons, and Spear stopped and dismounted his men.
Not all the Confederates were caught with their clothes off. Four companies of the 24th North Carolina Infantry were entrenched with two Macon Light Artillery guns near the millpond, with eight companies of the 49th North Carolina camped nearby. Skirmishers advanced against the Federals, but the 11th Pennsylvania Cavalry and two guns from Stewart's Mounted Battery soon pushed them back. As the Pennsylvania formed for a mounted attack, the 1st New York Mounted Rifles arrived in support, to strike the Confederate left and
this page online
"We met the Yankees … at Boone's Mill. … The mill was a small corn cracker built on a creek with a large pond above." — W.A. Day, 49th N.C. Infantry, The Landmark, Statesville, N.C., Nov. 28, 1933
Erected by North Carolina Civil War Trails.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: War, US Civil • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the North Carolina Civil War Trails series list. A significant historical date for this entry is July 28, 1863.
Location. 36° 22.649′ N, 77° 27.161′ W. Marker is near Garysburg, North Carolina, in Northampton County. It is on Boones Mill Road (County Road 1137) 0.1 miles east of U.S. 158, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is in this post
Regionally, this marker is in North Carolina’s Coastal Plain. It is also in the American South and specifically in the Upper South. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Boon's Mill (a few steps from this marker); Henry K. Burgwyn (approx. 0.6 miles away); Sir Archie (approx. ¾ mile away); Northampton Memorial Library War Memorial (approx. 1.9 miles away); Bobby Evans (approx. 1.9 miles away); The Church of The Saviour (1898) and Cemetery (1853) (approx. 2 miles away); Lafayette's Tour (approx. 2 miles away); James H. Jones (approx. 2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Garysburg.
Another marker is no longer nearby. Battle of Jackson (was a few steps from this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it).
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. This marker has replaced the linked marker.
Credits. This page was last revised on August 28, 2021. It was originally submitted on August 28, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 1,201 times since then and 93 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 28, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
