The Shell Bounced Off The Armoring

Union Navy officer Charles Williamson Flusser was killed April 19^th 1864 while in battle on the USS Miami.

Charles Williamson Flusser was born in Annapolis, Maryland September 27^th 1832.  He received an appointment to the United States Naval Academy, graduating in 1853.

Flusser started the Civil War in command of the gunboat the USS Commodore Perry.  In 1864 he was commanding the USS Miami off the coast of North Carolina.  On April 19^th 1864 the Miami went into a battle with the Confederate ironclad the CSS Albemarle.  Flusser fired the cannons at the ironclad, but a shell bounced off the armoring on the Albemarle and landed back on the deck of the Miami.  The shell exploded killing Flusser.

A Naval And Ground Battle

Fought in Washington County, North Carolina, the Battle of Plymouth took place April 17th through April 20th 1864.


The Battle of Plymouth started April 17th 1864 when the combined force of the Confederate ironclad the CSS Albemarle and Major General Robert F Hoke’s soldiers attacked the Union garrison at Plymouth, North Carolina. The Union force was under the command of Colonel Henry W Wessells, and included 4 infantry and artillery units. The CSS Albemarle sunk the Union USS Southfield, damaged the USS Miami and drove off the rest of the Union ships that were protecting the garrison at Plymouth on April 19th 1864. Following this Hoke’s men captured Fort Comfort and drove the Union troops into Fort Williams. On April 20th 1864 the Union garrison surrendered.

Check out this web site for more information about the battle, Plymouth The Keystone