In April 1864 Confederate forces commanded by General Robert Hoke, reinforced by the newly launched ironclad CSS Albemarle, began an offensive against Union held Plymouth, North Carolina. On Tuesday, April 19, 1864 after traversing Union obstructions on the Roanoke River the Albemarle engaged both the USS Miami and USS Smithfield, two armed Union steamers. The Albemarle rammed the Smithfield, quickly sending her to her grave. The Miami fired point blank at the Albemarle, but the Confederate’s armaments ricocheted the shot onto the Miami, fatally wounding her commanding officer and forcing her withdrawal. With the Roanoke River cleared of Union ships, General Hoke quickly took Plymouth and her defenders. The Albemarle would plague Union warships until she was sunk in a Union, commando style raid against the ship in October 1864.
00000174-b11b-ddc3-a1fc-bfdbb1a20000The Schreiner University Department of History is honoring the sesquicentennial of the American Civil War with a series of short vignettes focusing on events from 1861 through 1865. The Civil War was the most destructive conflict in American history, but it was also one of our most defining moments as a people and as a nation. Let us know what you think about "This Week in the Civil War." E-mail your comments to Dr. John Huddleston at jhuddles@schreiner.edu.Airs: Weekdays at 5:19 a.m., 8:19 a.m., 4:19 p.m. on KTXI and 4:49 a.m., 9:29 p.m. on KSTX.