[1:69]"First at Bethel; last at Appomattox!" is an epigram which embodies the spirit of all the serious acts of North Carolina.
She has not exhibited those boastful qualities which seem to characterized the peoples of new countries. She had passed her century before she discovered that it was the making, not the writing, of history which chiefly distinguished her, and recorded the fact in her recently adopted motto. It may be said of her as the Duke of York said of Richard's noble father:
"In peace, was never gentle lamb more mild;
In war, was never lion raged more fierce."
When we consider these peculiarities of our mother State, assimilating her more nearly than her sisters to old-world communities, with their repose and reserved strength, we will be prepared to understand the secret of the surprises which she gave to her neighbors. It will also explain why so few general officers were acccorded to her at first, and so grudgingly, and how it came about, before the war had ended, that the North Carolina contingent in the Army of Northern Virginia were masters of the situation. Indeed, no thoughtful soldier of that army, observing, the course of events in the last year or two of the war, could hesitate to believe that if it had lasted a year longer, the leadership of the armv, saving Lee himself, would have been supplied by North Carolinians--that is to say, by those who contributed the greater number of soldiers as well as the greater losses in battle. The turning of the tide at Gettysburg, so dis- heartening to the South, seemed only to inspire the troops of our glorious State with greater [1:70] fortitude as they entered upon the losing battle which Grant's new methods imposed in the death grapple of 1864 and 1865.
Bearing these things in mind, we may review with composure the attitude of North Carolina before the outbreak of hostilities, and feel the thrill of compensated pride at the celerity and ponderousness of her blows afterwards--whether delivered by the First Regiment, setting the pace at Bethel Church, or by any of its successors. The contrast in her two moods constitutes one of the sublimest episodes of history.
The General Assembly of North Carolina met on the 19th of November, 1860. South Carolina passed her ordinance of secession on the 20th of December. Mississippi followed on the 9th of January, 1861; Florida, on the 10th; Alabama, on the llth; Georgia, on the 19th; Louisiana, on the 26th; and Texas on the lst of February. Amid the profound agitation which these events produced, North Carolina preserved her equanimity as a State, though her people were divided. Those who favored joining the newly formed Confederacy advocated the calling of a convention. Those who opposed secession opposed the calling of a convention. There were, however, a large number who opposed secession as inexpedient, who nevertheless favored the calling of a convention. Such a body, it was thought, could observe the course of events and be ready for action if circumstances required.
On the 30th of January the General Assembly passed a bill for an election to determine the question of calling a convention, and at the same time for choosing members of the convention if called. The 28th of February was named as the day for the election. The call of the convention was rejected bv a narrow majority, some seven hundred and fifty ; but the number of delegates chosen who were known as "unionists"--that is, who thought secession inexpedient unless coercion of the seceded States were attmpted--was eighty-two; while the number of those [1:71] who were known as "secessionists"--that is, those who favored immediate action-- was thirty-eight.
"It is needless to remind our readers how earnestly and honestly we have labored to preserve our once great and glorious and beneficent Union. In its existence we have believed were involved that inappreciable blessing, peace; that sound form of liberty and law inaugurated by the Constitution of the United States--and the securitv, nay, even the existence, of that domestic institution out of which have arisen all our national troubles. In the new aspect of affairs, we see no reason to change any opinion that we have expressed, that the difficulty ought to have been peaceably settled, and would have been if good men had been influential. We believe now, as heretofore, that by the exercise of that patience which the immense issues at stake demanded, there would have been a peaceful settlement. We believe now, as heretofore, that a fratricidal war for such a cause is a wrong of which we would not be guilty for a thousand worlds. But with all these opinions unchanged, there is a change in the condition of affairs--a change with which neither we nor the people of North Carolina have had aught to do-- over which thev have had no control, but which of necessity will shape their action. The President's proclamation is the last feather that breaks the camel's back." It shows that the professions of peace were a delusion and a cheat, or, if ever really entertained, that peaceful intentions have been abandoned. War is to be prosecuted against the South by means of the seventy-five thousand [1:72] men called for; and North Carolina has been officially required to furnish a quota of the seventy-five thousand. Will she do it? Ought she to do it? No, no! Not a man can leave her borders upon such an errand who has not made up his mind to war upon his own home and all that he holds dear in that home. For ourselves, we are Southern men and North Carolinians, and at war with those who are at war with the South and North Carolina. With such feelings we attended the large and almost impromptu meeting of Tuesday last, and one of us was unexpectedly called upon to take a part in that meeting. Its calm and dignified determinations met his full concurrence, though it was the saddest public duty he was ever called upon to perform. The future seems to us full only of evil. A civil war, in which it will be hard to say whether victor or vanquished is the greater sufferer. A civil war, whose end no man can see, but full every day of its long and sad years of woe, woe, woe. The impoverished, the down-trodden, the hidow and the orphan, will thereafter beap bitter imprecations upon the bad men who have brought these terrible evils of desolation and death upon a great and prosperous and happy people. Thank God! that we can say we have labored for peace, and have had no wish but to avert the dire calamities in a way honorable to both sections."
