150th Anniversary of the Chicamacomico Races-- Part 1

With a name like that, I just had to write about it, especially since I had never heard of it before.

From the Civil War Daily Gazette, October 4th and 5th. A great site of interest as they do the war on a day-to-day basis.

Essentially, this was a foot race up and down North Carolina's Outer Banks from Chicamacomico (by Rodanthe) to the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. First, the Rebels chased the Yankees, then, the shoe was on the other foot, hence the name races. They covered about thirty miles each way.

This took place after the fall of the Confederate forts at Hatteras Inlet.

Confederate Colonel A.E, Wright on Roanoke Island learned that a regiment of Indiana soldiers had landed near Chicamacomico, 35 miles north of Union-held Fort Hatteras. They were in an exposed position, so the colonel planned to land Georgia troops north of them and then North Carolina ones south and capture the whole group. Then, from there, an attack on Fort Hatteras was in order.

His two regiments were loaded onto the Confederate "Mosquito Fleet" and taken to Chicamacomico. When the Federals spotted the Georgians coming, instead of fighting, they skedaddled south.

Then, it was off to the races with first the Indianans, then the Georgians, with the "Mosquito Fleet" following along the sound side maintaining fire and looking for a spot to land the North Carolina troops.

They failed to land the troops when they ran aground. By midnight, the Union troops had made it to the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, about 30 miles from where they had started. Both sides camped for the night.

Day Two Next. --Old B-Runner