Battle of Elizabeth City
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| Battle of Elizabeth City | |||||||
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| Part of the American Civil War | |||||||
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| Combatants | |||||||
| United States of America | Confederate States of America | ||||||
| Commanders | |||||||
| Stephen C. Rowan | William F. Lynch | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 14 ships | 6 ships | ||||||
| Casualties | |||||||
| 2 killed 7 wounded |
5 killed 7 wounded 34 captured |
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| Burnside's North Carolina Expedition |
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| Roanoke Island – Elizabeth City – New Berne – Fort Macon – South Mills – Tranter's Creek |
The Battle of Elizabeth City was a Union victory during the American Civil War as part of Ambrose Burnside's North Carolina Expedition.
On February 8, 1862, the Union army under Ambrose Burnside forced the surrender of Confederate forces on Roanoke Island. Immediately afterwards Flag Officer Louis M. Goldsborough sent a sqaudron of 14 ships under Commander Stephen C. Rowan up the Pasquotank River to deal with the Confederate "Mosquito Fleet" under the command of Flag Officer William F. Lynch. On February 10 Rowan met the Rebel fleet near Elizabeth City. Rowan ordered his ships to "dash at the enemy". Within 15 minutes the fleet was destroyed. A boarding party had captured the CSS Ellis after hand to hand fighting while two Rebel ships were sunk and another two set on fire and abandoned. Two of the six Confederate vessels escaped into the Dismal Swamp. In addition to the destruction of the fleet the river battery at Cobb's Point was also silenced. General Burnside dispatached a small force to occupy Elizabeth City.