History--History which the government is preserving in imperishable records--has shown with what unequaled fidelity the people in whose behalf these words were written redeemed their new obligations. It was in harmony with these noble characteristics that North Carolina should have been (with exception of her daughter, Tennessee) the last State to secede from the Union, and, as the world now knows, the foremost, once having taken the fateful step in all that was required to make secession good--in harmony with her conservative and peace-loving disposition, once the battle was joined, that she poured out her blood and treasure in greater volume than any of her sisters; that, possessing but one-tenth of the white population of the seceded States, she contributed one-fifth of their armies; and that she mustered at Apponiattox a greater number of arms-bearing men than all [1:73]others of them. That she should also have supplied the chief portion of the Confederacy's troops engaged in the first pitched battle of the war may not be attributed to accident, but rather to the complete condition in which she sent her first troops across the Virginia border, her First Regiment of Volunteers. For this reason they were sent to Yorktown, which was then the post of danger.
The hastily assembled meeting referred to in the editorial quoted was a public meeting held on Tuesday, the 16th of April, the day on which Mr. Lincoln's proclamation was received in the most of the towns of the State. Its resolutions called for the taking of "all proper steps to maintain, secure and defend the rights of North Carolina as one of the Southern States"; requesting the Governor to "forthwith convene the General Assembly, with a view to legislative action in this crisis"; and pledging their support and adherence "to the Governor, and authorities of the State in such manner as may be deemed necessary to be taken to assert our rights an fend our soil."
Similar meetings were held and similar resolutions adopted in all the towns and counties as soon as news of the proclamation came to hand.
The remarkable feature of this movement was that it was not concerted; yet it was simultaneous, and the voice of the people throughout the length and breadth of the State was as that of one man. With sublime confidence in themselves, they had declared for peace in the face of unprecedented clanior; but, with no less significance, they made it known that, if the time of action should come, they would not be behind the foremost. Thus the State which had declared for the Union, two to one, on the 25th of February, became an armed camp, marshaled for resistance to the Union on the 17thof April, less than fifty days.
Local industries in North Carolina at that day were in a comparatively high state of development. These companies were completely equipped in an incredibly short time. More than half their members were either new, or were literary and professional men who had enrolled themselves in them as a matter of local pride.(2) The State supplied arms, but all other equipments--uniforms, tents, knapsacks, haversacks, canteens, etc.--were required to be supplied by the volunteers or their organizations. The large harness and other leather manufactories, carriage factories and metal working establishments which were a marked feature of our dispersed industrial development before the war, each locality taking care of its own volunteers, supplied a much more efficient means for meeting such an emergency than the present system of concentration which the adverse result of the war introduced. We have recentlv witnessed the deplorable delay with which the volunteers in the late Spanish war were equipped, notwithstanding the unlimited resources of the reunited Repitblic, with its more than double population and its concentrated wealth. Contrast with this the record of the North Carolina of 1861, as follows:
The companies of the First Regiment volunteered on the 17th of April, 1861; they were formed into a regiment at the State capital bv successive orders from the Adjutant-General's office, issued on April 19th, May 9th, May 12th, and May 16th; three of them (the two Fayetteville companies and the Lincoln company) were in Richmond on the 18th of May, the other seven arriving on the 21st; and they had fought and won the first battle of the war by the 10th of June! [1:75]
Such was the judgment, also, of impartial critics. The Petersburg (Virginia) Express of Monday, May 20, 1861, contained the following:
"Three companies of the First Regiment of North Carolina Voliinteers--the Fayetteville Independent Infantry, Captain Huske; the Fayetteville Light Infantry, Captain Starr, both from Fayetteville, and the Southern Stars, Captain Hoke, from Lincoln county--arrived in this city by a special train from Raleigh at 7:30 o'clock on Saturday evening. Each company had its full complement of one hundred and nine men, thouroughly armed and in the best spirits. If we may form an opinion of the whole regiment by the material and appearance of the above three companies, we should unhesitatingly pronounce it to be one of the finest in the world. North Carolina marshals her bravest and her best for the coming contest, and sends to Virginia men who will uphold and transmit without blemish to posterity the honorable and enviable glory and fame of their patriotic sires. Drilled to perfection and armed to the full--with brave hearts to lead and brave hearts to follow--they will do their duty, and that nobly."
