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North Carolina Civil War Battle
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North Carolina Civil War Battle of Tranter's Creek
FOUGHT JUNE 5, 1862.
A CORRESPONDENT of the Philadelphia Inquirer, writing from Washington, N.
C., June sixth, gives the following particulars of the battle at that place:
Since the rebel citizens of Washington fled from their homes upon the
first approach of our gunboats, after the occupation of Newborn, they have labored in every way to render uncomfortable those
who, like wiser men, staid at home and attended to their own business. Frequent threats have been made that the town would
be recaptured, and all those who adhered to the Union cause " wiped out." Encouraged by various wealthy men living in the
outskirts of the town, they have become emboldened of late, and have made occasional reconnoissances, apparently with the
intention of attacking the place. The cavalry sent up for the protection of the town had a considerable skirmish, only some
two weeks ago, within five or six miles of the town.
Pending the armistice which was agreed upon, while the Union prisoners
were being delivered to Gen. Burnside, a considerable force of cavalry and infantry have been gathering near Pactolus, under
command of the rebel Col. Singletary; and Col. Potter, commanding the forces at Washington, deemed it proper to send for reinforcements.
Accordingly, on Tuesday and Wednesday last, all the remaining companies of the Twenty-fourth Massachusetts at Newbern were
despatched to Washington. Lieut. Avery, of the marine artillery, with three of Wiard's twelve-pounder boat-howitzers, and
a party of artillerists, accompanied the expedition.
Our correspondent went up with the Massachusetts boys, and was somewhat
disappointed, from the alarming rumors prevailing, to find every thing quiet, and the town in possession of its rightful inhabitants.
A heavy rain which prevailed had rendered the roads very muddy, but it was decided to march the troops out, and if possible,
find and dislodge the enemy, who were reported to be in strong force near and beyond Tranter’s Creek. The gunboat Picket,
Capt Nichols, was detailed to take part in the movement, and proceeded up the Tar River, shelling the woods as far up as Pactolus,
twelve miles above Washington. His shells made scattering work along the river. Some of them fell into the rebel camp, and,
it is reported, did them much damage.
The soldiers were allowed a couple of hours to rest and refresh themselves,
when they were formed on the front street, the guns were inspected, and the order given to march. A portion of Col. Mix's
cavalry were thrown forward as a flanking party. The companies of the Twenty- fourth Massachusetts, except C and D, came next,
and Lieut. Avery, with two of his steel howitzers and twenty-five men, with ammunition- carts, brought up the rear. Mr. Gilmore
and his band accompanied the troops as an ambulance corps, and performed excellent service during the engagement.
The troops were commanded by Lieut-Colonel Frank Osborn. Col. Potter,
Military Governor of Washington, with Lieut. Pendleton and Assistant Surgeons Curtis and McGregor, also went along. The troops
took the country road to Pactolus and Greenville. The day was oppressively hot and sultry, and several of the men gave out,
being overcome by the labors of the march. We frequently halted to rest the men.
Every where the slaves came from the fields in which they were employed,
and leaning in squads over the fences, scanned the soldiers with the greatest astonishment, and expressed in their simple
but earnest manner the best wishes for our success. "God bless you, Yankee friends." " Dis is do day we is been looking to
sec." " Lor, massa, I never seen so many people since I was born," and like expressions were very common. They were generally
ready to answer any question asked them concerning the movements of the enemy, but they first looked carefully around to see
who was near them.
[Some] miles from town, we came to what is called Storehouse Landing,
beyond which we found a road crossing that on which we were marching at right angles. We took the right of this road, and
a mile beyond, turned again to the left. The rebels had removed the bridge on the main road, and posted themselves at Hodges's
Mills, about a mile eastward. Here they had a mill-pond on one side, a deep morass or cypress swamp on the other, with two
large buildings—a saw-mill and ginning-mill—to protect them in front. This place was approached by a narrow cart-path,
hemmed in on both sides by dense woods.
To make sure that we should not get at them with our cavalry, they cut
away the flooring over the mill-flumes. Here, skulking behind stumps and trees, concealed in the dense thicket, they awaited
the approach of the Union forces, of which they had received prompt information from the neighbors.
Halting for a moment at the house of John Gray Hodges, another rebel
hole, the Twenty- fourth Massachusetts moved to the attack. Uncertain as to their location, and also wholly ignorant of the
ground, part of company A, led by Lieut. Jarves, were thrown out as skirmishers. As soon as they entered this dell, the rebel
pickets opened from behind the mill, and from the bushes in which they were hidden. Our pickets replied, and in another moment,
whole volleys were delivered sharp and quick from both sides.
The artillery were ordered forward and took a position within half musket-range,
being obliged to draw the pieces up a bridge of slabs, near which the mill stands. Lieut. Avery now opened with grape, canister
and solid shot upon the rebels, who fell out of the trees, and were driven from behind the mills and covers which concealed
them.
