RAID AT FAIRFIELD, NC - FEB. 16, 1864
U.S. Gunboat Foster
Detachment - 101st Pennsylvania Infantry

Report of Maj. Gen. John J. Peck, U.S. Army.
Hdqrs. Army and District of North Carolina,
New Berne, N. C., February 23, 1864.

Major: I have the honor to report that General Wessells, commanding Sub-district of the Albemarle, dispatched the army gunboat Foster on the 16th to the Alligator River upon a reconnaissance. Her crew was re-enforced by Lieutenant Helm and 30 men of the One Hundred and First Pennsylvania Volunteers. Hearing that the Spencer’s Rangers ¹ were quartered at Fairfield, Captain McLaughlin proceeded in two launches, surprised the outpost, and captured the whole company, consisting of Captain Spencer, 1 lieutenant, and 26 privates.²  Much property was taken. This enterprise was conducted in a heavy snow-storm, and entitles all concerned to the highest praise. Another proof is added of the value of our army gun-boats. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

John J. Peck,
Major-General
Maj. R. S. Davis,
Assistant Adjutant-General

Addenda:
General Orders No. 24.
Hdqrs. Army and Dist. of N. Carolina,
New Berne, N. C., March 2, 1864.

The commanding general is gratified at being enabled to announce another in the series of successful enterprises against the enemy projected by Brigadier-General Wessells, commanding Sub-district of the Albemarle. The army gun-boat Foster, Captain McLaughlin commanding, with a detachment of infantry under Lieutenant Helm, One Hundred and First Pennsylvania Volunteers, was sent on the 16th of February on an expedition to Fairfield N. C., where a band of guerrillas under command of Captain Spencer was quartered. The camp was surprised, the arms and stores secured, and the whole company taken prisoners without loss on our side. The affair was conducted in a severe snow-storm, and reflects much credit upon the officers and men concerned.

By command of Major-General Peck:
Benj. B. Foster,
Assistant Adjutant-General.

Source:
"The War of Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies," Series I--Volume XXXIII, Page 60.

Fairfield, N.C.

"One expedition deserves especial notice in which thirty men of the Regiment participated, commanded by Lieut. Helm of Co. G. This small force surprised and captured 28 of the Spencer Rangers, ² including the captain and lieutenant, Feb. 16, 1863, at Fairfield, up the Alligator River. This was done without the loss of a single man, the captured being only three less than the captors. Lieut. Helm had the co-operation of the crew of the army gunboat Foster, commanded by Capt. McLaughlin, but the 101st detachment effected the capture."

Source:
“History of the 101st Regiment PA Veteran Volunteer Infantry” by John A. Reed & Luther S. Dickey. Chicago: L.S. Dickey & Co. 1910.

NOTES:
    1. Known as "Spencer's Rangers," approximately 88 men served with the Company during the War. The Company was enlisted beginning December, 1862. It was authorized by the Confederate government on 27 December 1862 and accepted into service 7 February 1863.   The Company operated in Hyde, Tyrrell, Beaufort and Washington Counties of coastal North Carolina and performed the important work of gathering and escorting provisions out of the counties for Lee’s army in Virginia. Moving behind enemy lines, the Rangers constantly harassed the Federal occupying forces.   The Company had a severe fight near Fairfield on 20 February 1864 in which Captain William H. Spencer, Lieutenant Stephen P. Sparrow and twenty-six men were captured. After this incident, the balance of the Company were found under Colonel George Wortham’s command at Plymouth, NC.
    2. Spencer’s Rangers Captured at Fairfield, NC - Feb. 20, 1864. Although Union reports claim that two officers and twenty-six enlisted men were captured, available records show only two officers and seventeen enlisted men. Anyone having further information on Spencer’s Rangers, the engagement at Fairfield, or the captured soldiers, please contact me. The nineteen men known to have been captured were:

Officers:
    1 - SPENCER, William Henry, Capt. Captured near Fairfield, NC Feb. 20, 1864 and confined to Point Lookout, MD until transferred to Fort Delaware Sept. 14, 1864 and exchanged at Varina, VA. Sept. 22, 1864.
    2 - SPARROW, Stephen Peter, 2nd Lieut. Captured near Fairfield, NC Feb. 20, 1864, confined at Point Lookout, MD until transferred to Fort Delaware, DE June 23, 1864. Paroled at Fort Delaware Oct. 6, 1864 and exchanged at Cox Wharf, James River, VA Oct. 16, 1864. Furloughed from hospital in Richmond, VA for forty days.