The same paper of Wednesday, May 22d, said:
"The remainder of the First Regiment of North Carolina Volunteers, numbering seven companies and over seven hundred men, reached this city last night in extra trains, about 8 o'clock. Without drawing invidious distinctions, we [1:76] must say that this is the best equipped regiment which has yet made its route through our city. Everything seems to have been provided for them that a soldier could desire--arms. accoutrements. knapsacks, haversacks, canteen--in fact, nothing is wanting."
Said the Richmond Examiner of Thursday, May 23, 1861:
"Without waiting for the form of a legal secession, the State of North Carolina commenced sending her gallant sons to join those who were already in the tented field. OnWednesday morning the rest of the regiment (of which the first installment arrived on Sunday (3), amounting to seven hundred, reached this city by the southern road at 1 o'clock. They were soon formed into line and marched through the city, in splendid style, to the airs of a fine band. Those who saw their close columns and steady march as they moved down Main street, in perfect order, their polished muskets glistening in the moonlight, with none of the usual attendants of loafers and negroes crowding upon the ranks, describe the scene as almost spectral in its appearance, so regular and orderlv were its movements."
The value of these voluntary testimonials from the newspapers of the capital State will be apparent when it is remembered that nearly all the troops which had come to Virginia, from the original Confederate States passed over the same Petersburg and Richmond highway. The fact that the troops of those States had been organized and drilled for at least six months, and desired war, accentuates the achievement of North Carolina, which dealt with men who were private citizens a month before, and who, for the most part, were opposed to war.
Nor was expert testimony lacking to the same effect. Dr. Battle, of the University, reports that General Gabriel J. Rains, when he visited the First Regiment on the Yorktown Peninsula, declared that it was "the best regiment he had ever seen." (General Rains was graduated from the United States Military [1:77] Academy in 1827, and from that time until the breaking out of the war served with distinction in the regular army. At the time of his visit he was a general officer of the Confederacy and in command of the First Division of Magruder's Peninsula Army).
DANIEL H. HILL, Colonel.
CHARLES C. LEE, Lieutenant-Colonel.
JAMES H. LANE, Major.
J. M. POTEAT, Adjutant.
JOHN HENRY WAYT, Commissary.
Dr. PETER E. HINES, Surgeon.
Dr. JOSEPH H. BAKER, Assistant Surgeon.
DR. JOHN G. TIARDY, Assistant Surgeon.
Rev. EDWIN A. YATES, Chaplain.
COMPANY A--Edgecombe Guards--Captain, John L. Bridgers; First Lieutenant, Whitmel P. Lloyd; Second Lieutenant, William S. Long Junior Second Lieutenant, W. G. Lewis.
COMPANY B--Hornet's Nest Rifles--Captain, Lewis S. Williams; First Lieutenant, William A. Owens; Second Lieutenant, William P. Hill; Junior Second Lieutenant, Thomas D. Gillespie.
COMPANY C--Charlotte Grays-Captain, E. A. Ross; First Lieutenant, E. B. Cohen; Second Lieutenant, Thomas B. Trotter; Junior Second Lieutenant, C. W. Alexander.
COMPANY D--Orange Light Infantry-Captain, Richard J. Ashe; First Lieutenant, James R. Jennings; Second Lieutenant, Richard B. Saunders; Junior Second Lieutenant, Richardson Mallett.
COMPANY E--Buncombe Riflemen-Captain, William [1:78] Wallis McDowell; First Lieutenant, Washington Morrison Hardy; Second Lieutenant, George Henry Gregory; Junior Second Lieutenant, James Alfred Patton.
COMPANY F--LaFayette Light Infantry-Captain, Jos. B. Starr; First Lieutenant, Frank N. Roberts; Second Lieutenant, John A. Pemberton; Junior Second Lieutenant, George Sloan.
