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Commemorative Landscapes of North Carolina
Commemorative Landscapes of North Carolina
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Source:  Battle of Plymouth, Plymouth. Photo courtesy of Washington County Historical Society

  • Monument Name

    Battle of Plymouth Memorial, Plymouth

  • Type

    Marker

  • Subjects

    Civil War, 1861-1865

  • City

    Plymouth

  • County

    Washington

  • Description

    The Battle of Plymouth marker consists of a black granite block with a low pyramid shaped top on single base of gray granite and a granite foundation. It stands approximately five feet tall and is incised with battle scenes in each corner of the front face in addition to the inscription.

  • Inscription

    HONOR TO WHOM HONOR IS DUE / DEDICATED / TO THE MEMORY OF / CIVILIANS AND MILITARY FORCES / ENGAGED AT THE / BATTLE OF PLYMOUTH / 17-20 APRIL 1864

  • Custodian

    Port-O-Plymouth Museum, Washington County Historical Society

  • Dedication Date

    April 27, 2014

  • Decade

    2010s

  • Geographic Coordinates

    35.868910 , -76.741900 View in Geobrowsemap pin

  • Supporting Sources

      Civil War Sites: The Official Guide To The Civil War Discovery Trail, (Globe Pequot, Nov 1, 2007), 134, (accessed November 24, 2015) Link

      Battle of Plymouth, NC 2014 (Fall of Fort Compher reenactment), YouTube.com, (accessed December 2015) Link

      Guildford Greys, Co. B, 27th North Carolina Troops, http://www.guilfordgreys.com, (accessed November 24, 2015) Link

      Washington County Historical Society, http://www.livinghistoryweekend.com/, (accessed November 24, 2015) Link

      “The 150th Commemoration Only Comes Once,” Roanoke Beacon (Roanoke, NC), April 23, 2014, 4-5 Link

  • Public Site

    Yes

  • Materials & Techniques

    Granite

  • Sponsors

    Plymouth Pilgrims Descendants Society

  • Monument Dedication and Unveiling

    With participants in Civil War period dress, the dedication took place at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 27, 2014 just prior to a re-enactment of the Battle of Plymouth. The ceremony was part of a two day event commemorating the 150th anniversary of the battle. Prior to the dedication a worship service and a North/South Memorial Service and Wreath laying took place at the Roanoke River Lighthouse.

  • Subject Notes

    In 1862 Union troops occupied Plymouth to control the mouth of the Roanoke River. These forces with the assistance of Union sympathizers, freemen and runaway slaves eventually constructed four forts to protect the town. During the second largest Civil War battle in North Carolina, fought April 17-20, 1864, Confederate forces retook the town with the aid of the ironclad CSS Albemarle only to lose it again a few months later.

    The first Battle of Plymouth marker was dedicated on June 19, 1928. It is located at the corner of the courthouse building, at 120 Adams Street, Plymouth, NC.

  • Location

    The monument is located near East Main Street and Rankin Lane at the Fort Compher historical site, Plymouth, NC.

  • Landscape

    The memorial is surrounded by open fields and wooded area.

  • Post Dedication Use

    Since 1990, in April of each year the Port-O-Plymouth Museum and Washington County Historical Society have held Living History Weekends with battle re-enactments.

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