Tranter's Creek North Carolina June 5, 1862

Tranter's Creek North Carolina June 5, 1862

On March 20, 1862 Washington had fallen into the hands of the Yankees, in spite of this invasion there remained a mobile force of Confederates in the neighboring area of eastern Pitt County and a portion of Beaufort County.     
By May 19th the Forty-fourth Regiment, North Carolina State Troops (Infantry) were ordered to Tarboro,  N.C. and then preceded to Greenville where it remained for the balance of the month.  During this time the regiment was engaged in outpost and picket duty in this general area.
   
On Friday May 30,  1862, a picket squad of the Forty-fourth Regiment of North Carolina State Troops was sent to Washington to exchange some 300 prisoners.  The squad disembarked by boat at Yankee Hall, situated in Eastern Pitt County on the Tar River some 10 miles from Washington, and then marched overland two miles over to Meyer's Mill which bridged Tranter's Creek and set up camp.    
Tranter's Creek is located eight miles west of Washington and is the dividing line between western Beaufort County and eastern Pitt County in the eastern region of North Carolina.  It is the deepest creek in the county, averaging fifteen feet with many areas surpassing twenty-five feet.  The creek lacks width with much of it averaging only twenty feet wide, until it nears the Tar River.  The creek makes up in the southwestern part of Martin County and runs toward the south of the Beaufort and Pitt County line.  From there it flows into the Tar  River near Kennedy Creek.51  Meyer's Mill is located, by water, five miles northwest from the Tar  River.    

A small skirmish, reported in the official records as the First Skirmish, took place on this date at Tranter's Creek between two patrols commanded by Corporal Goring and Lieut. Jas. A. Allis, numbered about fifteen men met a small patrol of twelve men from the Forty-fourth Regiment North Carolina State Troops.  The only detailed account of the skirmish is from a report of the "New Era Newspaper" which was published by the Yankees while stationed in Washington [NC], the June 4th 1862 issue stating that Union soldier Ogden Harrison was wounded by a musket ball passing through both hips and rupturing his intestine.  The Yankees reported only this one wounded and that the rebels had three killed and five or six wounded.  As was the custom of the Union reports they overly estimated the enemy loss to boast morale of its Northern readers.  The loss was never published in any known Confederate Records and must be suspect.  In reality it appears the Confederates won the first skirmish.
   
The following information shows that the Confederates were in the area as noted in a letter from Capt. Jocknick to Colonel Edward E. Potter dated May 30, 1862, as Capt. Jocknick reports that he again encounters rebels at Tranter's Creek.    
"Sir: I have the honor to submit to you the following report of the fight which occurred yesterday between a mounted patrol of my company and a body of rebel troops laid in ambush.  In accordance with our daily routine of duties Second Lieutenant  Allis started early in the morning with a detail of fifteen men to reconnoiter the Greenville road as far as Tranter's Creek, about eight miles from here.  Having received information that only a small body of rebel troops, invariably estimated at from twelve to fifteen men, were in advance, Lieutenant Allis deemed it expedient to cross the bridge over the said creek, leaving a few men to secure his retreat, but had only proceeded a short distance when he was attacked by about a dozen men, mounted and on foot.  After discharging their fire-arms and receiving our fire in return they fled to the woods, closely followed by lieutenant Allis and his men, who succeeded in taking two prisoners.  Finding himself surrounded by a large body of infantry concealed in the woods Lieutenant Allis gallantly cut his way through the crowd, and returned here with his command about noon, with only one man - Private Ogden Harrison -badly wounded and two horses killed.  The enemy had 3 men killed besides those wounded, supposed to have been five or six.  A fine horse, valued at $200, fell in our hands, which will partly make up for the two lost.    

Lieutenant Allis speaks in the highest terms of the bravery and coolness displayed by our men, and I am happy to say that this little affair has reflected much credit on all concerned.  The wounded man has good medical attendance and is doing well.  Signed, G. F. Jocknick.