COMPANY G--Burke Rifles--Captain, Clark Moulton Avery; First Lieutenant, Calvin S. Brown; Second Lieutenant, John A. Dickson; Junior Second Lieutenant, James C. S. McDowell.
COMPANY H--Fayetteville Independent Light Infantry--Captain, Wright Huske; First Lieutenant, Benjamin Robinson Huske; Second Lieutenant, Charles Betts, Cook; Junior Second Lieutenant, Hector McKethan.
COMPANY I--Enfield Blues--Captain, D. B. Bell; First Lieutenant, M. T. Whitaker; Second Lieutenant, F. M. Parker; Junior Second Lieutenant, Cary W. Whitaker.
Company K--Southern Stars-Captain, William J. Hoke First Lieutenant, Wallace M. Reinhardt; Second Lieutenant, Robert F. Hoke; Junior Second Lieutenant, Ed. E. Sumner.
The field officers were the three ranking officers of the North Carolina Military Institute at Charlotte, Colonel Hill, known by his old army title of Major, being the commandant. Thev were all men of distinction in their profession.
Hill had been graduated from West Point in 1842; had participated in nearly every important engagement in the Mexican war; and had won the brevet of captain at Contreras and Cherubusco and of Major at Chapultepec. He resigned from the army in 1849 to become Professor of Mathematics at Washington College, Virginia. In 1854 he became a professor in Davidson College, and, in 1859, commandant and manager of the Military Institute at Charlotte. At the outbreak of the war he was made commandant of the camp of instruction at Raleigh.
Lee was graduated high in his class at West Point in 1856; became Second Lieutenant of Ordnance in the army; resigned his commission in 1859 and became a professor at the Charlotte [1:79] Military Institute. He was made major and second in command at the camp of instruction at Raleigh.
Lane was one of the two "star graduates" of his class at the Virginia Military Institute, and a graduate of University of Virginia. He became Assistant Professor of Mathematics and Tactics at the Virginia Military Institute; later, professor of those departments at the Florida State Seminary; and then Professor of Natural Philosophy in the Charlotte Military Institute. He was made drill- master and adjutant of the camp of instruction at Raleigh.
The regiment went into camp at Howard's Grove, and remained at Richmond until the Friday following, May 24th.
As North Carolina was still technically in the Union, and Virginia, whose ordinance of secession was passed on the 17th of May, did not transfer her military establishment to the Confederacy until June 7th, our North Carolina troops on Virginia soil were for some days in the position of allies of Virginia. As such they were under the supreme command of General Robert E. Lee, Commander- in-Chief of the Virginia forces. General Lee had but three weeks before (April 20th) resigned his position in the United States Army as Lieutenant-Colonel of Albert Sidney Johnston's Second Regiment of Cavalry. His appearance at this time was strikingly different from that in which he [1:80] subsequently became familiar to the Army of lNorthern Virginia. His hair was close cropped, his complexion fresh and ruddy, his face sniooth-shaven, except for a black, military- looking mustache. His movement was quicker; his figure graceful, as cannot be forgotten, and erect to the last--more lithe. He was, altogether, a phenomenally handsome man, the model of a soldier. In a year's time he looked ten years older.
After the evacuation of the Gosport Navy Yard by the Federal authorities on the 21st of April, Richmond was thrown into alarm by the reports of the approach of the Federal gun-boat "Pawnee" up the James. On the 6th of May Federal vessels chased steamers to within twelve miles of Gloucester Point, on the York River, opposite Yorktown , and fired upon them. On May 7th the special agent of the Confederate Government reported to the Secretarv of War (L. P. Walker), from Richmond, that intelligent and distinguished men in Richmond [1:81] "believe Virginia on the very brink of being carried back, and say no man but President Davis can save her. There is disappointment that he does not assume entire direction of affairs here. General Lee has ordered Louisiana troops to Harper's Ferry. The South Carolina troops refuse to move unless under orders from Montgomery." (5) On the llth of May, Rev. Dr. W. N. Pendleton (afterwards Brigadier-General of artillery), who had been a classmate of President Davis at West Point, wrote to the President at Montgomery as follows: "As you value our great cause, hasten on to Richmond. Lincoln and Scott are, if I mistake not, covering by other demonstrations the great movement upon Richmond. Suppose thev should send suddenly up the York river, as they can, an army of thirty thousand or more; there are no means at hand to repel them, and if their policy shown in Maryland gets footing here, it will be a severe, if not a fatal, blow. Hasten, I pray you, to avert it. The very fact of your presence will almost answer. Hasten, then, I entreat you, don't lose a dav." On the 18th of May (the day after Virginia"s secession) the United States ship "Monticello" fired on the Virginia battery at Sewell's Point, and again on the 21st. On the 22d, Major-General Benjamin F. Butler, United States Army, was transferred from the Department of Annapolis and assigned to the command of the Department of Virginia, with headquarters at Fortress Monroe; and nine additional infantry regiments were sent there. On the 23d, a Federal regiment made a demonstration against Hampton, three miles from Fortress Monroe. At Hampton and other points in the Peninsula country there was considerable disaffection to the Confederacy.
