March 28, 1865: Operations on the Neuse and Chowan Rivers

Commander Macomb received Porter's orders via the swift steamer USS Bat on March 30, and on the following day, replied from Roanoke Island:  "A immediately had an interview with the general and arranged that Captain Rhind would attend to everything relating to the Navy in the Neuse [River].

"I am on my way to Plymouth to carry out your orders as regards sending vessels to Winton, on the Chowan [River], and holding the same.  The Shokokon and Commodore Hull are on their way up from New Berne.

"As soon as possible after my arrival at Plymouth I shall proceed up the Chowan, dragging ahead for torpedoes."

Control of the sea and rivers continued to be as invaluable to the North in operations at the end of the war as it had from the start.

--Old B-Runner

N.C. Timeline, April 1863: Action At Washington, N.C.

APRIL 6--  Skirmish at Nixontown   (1st NC Union)

APRIL 7-10--  Expedition from New Bern for relief of Washington     (3rd, 5th, 8th, 17th, 43rd, 44th Mass.; Battery H 3rd NY Light Artillery, 85th, 96th, 132nd, 158th NY; 101st, 103rd, 158th, 171st, 175th Pa.; 5th Heavy Art., Battery F 1st Light Art.)

APRIL 9--  Action at Blount's Creek   (17th, 43rd NY; 3rd Cav.; 3rd Light Art.; 158th  1st Light Art.  Union losses: 10 wounded.

APRIL 13-21--  Expedition to Swift Creek Village   (3ed NY Cav.; 1st Light Art.; 158th, 168th, 171st, 175th Pa.;

APRIL 15--  Skirmish at Washington   (44th Mass.)

APRIL 16--  Affair at Rodman's Point   (U.S. Navy)

APRIL 16--  Affair at Hill's Point   (USS Ceres, USS Commodore Hull)

--Old B-Runner

N.C. Timeline, April 1863: Skirmishes and Engagements

Frtom the North Carolina Civil War sesquicentennial site.

I also found a listing of Union troops and ships involved in the actions at the N.C. Research Online site and have included it here.

Civil War events taking place in North Carolina 155 Years Ago.

APRIL--  Marcus Erwin and the Buncombe County militia flush 80 anti-Confederates from Laurel Valley.  Western part of the state.

APRIL 1--  Engagement at Rodman's Pond   (USS Commodore Hull)

APRIL 2--  Engagement at Hill's Point   (U.S. Navy)

APRIL 3--  Skirmish at White Forks   (3rd New York Cavalry)

APRIL 3--  Skirmish at Washington   (44th Massachusetts)

APRIL 4-5--  Engagement at Rosman's Pond   27th Mass, 3rd NY Cav,  USS Ceres)

APRIL 4-6--  Operations on the Pamlico    (5th Mass, 23rd Ind. Light Battery, 101st Pa, 175th Pa, USS Smithfield, USS Ceres, USS Whitehead, USS Seymour)

--Old B-Runner

Naval Operations in North Carolina Sounds-- Part 2

Commander Macomb received Porter's orders via the swift steamer USS Bat on 30 March, and, the following day, replied from Roanoke Island:  "I immediately had an interview with the general and arranged that Captain Rhind would attend to everything relating to the Navy in the Neuse.

"I am on my way to Plymouth to carry out your orders as regards sending vessels to Winton, on the Chowan and holding the same.  The Shokokon and Commodore Hull are on their way up from New berne.  As soon as possible after my arrival at Plymouth I shall proceed up the Chowan, dragging ahead for torpedoes."

Control of the sea and rivers continued to be as invaluable to the North on operations at the end of the war as it had from the start.

--Old B-R'er

Breaking Up Court in Edenton, N.C.

NOVEMBER 8TH, 1864:  Acting Master Francis Josselyn, USS Commodore Hull, landed a party of sailors at Edenton, North Carolina, under orders from Commander Macomb to break up a court session being held there.

Josselyn described the unique expedition: "I landed with a detachment of men this afternoon at Edenton and adjourned sine die a county court which was in session in the court house at that place under so-called Confederate authority.  This court, the first that had been held at Edenton since the breaking out of the war, the authorities had the impertinence to hold under my very guns."

No Justice Today.  --Old B-R'er

Fall of Plymouth, N.C.-- Part 1

OCTOBER 29-NOVEMBER 1, 1864  Capitalizing on Lt. Cushing's success destroying the CSS Albemarle, Commander Macomb moved against Plymouth, North Carolina, capturing the town and defenses after a heated engagement.

Immediately after Cushing's return on 29 October, Macomb steamed up the Roanoke River with six ships.  The USS Valley City proceeded via Middle River and entered the Roanoke above Plymouth to cut off the garrison's escape by water.  Macomb's gunboats engaged the lower batteries protecting the town, but seeing that two schooners had been sunk by the sunken USS Southfield, obstructing the river, withdrew to Albemarle Sound.

On the 30th, Macomb took his fleet through the Middle River to attack the city and its defenses from above, spending the entire day navigating the treacherous channels and shelling the Confederate works at long range.  On 31 October, Macomb formed his line of battle, with converted ferryboat USS Commodore Hull in the lead, followedby the sidewheel double-enders USS Tacony, USS Shamrock, USS Ostego and USS Wyalusing.

--Old B-Runner

The CSS Albemarle Attacks Again

MAY 5TH, 1854:  The CSS Albemarle, under Commander Cooke, accompanied by the Bombshell and Cotton Plant, steamed into Albemarle Sound and engaged Union naval forces in a fierce action off the mouth of the Roanoke River.

The Bombshell was captured early in the action after coming under heavy fire from the USS Sassacus and the Cotton Plant withdrew up the river.

The Albemarle continued the action and was rammed by the Sassacus but with little effect.  The ram then sent a shell into the Sassacus' starboard boiler, putting her out of action.    Sidewheelers USS Matahessett and Wyalusing continued fighting for three hours until darkness halted the fight.

The Albemarle withdrew to the river and the small sidewheelers USS Commodore Hull and Ceres took up picket duty at the mouth of the Roanoke in case the Albemarle returned.

--Old B-R'er