The firing continued for about forty-five minutes. The buildings were
riddled with our Minie balls and grape, and limbs of trees fell in a shower over the rebels' heads. Several of our men were
wounded early in the engagement, others were killed and were carried to an empty building immediately in the rear.
As soon as the rebel fire ceased, our boys made a dash to follow them,
but found the bridges cut away so that only one at a time could get across. For the same reason the cavalry, which had been
patiently waiting inactive, found it impossible to follow them. They had shut the door behind them and " skedaddled."
The officers and men of the Twenty-fourth Massachusetts showed the-
coolest bravery throughout the brief engagement. Lieut. Avery and his brave little body of marines also fought their guns
with the most persistent courage and steadiness. An inspection of the ground, however, showed that their powerful Wiard rifled
guns could have rendered even more effective service if they had been placed on the opposite side of the pond, out of rebel
musket-range.
Wagons were obtained from the farms near by, and the dead and wounded
were conveyed back to Washington. The regiment started on the return at six o'clock, and reached town through a drenching
rain at nine o'clock P.M.
The following is a list of killed and wounded in the fight at Tranter’s
Creek:
TWENTV-FOURTH MASSACHUSETTS.
Sergeant George L. Litchficld, Co. A,
Roxbury, Mass., killed; Private Leroy Borland, Co. A, Palmer, Mass., killed; Private Orville Brock, Co. I, killed; Corporal
Melbourn Croscrup, Co. F, Lynn, killed; Private Geo. H. Baxter, Co. F, Newtown, Mass., killed; Private Austin Gill, Co. K,
killed; Wm. II. Moore, Captain of Gun, Marine Artillery, Chicago, killed; Lieut. Horatio Jarves, Co. A, wounded by ball through
left ankle-joint; Capt W. F. Redding, Co. A, wrist, slight; Private James A. Bcal, Co. B, forehead, slight; Private Joseph
A. Collins, Co. E, temple; Private John Vaughn, Co. E, hip, severely; Private M. J. O'Brien, Co. I, bayonet wound; Private
Wm. Reynolds, Co. I, shoulder, slight; Private G. A. Howard, Co. I, hand, slight; Private Jas. Gibbon, marine artillery, flesh-wound,
leg; Private William A. Clark, marine artillery, spent ball; Private Albert Gibbs, marine artillery, neck and shoulder.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
Washington, N.C., June 1862
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During last week and the early part of the present, we were frequently annoyed by scouting parties of the
rebels, who came within a short distance of the town and continually threatened it. Indeed, so likely appeared an attack,
(and no doubt our weak position here at the time invited it) that reinforcements were sent for, while every preparation was
made to resist any inroad which the prowling bands might make.
On Thursday morning a reconnoissance in force started from here, under
command of Lieut.-Col. Osborn, commanding the Twenty - fourth Massachusetts regiment, accompanied by Col. Potter, of the First
North-Carolina (Union) volunteers, and Lieuts. Strong and Pendleton — the two latter officers acting as Aids. The expedition
consisted of the Twenty-fourth Massachusetts regiment, company I of the Third New-York cavalry, under command of Capt. Jocknick
and Lieut. Allis, and a detachment from Col. Howard's marine artillery, under command of Lieut. Avery.
The infantry and artillery having taken up the line of march, formed
a junction with the cavalry on the outskirts of the town, when all advanced along the Greenville road, while the gunboat Picket,
Capt. Nichols, proceeded up Tar River, and shelled the woods ahead.
We crossed Cherry Run, and reached Four Corners without any incident
of note occurring, and without the slightest trace of the enemy. We were now a mile from Tranter’s Creek, and as it
was known that the bridge on the main or Greenville road had been destroyed, the column took another road on the right, which
crossed the creek a little distance higher up.
The road near where it crosses the bridge, descends through a ravine
or gorge, and turning suddenly to the left, skirts along by the edge of the creek, which at this point is more properly a
wide pond or swamp, filled with stumps of trees. On the bridge are a saw-mill and cotton-gin, whose power is derived from
the flowing of the water. The rebels had taken up the boards of the bridge between the two buildings, and with them constructed
a breastwork, if it might be so called, near the cotton-gin.
The column at length got in motion again from the widow's house, and
the skirmishers having descended the ravine, cautiously moved toward the bridge. Suddenly, they discovered a row of heads
behind the breastwork of boards, and the guns all levelled toward them. Sergeant Shepard and a companion fired, and a heavy
volley came in return. Lieut. Jarves fell at the first fire. The rest of the advance returned the volley, and then fell back
on the main body.