It was under these circumstances that the destination of the First North Carolina Volunteers, the crack regiment of the day, was decided. Thev were ordered to Yorktown, the "post of danger and of honor," (6) as the papers of the day described it. Breaking camp at Richmond on May 24th, they proceeded [1:82] by rail to West Point, on the York River, and by steamboat (the "Logan") the rest of the way, landing at Yorktown the same afternoon. Upon the boat was Colonel John B. Magruder, of the Provisional Army of Virginia, lately a distinguished artillery major of the United States Army, who had just been assigned (May 21st) to the command of the Department of the Peninsula, including the York and James Rivers.
Between the time of the regiment's arrival at Yorktown and the 6th of June it was kept incessantly at work, drilling and entrenching. While engaged in the latter it was interesting to these new disciples of Mars to trace the outline of Cornwallis' works erected in defense against their forefathers four score years before. Sometimes their spades and picks would renew, sometimes demolish, those ancient war marks, and occasionally they would unearth a souvenir of battle.
A company of mounted men, called the Old Dominion Dragoons appeared shortly after the regiment's arrival, having their rendezvous at Yorktown; though doing picket duty between Yorktown and the enemy's posts at Hampton (three miles from Fortress Monroe) and Newport News, some twenty-one miles away. At Newport News, General Butler had caused a very strong entrenched camp to be established, garrisoning it with several regiments, among them the Seventh New York, the First Vermont and the Fourth Massachusetts, together with a portion of the Second United States Artillery. On the 28th of May two more companies of Virginia cavalry were ordered to Yorktown, and Cabell's Battery of light artillery was transferred thither from Gloucester Point. On the 10th of June the Louisiana Zouaves (the First Louisiana Battalion), under Lieutenant-Colonel Coppens, were ordered from Richmond to Yorktown. At the same time a number of companies of Alabama troops were concentrated at Yorktown from Gloucester Point and Richmond and organized into a regiment under Colonel John A. Winston. Major George W. Randolph (the successor, shortly after, of Mr. Walker as Secretary of War) had a small battalion of artillery at Yorktown; and Lieutenant-Colonel [1:83] William D. Stuart, of the Third Virginia Regiment, and Major E. B. Montague, were sufficiently near to reach Bethel Church, each with three companies, on the morning of the 10th, the day of the battle.
Such was the military situation--so far as the troops with which we had to confront General Butler were concerned--for several days before and after the battle of Bethel. About two weeks before, a party of some three hundred Federal troops had come up from Hampton and occupied Bethel Church. They remained a day or two, and left a number of inscriptions on the walls of the church-- "Death to the Traitors!" "Down with the Rebels!" and the like--which were read with interest by our men upon arrival. Colonel Magruder determined to put a stop to these bold incursions, and made his dispositions accordingly.
The march from Yorktown was accomplished by about dusk. It was a trying one, as it was made in heavy marching order, with knapsacks, haversacks, canteens, loaded cartridge boxes, often a Bible in the knapsack, and with a tin cup and an extra pair of shoes dangling from either corner of this rather boxy affair. The light marching order of Jackson's foot cavalry was as yet a sealed chapter of the regulations. A drizzling mist had set in before dark, and it was the regiment's first experience at cooking with ramrods and bivouacking without tents.[1:84]
There was not even a hamlet about the church at that time, and no doubt it is the same today-- simply a grove beside and on the west side of the road, with a large, unpainted wooden country meetinghouse standing in the midst of the grove and facing the road. The regiment had traversed a sandy level up to this point, but here the land falls off to the southward and to the right and left of the road, the depression on the right, back of the church, being somewhat precipitous. A creek which form the headwaters of the northwest branch of Back River flows in this depression, a branch of the creek coming through the ravine back of the church. A flat wooden bridge carried the road over the creek, a hundred yards or so southeast of the church.
