190 — ‘ NortH Carotmna Troops, 1861-65.

Hoke’s Brigade, on the west of the town, which had been
awaiting our progress, more than 600 yards distant, as the
works were too strong to be carried from the west side. Pass-
ing over another ravine, we receive the last prisoners on that
side of the town. Hoke’s Brigade under Colonel W. G.
Lewis, of the Forty-third North Carolina, now comes up,
and it is a relief when he suggests that no further charging is
necessary, as in the opinion of himself and General Hoke the
surrender of Fort Williams can be compelled by artillery.
The town was now entirely ours, except this last strong fort
on the south, and its surrender was demanded and refused.
Sharpshooters occupy all. advantageous positions in houses
and other points to keep the enemy from serving their guns,
and our artillery fire is concentrated on the doomed fort and
a shell from the Albemarle explodes upon it. General Wes-
sels has made a gallant fight, but as “the stars in their courses
fought against Sisera,” the converging batteries and mus-
ketry now prevent him from firing a gun. -General Hoke
informs him that, if he provokes a useless sacrifice of life in
requiring an assault, not a man in the garrison will be
spared, and between 11 and 12 o’clock a. m., the flag comes
down on Fort Williams and success crowns our struggle. All
fighting is now over, except the pursuit of some Yankees and
negroes who escaped from the fort at the left of Fort Wil-
liams, and some Buffaloes who had crossed the river, many
of whom were captured.

General Wessels’ official returns of casualties with the
loss of Plymouth, was a total in killed, wounded and missing
(not distinguished by him) of 127 officers and 2,707 men.

- Our losses were understood to be 125 killed and between
400 and 500 wounded in the brigade and artillery altogether,
though I have seen no official returns, being greatest in the
Eighth North Carolina, as it is stated by Mr. Ludwig: “The
regiment lost one hundred and fifty-four men killed and
wounded, about one-third of its number.” In the Thirty-
fifth twenty were killed and 84 wounded, including Major
S. B. Taylor. The losses in other regiments are supposed
to be stated in their separate history, as I know is the case
in that of the Fifty-sixth. In this regiment the colors were

THE CAPTURE oF PLYMOUTH. 191

borne by Ensign Jas. M. Clark, of Orange County, whose
stalwart figure was conspicuous at every step, and he never
swerved from any point to which he was directed. He came
through witha rent banner, but untouched himself, though
his color guard suffered a loss of one-third, as shown in the
history of the regiment.

It will be interesting to survivors to here record the regu-
lar order of succession from left to right in which the ten
companies of the Fifty-sixth stood in line of battle. It
was ©, K, G, F, H, D (colors), A, E, I and B. The action
of the two right companies under their captains have been
given above. The other eight going through to the end of the
battle with the flag, beginning with E, were led respectively
by Captain Joseph G. Lockhart, Captain Noah H. Hughes,
Captain Robert D. Graham, Captain Wm. G. Graves, Lieu-
tenant Valentine J. Palmer, Lieutenant Otis P. Mills, Cap-
tain Frank R. Alexander, and Captain Alexander P. White.
When Lieutenant Palmer fell in the charge wounded as the
regiment passed the jail, Company F pressed steadily for-
ward with Lieutenant John R. Williams in command. All
these officers and their men without an exception, displayed
a coolness, discipline and courage that any commander might
be proud to witness. I would be glad to mention by name
officers and men of other commands, reported as conspicuous
for bravery, but where all so well did the work assigned, I
have deemed it best to narrate the main facts as I have col-
lected them, and not attempt details of individual prowess
or give names except of those directing some separate move-
ment, and of those under my immediate command, from
whom I could not withhold the meed of praise to which they
are justly entitled. But I do not wish to seem to ignore the
splendid work done by Hoke’s Brigade or the Virginia Bri-

gade under Colonel Terry.
An officer in the line, will of course be unable to do more

than observe the part taken by his own regiment or one im-
mediately adjoining, and has little opportunity of gaining
correct information, except in a general way, of the opera-

tions of other commands at distant points. :
A correspondent of the Richmond Lxaminer of 24 April,