Plymouth in Washington County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

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Battle of Plymouth

Strategic Port & Transportation Center

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, June 28, 2012

1. Battle of Plymouth CWT Marker

Inscription.

Battle of Plymouth. Strategic Port and Transportation Center. , The Battle of Plymouth, April 17-20, 1864, was the last major Confederate victory of the Civil War and the third largest battle fought in North Carolina. Two North Carolinians, Gen. Robert F. Hoke and Gen. Matthew W. Ransom, led the Confederate infantry while Commander James W. Cooke, another native son, had charge of the ironclad ram CSS Albemarle., Since 1862, the U.S. Army had occupied Plymouth, a strategic port and transportation center in a rich agricultural region. By 1864, the Roanoke River and the Wilmington and Weldon Railroad comprised “The Lifeline of the Confederacy” for Gen. Robert E. Lee’s army in Virginia. To protect that lifeline, Lee dispatched Hoke to dislodge the Union garrison at Plymouth, about 3,000 men under Gen. William H. Wessells. The Federals had constructed an extensive system of forts, redoubts, and trenches, and five gunboats under Commander Charles W. Flusser helped protect the town. Hoke had about 13,000 troops and the ironclad ram CSS Albemarle, newly christened and untested in battle., The fighting began on Sunday, April 17, and continued until Wednesday. The Albemarle rammed and sank the gunboat Southfield on April 19, and Flusser was killed during the action. Hoke and Ransom carried most of the fortifications, and Wessells hoisted the white flag of surrender the next day. The Confederates captured not only about 2,500 prisoners, most of whom were sent to Andersonville, Georgia, but also 25 cannons, 500 horses, and 5,000 stands of small arms and the port itself., (sidebar) , May 17, 1862. , U.S. occupation begins. , Dec. 10, 1862. , Confederates capture Plymouth but withdraw. , Apr. 17–20, 1864. , Battle of Plymouth; U.S. forces surrender. , Oct. 27–28, 1864. , U.S. Lt. William B. Cushing sinks CSS Albemarle., Oct. 31, 1864. , U.S. Army forces reoccupy Plymouth. , Local craftsmen constructed the 3/8-scale, 63-foot-long CSS Albemarle replica displayed here. They began work in September 2001 and finished in April 2002. The gun-port shutters operate and a gun crew inside the casemate can roll out the guns and fire them., (captions) , Comm. Charles Flusser , Comm. James Cooke , Gen. Robert F. Hoke , Harper’s image of the capture of Plymouth.

The Battle of Plymouth, April 17-20, 1864, was the last major Confederate victory of the Civil War and the third largest battle fought in North Carolina. Two North Carolinians, Gen. Robert F. Hoke and Gen. Matthew W. Ransom, led the Confederate infantry while Commander James W. Cooke, another native son, had charge of the ironclad ram CSS Albemarle.

Since 1862, the U.S. Army had occupied Plymouth, a strategic port and transportation center in a rich agricultural region. By 1864, the Roanoke River and the Wilmington and Weldon Railroad comprised “The Lifeline of the Confederacy” for Gen. Robert E. Lee’s army in Virginia. To protect that lifeline, Lee dispatched Hoke to dislodge the Union garrison at Plymouth, about 3,000 men under Gen. William H. Wessells. The Federals had constructed an extensive system of forts, redoubts, and trenches, and five gunboats under Commander Charles W. Flusser helped protect the town. Hoke had about 13,000 troops and the ironclad ram CSS Albemarle, newly christened and untested in battle.

The fighting began on Sunday, April 17, and continued until Wednesday. The Albemarle rammed and sank the gunboat Southfield on April 19, and Flusser was killed during the action. Hoke and Ransom carried most of the fortifications, and Wessells hoisted the white flag of

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surrender the next day. The Confederates captured not only about 2,500 prisoners, most of whom were sent to Andersonville, Georgia, but also 25 cannons, 500 horses, and 5,000 stands of small arms and the port itself.

(sidebar)
May 17, 1862.
U.S. occupation begins.

Dec. 10, 1862.
Confederates capture Plymouth but withdraw.

Apr. 17–20, 1864.
Battle of Plymouth; U.S. forces surrender.

Oct. 27–28, 1864.
U.S. Lt. William B. Cushing sinks CSS Albemarle.

Oct. 31, 1864.
U.S. Army forces reoccupy Plymouth.

Local craftsmen constructed the 3/8-scale, 63-foot-long CSS Albemarle replica displayed here. They began work in September 2001 and finished in April 2002. The gun-port shutters operate and a gun crew inside the casemate can roll out the guns and fire them.

(captions)
Comm. Charles Flusser
Comm. James Cooke
Gen. Robert F. Hoke
Harper’s image of the capture of Plymouth.

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 April 17, 1864.

Location. This marker has been replaced by another marker nearby.

Port O’ Plymouth Roanoke River Museum image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, June 28, 2012

2. Port O’ Plymouth Roanoke River Museum

It was located near 35° 52.12′ N, 76° 44.868′ W. Marker was in Plymouth, North Carolina, in Washington County. It could be reached from the intersection of East Water Street and Madison Street, on the left when traveling east. Located at the entrance to the Port O’ Plymouth Roanoke River Museum. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: 302 E Water St, Plymouth NC 27962, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker was in North Carolina’s Coastal Plain. 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 walking distance of this location: A different marker also named Battle of Plymouth (here, next to this marker); Replica 6.4 inch Brooke Rifled Cannon (a few steps from this marker); CSS Albemarle (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named CSS Albemarle (within shouting distance of this marker); Rt. Rev. Alfred Augustin Watson (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Latham House (about 600 feet away); Cushing’s Torpedo (about 600 feet away); Washington County Courthouse (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Plymouth.

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. This marker has been replaced with the linked marker.

Also see . . . The Port o’ Plymouth Museum. Washington County Historical Society website entry (Submitted on September 1, 2021.)

The capture of Plymouth, North Carolina, October 31, 1864 1864. image. Click for more information.

3. The capture of Plymouth, North Carolina, October 31, 1864 1864.

(Illus. in: Harper's Weekly, (1864 December 24), p. 820. Library of Congress [LC-USZ62-61969])
Battle of Plymouth (1864) at North Carolina History Project:
Click for more information.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 22, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 1, 2012, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,703 times since then and 40 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 1, 2012, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.