 John T. Elliott's Pasquotank County Confederate Irregulars hunted Unionist Benjamin B. Tatum, forcing First to take refuge with a small group of U.S. Army troops who periodically camped in Elizabeth City during operations in the region. Now, according to Tatum's brother John, Benjamin went into the federal camp for the reason that his life was sought and threatened by the guerrillas and that they were constantly around the place. He believed his life depended upon federal protection.