Battle of South Mills

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Battle of South Mills
partof=the American Civil War


caption=
date=April 19, 1862
place=Camden County, North Carolina
result=Confederate victory (Union withdrew)
combatant1= flagicon|USA|1861 United States (Union)
combatant2= flagicon|CSA|1861 CSA (Confederacy)
commander1=Jesse L. Reno
commander2=Ambrose R. Wright
strength1=21st Massachusetts and 51st Pennsylvania
strength2=3rd Georgia
casualties1=114
casualties2=25|

The Battle of South Mills, also known as the Battle of Camden, took place on April 19, 1862 in Camden County, North Carolina as part of Union Army General Ambrose E. Burnside's North Carolina expedition during the American Civil War.

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 L. Reno's command, which embarked on transports from Roanoke Island on April 18. By midnight, the convoy reached Elizabeth City and began disembarking troops. On the morning of April 19, Reno marched north on the road to South Mills. At the crossroads a few miles below South Mills, elements of Col. Ambrose R. 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 Bern where they arrived on April 22.

References

* [http://www2.cr.nps.gov/abpp/battles/bycampgn.htm CWSAC Battle Summaries, National Park Service]