Washington in Beaufort County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
USS Picket
Battle of Washington
Photographed By Mike Stroud, April 19, 2013
1. USS Picket Marker
Inscription.
USS Picket. Battle of Washington. During the summer of 1862, Union forces firmly controlled eastern North Carolina, with garrisons stationed at Plymouth, Washington, New Bern and elsewhere. Federal detachments raided the countryside at will, while Confederate authorities struck back with raids of their own. One such action occurred here at Washington on September 6, when Confederate Maj. Stephen D. Pool led 1,000 infantry, cavalry, and artillery against the 1,200-man garrison. Concealed by early morning fog, Pool and his men slipped past Federal pickets and into town. Once the shooting started, sleepy Union soldiers stumbled into the streets and began a confused, uncoordinated defense. Eventually the haze lifted enough for two Federal gunboats, Picket and Louisiana, to shell the Confederates. Suddenly, Picket's magazine exploded, killing Capt. Sylvester Nicoll and nineteen crewmen and wounding six others., The Confederates cheered, "Washington is ours!" Soon, however Federal reinforcements arrived to turn the tide. Col. Edward E. Potter, 1st Regiment North Carolina Union Volunteers, was leading five cavalry companies and an artillery battery from Washington to Plymouth when he heard the sound of gunfire. He turned his detachment around and, after more than two hours of hard fighting, drove the Confederates from Washington. Confederate casualties were 31 killed, 30 wounded, and 24 taken prisoner, while the Federals lost 26 killed, 55 wounded, and 12 captured.
During the summer of 1862, Union
forces firmly controlled eastern
North Carolina, with garrisons
stationed at Plymouth, Washington,
New Bern and elsewhere. Federal
detachments raided the countryside
at will, while Confederate authorities
struck back with raids of their
own. One such action occurred here
at Washington on September 6,
when Confederate Maj. Stephen D.
Pool led 1,000 infantry, cavalry, and
artillery against the 1,200-man
garrison. Concealed by early morning
fog, Pool and his men slipped past
Federal pickets and into town. Once
the shooting started, sleepy Union
soldiers stumbled into the streets
and began a confused, uncoordinated
defense. Eventually the haze lifted
enough for two Federal gunboats,
Picket and Louisiana, to shell the
Confederates. Suddenly, Picket's
magazine exploded, killing Capt.
Sylvester Nicoll and nineteen crewmen
and wounding six others.
The Confederates cheered,
"Washington is ours!" Soon, however
Federal reinforcements arrived to
turn the tide. Col. Edward E. Potter,
1st Regiment North Carolina Union
Volunteers, was leading five cavalry
companies and an artillery battery
from Washington to Plymouth when
he heard the sound of gunfire. He
turned his detachment around and,
after more than two hours of hard
fighting, drove the Confederates
from
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Washington. Confederate
casualties were 31 killed, 30 wounded,
and 24 taken prisoner, while the
Federals lost 26 killed, 55 wounded,
and 12 captured.
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 month for this entry is September 1960.
Location. 35° 32.579′ N, 77° 3.517′ W. Marker is in Washington, North Carolina, in Beaufort County. Marker is on West Stewart Parkway near West Main Street, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Washington NC 27889, United States of America. Touch for directions.
3. Washington, N.C. "showing the rebel batteries...."
Photographed By USS Picket Marker, `
4. USS Picket, shown at right ....
Photographed By Mike Stroud, April 19, 2013
5. USS Picket Marker along the Pamlico River
Photographed By Mike Stroud, April 19, 2013
6. USS Picket Marker along West Stewart Parkway, looking south
Photographed By USS Picket Marker, April 19, 2013
7. Washington map
Credits. This page was last revised on October 28, 2019. It was originally submitted on April 30, 2013, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 1,073 times since then and 61 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on May 1, 2013, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina.