APRIL 5TH, 1865: Commander Macomb steadily pushed up the narrowing Chowan River and its tributaries preparing for General Sherman's move north. This date he reported from "Meherrin River, near Murfreesboro, N.C. near the Virginia border and far inland: "The steamer Shokokon arrived at Winton yesterday, and I have stationed her a short distance below here near an ugly bluff some 60 or 80 feet high, on which I thought the rebels might give us some trouble on our return.
"There were some rifle pits on the brow of this bluff, but I sent a party down there and had them filled up. There is also an old earthwork, made to mount six guns a short distance below here which I have partially destroyed.
"The river is rather narrower than the Roanoke, but not quite so crooked. I got 50 men (soldiers) from Winton to hold the bluff till we have passed, the river being very crooked and narrow at this point, so much so that we are unable to steam by, but will have to warp the ship round."
--Old B-R'er
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