Chicamacomico Races  "Bizarre Run On The Beach"  October 4-5, 1861

Col. Rush Hawkins of the 9th New York commanded Union troops at Fort Hatteras on North Carolina's outer banks in 1861. Concerned about a potential attack from Rebel forces on Roanoke Island, Hawkins ordered the 600 men of the 20th Indiana Regiment to the tiny beach town of Chicamacomico. On October 1, 1861, the Confederacy's Mosquito Fleet captured the ship that came to bring supplies to the troops in Chicamacomico. While interrogating the prisoners, the Southerners learned of the troops in the hamlet.

On October 4, the Confederacy sent out six steamers towing barges filled with troops to capture Yankee soldiers. The fleet arrived offshore from the Union forces just after dawn. Union Col. W.L. Brown ordered the 20th Indiana to abandon camp and retreat to Fort Hatteras. The men, many of them barefoot, grabbed only their rifles and ran south in the sand dunes behind the terrified civilian population from the town. Meanwhile troops from the 3rd Georgia Regiment landed and pursued, killing eight Union soldiers and taking 40 prisoners as they raced down the beach. The Union soldiers ran until midnight, when they reached the Cape Hatteras lighthouse. The Georgians stopped to camp between the lighthouse and Kinakeet.

While the Georgians were pursuing, the Confederate fleet was to move south and land the 8th North Carolina Regiment to cut off the fleeing Union soldiers, but the ships ran aground on a sandbar. The next morning, when the Georgians learned of the plan's failure, they began to march back to Chicamacomico. Just as they turned, the 9th New York appeared and began pursuing the Confederates. Around noon the Yankees were aided by shots from the Union gunboat Monticello, which fired on the Georgians. The Rebels ran through dunes and tidal pools for 18 miles before they were withdrawn. Confederate troops sailed back to Roanoke Island with only six men wounded; Union troops left their outpost at Chicamacomico; and no one could claim a victory.

Fascinating Fact:  If Col. A.R. Wright had given his permission for the men of the 8th North Carolina to be dispatched to shore via the small boats available, the Confederacy would surely have been victorious.


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