Col. Osborn immediately ordered forward the artillery, and in less time
than it takes to narrate it, the gallant marines, under Lieut. Avery, came dashing down the hill with their guns, which they
stationed, one bearing on the enemy's front, through the arch of the saw-mill, the other to the left of the bridge, and raking
the enemy on their right flank. The main body of the infantry also came forward on the double-quick, while Capt. Jocknick
formed his cavalry on the brow of the hill, ready to charge the enemy at the decisive moment, though, as it afterwards happened,
no opportunity was afforded to his men to strike a blow.
On account of the narrowness of the road, only three companies of the
infantry could be brought into action at once, and the rest were disposed of in the rear, where they were ordered to lie down.
With one company in the road and one on either side, the engagement regularly opened on our side. Lieut. Avery discharged
several rounds of shell and canister at the enemy's position; for they were so concealed in the bridge and behind the trees
as to be completely out of sight The infantry poured a terrific fire across and on either side of the bridge, the riddled
beams and posts of which soon gave token of the showers of balls which were passing and repassing. A number of rebels had
secreted themselves in the loft of the cotton-gin, and were firing very briskly when driven out by a shell which Lieut. Avery
lodged in the building. Others again were discovered ensconced in the tree-tops on the opposite side of the creek. Lieut.
Avery elevated his piece and fired a couple of rounds of canister through the branches, whereupon several bodies were seen
to fall to the ground, at sight of which our boys burst into a prolonged cheer or yell. The steady firing of the artillery
and the volleys from the Twenty-fourth, at length drove the rebels from the bridge, and falling back they kept up a desultory
fire from the trees and the edge of the creek. At length the word was given to charge. The artillery fired a round to clear
the way, and under cover of the smoke and the effects of the canister, our boys, with fixed bayonets, dashed upon the bridge,
and headed by Col. Potter, advanced on a run to a point where the wards had been taken up. Replacing them as jest they could,
they passed over, and found themselves undisputed occupants of the field, for the rebels had fled down the creek and through
;he woods, leaving behind them three of their dead, and a large quantity of muskets, shot-guns, swords, sabres, and other
weapons. Their rout was thorough and complete. The ground was covered with pools of blood, showing that their loss was pretty
heavy, though it is impossible to ascertain the exact figures, as they carried off' all :heir dead and wounded, except the
three bodies above referred to, which they could not rescue, owing to the heavy fire of our artillery on the spot where they
were lying. At the opposite side of the bridge the rebels had thrown up a temporary breastwork of cotton bales in an angular
shape, with the corner nearest the approach from the bridge; but it failed to serve them as a means of defence.
Our loss on the battle-field was four killed and twelve wounded; but
three of the latter died soon after the fight, so that our loss now stands seven killed and nine wounded.
The fight commenced shortly before three o'clock, and lasted over half
an hour. The dead and wounded were then placed in ambulances extemporized for the occasion, the column formed in line again
and returned, reaching here about nine o'clock at night, having marched in all nearly twenty miles, part of the way through
swampy ground and in some places through water almost knee-deep. To add to the fatigue and annoyance, rain commenced to fall
soon after the return march was begun, and continued until they arrived in town.
Negroes who arrived in town last night, reported that yesterday morning
the rebels recrossed the bridge under a flag of truce, thinking that we had encamped in the vicinity, for the purpose of obtaining
permission to bury the dead. The negroes also report the rebels to have admitted a loss of one hundred and five killed, wounded,
and missing, and that among the number killed was Col. Singletary, who commanded the rebel forces. These figures are no doubt
highly exaggerated; but some little probability is given to the statement about Col. Singletary, as an officer's sword was
found among the number of arms left by the rebels in their flight.
(Sources and related reading below.)
Recommended Reading: Confederate
Military History Of North Carolina: North Carolina
In The Civil War, 1861-1865. Description: The author, Prof. D. H. Hill, Jr., was the son of Lieutenant General Daniel
Harvey Hill (North Carolina produced only two lieutenant
generals and it was the second highest rank in the army) and his mother was the sister to General “Stonewall”
Jackson’s wife. In Confederate Military History Of North Carolina,
Hill discusses North Carolina’s massive task of preparing and mobilizing for
the conflict; the many regiments and battalions recruited from the Old
North State; as well as the
state's numerous contributions during the war. Continued below...
During Hill's
Tar
Heel State study, the reader begins with
interesting and thought-provoking statistical data regarding the 125,000 "Old
North State" soldiers that fought
during the course of the war and the 40,000 that perished. Hill advances with the Tar Heels to the first battle at Bethel, through numerous bloody campaigns and battles--including North Carolina’s
contributions at the "High Watermark" at Gettysburg--and concludes with Lee's surrender at
Appomattox.
Recommended
Reading: The Civil War in North Carolina.
