Battle of South Mills facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of South Mills
Part of the American Civil War
A map of the battle
Date April 19, 1862 (1862-04-19) Location Camden County, North Carolina Result Confederate Victory
Belligerents
United States (Union)	CSA (Confederacy)
Commanders and leaders
Jesse L. Reno	Ambrose R. Wright
Units involved
Department of North Carolina	3rd Georgia Infantry Ferebee's North Carolina Militia McComa's Battery Gillett's Southampton Cavalry Co.
Strength
3,000	~1,000
Casualties and losses
	6 killed, 19 wounded, 3 captured

The Battle of South Mills, also known as the Battle of Camden, was a small but important fight during the American Civil War. It happened on April 19, 1862, in Camden County, North Carolina. This battle was part of a larger plan by the Union Army to control parts of North Carolina. The Confederate side won this particular battle.

Why the Battle Happened

The Union Army, led by Major General Ambrose Burnside, was on a special mission in North Carolina. They found out that the Confederates were building strong warships called ironclads in Norfolk, Virginia. These ships were very powerful because they were covered in metal armor.

Burnside wanted to stop these ironclads from reaching the Albemarle Sound. To do this, he planned to destroy the locks of the Dismal Swamp Canal. Canal locks are like water elevators that help boats move between different water levels. Destroying them would block the canal.

The Union Plan

Union General Jesse L. Reno was put in charge of this important mission. His soldiers got onto transport ships from Roanoke Island on April 18. By midnight, their ships reached Elizabeth City, North Carolina. The soldiers then started getting off the ships to begin their march.

What Happened During the Battle

On the morning of April 19, General Reno's Union troops began marching north. They were heading towards South Mills. A few miles before reaching South Mills, they met Confederate soldiers. These Confederate troops were led by Colonel Ambrose R. Wright.

Colonel Wright's soldiers fought hard to slow down the Union advance. They managed to delay the Union forces until it got dark. Because of this delay, General Reno decided to stop his mission. He pulled his troops back during the night.

After the Battle

General Reno's soldiers returned to their transport ships at Elizabeth City. From there, they sailed to New Bern, North Carolina, arriving on April 22. Even though the Union lost this battle, they later pushed Confederate forces out of the coastal areas. The Union then held onto these areas for the rest of the war.