South Mills in Camden County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
Battle of South Mills
Fight for the Canal
| | Burnside Expedition | |
Photographed by Bernard Fisher, June 23, 2012
1. Battle of South Mills CWT Marker
Early in 1862, Union Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside led an expedition to secure the coast of North Carolina and occupy strategically important sites such as New Bern and Elizabeth City. After Burnside learned of the March 9 clash between USS Monitor and CSS Virginia (formerly Merrimack) in Hampton Roads, Virginia, he became concerned that Confederate ironclads might attack his right flank from Virginia via the Dismal Swamp Canal. He decided to destroy these locks and close the canal here. Burnside assigned Gen. Jesse L. Reno the task, and before dawn on April 19, Reno led a four-gun battery and more than 3,000 men north from Elizabeth City.
Three miles southeast of here, Reno encountered Confederate Col. Ambrose R. Wrights 3rd Georgia Regiment and North Carolina militiamen (about 750 altogether) in a ditch behind a fence, obscured by burning brush in another ditch in front. A Confederate battery commanded the road. After several hours of skirmishing, Union Col. Rush C. Hawkins ordered his 9th New York Zouaves to charge the battery, but strong Confederate fire drove them back with heavy casualties. After more fighting, Wright withdrew to Joys Creek to await reinforcements and more ammunition. The Federals bivouacked on the field but marched back to Elizabeth City during the night when rumors of a counterattack
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(captions)
Gen. Ambrose Burnside Gen. Jesse Reno
Col. Rush C. Hawkins, clad in the Zouaves colorful uniform.
South Mills engagement on Dismal Swamp Canal
Erected by North Carolina Civil War Trails.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the North Carolina Civil War Trails series list. A significant historical date for this entry is March 9, 1862.
Location. This marker has been replaced by another marker nearby. It was located near 36° 26.492′ N, 76° 19.518′ W. Marker was in South Mills, North Carolina, in Camden County. It was on Canal Drive 0.3 miles south of Main Street (U.S. 17), on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker was in this post office area: South Mills NC 27976, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker was in the Coastal Plain and in the Hampton Roads Metropolitan Area. It was also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, and in the Tidewater. Globally, it was in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it found 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 10 miles of this location, measured as the crow flies: Dismal Swamp Canal (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also
Photographed by Bernard Fisher, June 23, 2012
2. Battle of South Mills Marker
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. New CWT Marker At This Location titled "Dismal Swamp Canal".
Photographed by Bernard Fisher, June 23, 2012
3. Dismal Swamp Canal
Credits. This page was last revised on August 26, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 25, 2012, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,909 times since then and 50 times this year. Last updated on August 25, 2025, by Mark P. Brock-Cancellieri of Baltimore, Maryland. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 25, 2012, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.