Description: Numerous battles and skirmishes were fought in North Carolina during the Civil War, and the campaigns and battles themselves were crucial
in the grand strategy of the conflict and involved some of the most famous generals of the war. John Barrett presents the
complete story of military engagements across the state, including the classical pitched battle of Bentonville--involving
Generals Joe Johnston and William Sherman--the siege of Fort
Fisher, the amphibious campaigns on the coast, and cavalry sweeps such
as General George Stoneman's Raid.
Recommended Reading: The Civil War in the Carolinas (Hardcover). Description: Dan Morrill relates the experience of two quite different states bound together in
the defense of the Confederacy, using letters, diaries, memoirs, and reports. He shows
how the innovative operations of the Union army and navy along the coast and in the bays and rivers of the Carolinas
affected the general course of the war as well as the daily lives of all Carolinians. He demonstrates the "total war" for
North Carolina's vital coastal railroads and ports. In
the latter part of the war, he describes how Sherman's operation
cut out the heart of the last stronghold of the South. Continued below...
The author
offers fascinating sketches of major and minor personalities, including the new president and state governors, Generals Lee,
Beauregard, Pickett, Sherman, D.H. Hill, and Joseph E. Johnston. Rebels and abolitionists, pacifists and unionists, slaves
and freed men and women, all influential, all placed in their context with clear-eyed precision. If he were wielding a needle
instead of a pen, his tapestry would offer us a complete picture of a people at war. Midwest Book Review: The Civil War in the Carolinas by civil war expert and historian Dan
Morrill (History Department, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and Director of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Historical
Society) is a dramatically presented and extensively researched survey and analysis of the impact the American Civil War had
upon the states of North Carolina and South Carolina, and the people who called these states their home. A meticulous, scholarly,
and thoroughly engaging examination of the details of history and the sweeping change that the war wrought for everyone, The
Civil War In The Carolinas is a welcome and informative addition to American Civil War Studies reference collections.
Recommended Reading: Ironclads and Columbiads: The Coast (The Civil War in North Carolina)
(456 pages). Description: Ironclads and Columbiads
covers some of the most important battles and campaigns in the state. In January 1862, Union forces began in earnest to occupy
crucial points on the North Carolina coast. Within six months,
Union army and naval forces effectively controlled coastal North Carolina from the Virginia line south to present-day Morehead
City. Union setbacks in Virginia, however, led to the withdrawal of many
federal soldiers from North Carolina, leaving only enough Union troops to hold a few coastal strongholds—the vital ports
and railroad junctions. The South during the Civil War, moreover, hotly contested the North’s ability to maintain its
grip on these key coastal strongholds.
Recommended Reading: Storm
over Carolina: The Confederate Navy's Struggle for Eastern North Carolina. Description: The struggle for control of the eastern
waters of North Carolina during the War Between the States
was a bitter, painful, and sometimes humiliating one for the Confederate navy. No better example exists of the classic adage,
"Too little, too late." Burdened by the lack of adequate warships, construction facilities, and even ammunition, the
South's naval arm fought bravely and even recklessly to stem the tide of the Federal invasion of North
Carolina from the raging Atlantic. Storm
Over Carolina is the account of the Southern navy's struggle in North
Carolina waters and it is a saga of crushing defeats interspersed with moments of brilliant and even
spectacular victories. It is also the story of dogged Southern determination and incredible perseverance in the face
of overwhelming odds. Continued below...
For most of
the Civil War, the navigable portions of the Roanoke, Tar, Neuse, Chowan, and Pasquotank rivers were
occupied by Federal forces. The Albemarle and Pamlico sounds, as well as most of the coastal towns and counties, were also
under Union control. With the building of the river ironclads, the Confederate navy at last could strike a telling blow against
the invaders, but they were slowly overtaken by events elsewhere. With the war grinding to a close, the last Confederate vessel
in North Carolina waters was destroyed. William T. Sherman
was approaching from the south, Wilmington was lost, and the
Confederacy reeled as if from a mortal blow. For the Confederate navy, and even more so for the besieged citizens of eastern
North Carolina, these were stormy days indeed. Storm Over Carolina describes their story, their struggle, their history.
Recommended Reading: The
Civil War on the Outer Banks: A History of the Late Rebellion Along the Coast of North Carolina from Carteret to Currituck
With Comments on Prewar Conditions and an Account of (251 pages). Description: The ports at Beaufort, Wilmington, New Bern and Ocracoke, part of the Outer Banks (a chain
of barrier islands that sweeps down the North Carolina coast from the Virginia Capes to Oregon Inlet), were strategically
vital for the import of war materiel and the export of cash producing crops. From official records, contemporary newspaper
accounts, personal journals of the soldiers, and many unpublished manuscripts and memoirs, this
is a full accounting of the Civil War along the North Carolina
coast.
Source: THE REBELLION RECORD: A DIARY OF AMERICAN EVENTS, Frank Moore, ed.,
1863.
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