South Mills, NC
Date(s):
April 19, 1862
Campaign(s):
Burnside’s North Carolina Expedition [January-July 1862]
Battles in
Campaign:
Situation:
Commanders:
-
Union:
Brig. Gen. Jesse Lee Reno
-
Confederate:
Col. Ambrose Wright
Principal Forces:
-
Union:
21st Massachusetts and 51st Pennsylvania (3,000)
-
Confederate:
3rd Georgia (750)
Description:
-
Learning that the Confederates were building
ironclads at Norfolk, Burnside planned an expedition to destroy the Dismal Swamp
Canal locks to prevent transfer of the ships to Albemarle Sound.
-
He entrusted the operation to
Brig. Gen. Jesse Lee
Reno’s command, which embarked on transports from Roanoke Island on April 18th.
By midnight, the convoy reached Elizabeth City and began disembarking troops.
-
On the morning of April 19th,
Reno marched north
on the road to South Mills.
-
At the crossroads a few miles below South Mills,
elements of Col. Ambrose Wright’s command delayed the Federals until dark.
-
Reno abandoned the expedition and withdrew during
the night to the transports at Elizabeth City.
-
The transports carried Reno’s troops to New Berne
where they arrived on April 22nd.
Slide Presentation1:
Burnside's North Carolina Expedition
Classification2:
D
Casualties3:
-
Union:
114
-
Confederate:
25
Results:
Inconclusive
Battlefield Websites:
Recommended Resources:
1 National Park
Service summary.
2
Classification:
-
A
- having a decisive influence on a
campaign and a direct impact on the course of the war
-
B -
having a direct and decisive influence on their campaign
-
C -
having observable influence on the
outcome of a campaign
-
D
-
having a limited influence on the
outcome of their campaign or operation but achieving or affecting important
local objectives
3 Casualties are
someone killed, injured, wounded, captured or missing.
Revised
04/04/2009 |
