SOUTH MILLS, Battle of. In the fore part of April, 1862, after the capture of Roa noke Island and Newbern, rumors reached General Burnside at the later place that the Confederates were building iron-clad gunboats at Norfolk, Va., with the intention of running them through the Dismal Swamp Canal and Roanoke River to make a descent upon the Union flotilla in Albemarle and Pamlico sounds. Burnside, in co-operation with Com mander Rowan of the navy, organized an expe dition to move on South Mills, near Camden, destroy the locks of the canal at that point, and the Currituck Canal by blowing up its banks, thus rendering it impossible for the gun boats to come into the sounds. Another object of the movement was to create the impression that the entire Burnside expedition was moving on Norfolk, less than 40 miles distant. The expedition was put under command of Gen. J. L. Reno, who, with the 21st Massachusetts and 51st Pennsylvania, sailed from Newbern to Roanoke, where on 18 April he was joined by Colonel Hawkins' brigade (9th and 89th New York and 6th New Hampshire) with four guns. In all, Reno had about 3,200 men. The trans ports, accompanied by gunboats, sailed up the Pasquotank River, and about midnight of the 18th Hawkins' brigade began a landing on the cast side some four miles below Elizabeth City, which is on the west side. At 3 A.m. of the 19th Hawkins' brigade had been landed and was ordered forward, Reno remaining to bring up the other two regiments, which had been de layed by the grounding of some of the trans ports. Hawkins, misled by a guide, had marched by a circuitous route, and was over taken by Reno, some 12 miles out, and Reno took the advance, Hawkins' fatigued brigade following. After marching about four miles, and when within two miles of South Mills, Reno's advance came under an unexpected fire of artillery and was brought to a halt. Reno pushed his guns into action. Col. A. R. Wright, of the 3d Georgia, 585 strong, some drafted North Carolina militia, a company of local cavalry, in all about 750 men and four guns, had taken position across the road. His
artillery commanded the road, was supported by infantry in a deep ditch, along which rails were piled, with open ground in front and a dense wood in rear. Skirmishers covered both flanks, which were in the woods. After an artillery duel of an hour Reno ordered the 51st Pennsyl vania and then the 21st Massachusetts through the woods on the right to turn the Confederate left, and Hawkins, having come up, was or dered, with the 9th and 89th New York, to follow the two flanking regiments to the right, the 6th New Hampshire being placed on the left of the road to support the artillery. The 51st Pennsylvania and 21st Massachusetts, reaching the Confederate left, opened fire and about the same time the 9th New York, break ing from the woods, made a gallant charge— Reno says an "unauthorized and unnecessary)) one — over the open ground upon the Confed erate guns, and being met with a severe fire of canister and musketry, was repulsed, but made a quick rally on the 89th New York, and both went forward to join the 21st Massachusetts, which, with the 51st Pennsylvania, had kept up fire, forcing the Confederates to withdraw their guns and retire a mile, upon support that was coming up. On the left of the road the 6th New Hampshire had made a gradual ad vance to within 200 yards of the right of the 3d Georgia and, pouring in a volley, hastened its retreat. The fight lasted nearly four hours. At 10 P.M. without accomplishing the principal object of his expedition, Reno marched back to his boats, and the troops returned to their stations on Roanoke Island and Newbern. The Union loss was 13 killed, 101 wounded and 13 missing, an aggregate of 127, of which 75 were lost by the 9th New York. The Confederate loss was six killed, 19 wounded and three miss ing. Consult