NCO’S and Privates:
    3 - ADAMS, James, Jr., Sergt. Captured near Fairfield, N.C. Feb. 20, 1864 and confined at Point Lookout, MD until paroled and exchanged at Aiken's Landing, VA March 15, 1865.
    4 - COX, William Alfred, Pvt., Captured near Fairfield, N.C. Feb. 20, 1864, confined at Point Lookout, MD. Joined the U.S. Army (possibly Co. C, 4th Reg. US Volunteers). Known as "Galvanized Yankees", these ex-Rebels were sent out West to fight Indians during the remainder of the Civil War.
    5 - COGGINS, John, Pvt. Captured near Fairfield, N.C. Feb. 20, 1864, confined at Point Lookout, MD until paroled and exchanged at Aiken's Landing, James River, VA Mar. 15, 1865.
    6 - CUTRELL, Enoch, Pvt. Captured near Fairfield, NC Feb. 20, 1864 and confined at Point Lookout, MD until paroled at Aiken's Landing, James River, VA Mar. 15, 1865.
    7 - DAVENPORT, James F., Pvt. Captured near Fairfield, NC Feb. 20, 1864 and confined at Point Lookout, MD, paroled and exchanged at Aiken's Landing, James River, VA March 13, 1865.
    8 - GIBBS, David Morgan, Pvt. Captured near Fairfield, NC Feb. 20, 1863 and confined at Point Lookout, MD until paroled and exchanged at Aiken's Landing, James River, VA Sept. 18, 1864. Reported in hospital at Richmond, VA "to Oct. 1, 1864 with remark “Middletown, NC."
    9 - GIBBS, Israel Samuel, Pvt. Captured near Fairfield, NC Feb. 20, 1864 and confined at Point Lookout, MD until paroled and exchanged at Aiken's Landing, James River, VA March 15, 1865.
    10 - GIBBS, John B., Pvt. Captured near Fairfield, NC Feb. 20, 1864 and confined at Point Lookout, MD, where he died Feb. 17, 1865 of "chronic Diarrhoea."
    11 - HAMILTON, George, Pvt. Captured near Fairfield, NC Feb. 20, 1864 and confined at Point Lookout, MD where he joined the US Army Oct. 17, 1864 and was mustered into Co. C, 4th Reg. US Volunteers at Fort Monroe, VA Oct. 31, 1864.
    12 - HARRIS, Alonzo J., Pvt. Captured near Fairfield, NC Feb. 20, 1864 and confined at Point Lookout. MD until paroled and exchanged at Aiken's Landing, James River, VA May 8, 1864.
    13 - MEEKINS, Hardy, Pvt. Captured near Fairfield, NC Feb. 20, 1864, confined at Point Lookout, MD until paroled and exchanged at Venus Point, Savannah River, GA Nov. 15, 1864.
    14 - MIDYETTE, Thomas C., Pvt. Captured near Fairfield, NC Feb. 20, 1864 and confined at Point Lookout, MD.
    15 - O'NEAL, David R., Pvt. Captured near Fairfield, NC Feb. 20, 1864 and confined at Point Lookout, MD where he died June 22, 1864.
    16 - PATRICK, Samuel C., Pvt. Captured near Fairfield, NC Feb. 20, 1864. Confined at Point Lookout, MD until paroled and exchanged at Boulware's Wharf, James River, VA Jan. 21, 1865. Reported as present on roll of exchanged prisoners of war Camp Lee, VA Jan. 26, 1865.
    17 - SPARROW, Edwin S., Corp. Captured near Fairfield, NC Feb. 20, 1864 and confined at Point Lookout, MD where he died Feb. 3, 1865 of "chronic diarrhea and scurvy."
    18 - SPENCER, John Warren, Pvt. Captured near Fairfield, NC Feb. 20, 1864 and confined at Point Lookout, MD until paroled and exchanged at Boulware's Wharf, James River, VA March 16,1865.
    19 - WATERS, Richard C., Pvt. Captured near Fairfield, NC Feb. 20,1864 and confined at Point Lookout, MD until paroled and exchanged at Boulware's Wharf, James River, VA March 18, 1865.

Sources:
“Hyde County History,”Hyde County Bicentennial Comittee; Hyde County Historical Society.
“North Carolina Troops 1861-1865, A Roster,” Manarin, Louis H. and Weymouth T. Jordan, Jr. (eds.).

Copyright 1998

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