Some three miles beyond Big Bethel was Little Bethel Church, where our mounted pickets had an outpost.
The two maps (8) herewith illustrate the country adjacent to the battlefield and the battlefield itself.
On the morning of the 7th, Colonel Hill made a reconnaissance of the ground with a view to fortifying it. He gives the result in his official report as follows: "I found a branch of Back River on our front, and encircling our right flank. On our left was a dense and almost impassable wood, except about one hundred and fifty yards of old field. The breadth of the road, a thick wood, and narrow cultivated field covered our rear. The nature of the ground determined me to make an inclosed work, and I had the invaluable aid of Lieutenant-Colonel Lee of my regiment in its plan and construction. Our position had the inherent defect of being commanded by an immense field immediately in front of it (9), upon which the masses of the enemv might be readily deploved. Presuming that an attempt would be made to carry the bridge across the stream, a battery [1:85]was made for its especial protection, and Major Randolph placed his guns so as to sweep all the approaches to it. The occupation of two commanding eminences beyond the creek and on our right would have greatly strengthened our position, but our force was too weak to admit of the occupation of more than one of them. A battery was laid out on it for one of Randolph's howitzers."
There were but twenty-five spades, six axes and three picks in possession of the command, but these were plied so vigorously all day and night of the 7th and all day on the 8th that the work began to show the outlines of a fortified camp.
On the afternoon of the 8th, Colonel Hill learned that a marauding party of the enemy was within a few miles of the camp, and called for a detachment to drive them back. Lieutenant Frank N. Roberts, of Company F, "promptly responded," says Colonel Hill in his report, "and in five minutes his command was en route."
Colonel Hill detached Major Randolph, with one howitzer, to join them, and Lieutenant-Colonel Lee (of the First Regiment) volunteered to take command of the whole. They came upon the marauders, five miles off, "busy over the spoils of a plundered house." A shell from the howitzer put them to flight. Soon after information came that seventv-five marauders were on the Back River road. Colonel Hill called upon Captain McDowell's company, Company E, "and in three minutes it was in hot pursuit," A howitzer was detached to join them, and Major James H. Lane (of the First Regiment) volunteered to command the whole. The marauders were encountered, after a long march, near New Market Bridge. Within sight of the flags at Hampton and hearing of the drums calling to arms, Lane opened fire and drove the enemy across the bridge, wounding a large number of the marauders and capturing one. Colonel Hill afterwards declared that the boldness of this attack, made under the very guns of the enemy's chief camp, brought on the battle of Bethel. As a result of this expedition, so the [1:86]citizens reported, two cart loads and one buggy load of dead and wounded were taken into Hampton. None were hurt on our side.
Colonel Magruder came up the same evening and assumed command. On the next day (Sunday) a fresh supply of intrenching tools enabled the men to make further progress on the works.
Colonel Hill says in his report: "We were aroused at 3 O'clock on Monday morning (10) for a general advance upon the enemy, and marched three and a half miles, when we learned (11) that the foe, in large force, was within a few hundred yards of us. We fell back hastily upon our entrenchments, and awaited the arrival of the invaders."
Meanwhile, information of the activity of our troops had reached General Butler at Fortress Monroe. He organized a force consisting of nearly all of seven infantry regiments and of artillery sufficient for serving four guns, which were carried with the expedition. In his report to Lieutenant- General Scott he says that his instructions to this force were to "drive them (the rebels) back and destroy their camp" at Little Bethel. This being accomplished, a couple of regiments were "to follow immediately upon the heels of the fugitives, if they were enabled to get off, and attack the battery on the road to Big Bethel while covered bv the fugitives."
General Butler's confidence was destined to receive a rude shock. He had but recently left the Annapolis Department, where be would have become familiar with the circumstances of the evacuation of Alexandria on May 5th, (12) and of the Confederate disaster at Philippi, in Western Virginia, on June 3d. (13) Prestige, so far, was decidedly against us, and General Butler's expectation of the surprise and rout of our forces was not unnatural. Prestige counts for much in war as in other human affairs, and it was a matter of vast consequence upon which side [1:87] it should remain after the first serious shock of arms. Great as was the responsibility, therefore, which fate and their own state of preparedness had thrust upon our North Carolinians, they were presently to exhibit a signal proof of their ability to meet it.
General Butler laid his plans carefully. (14) Instructions were given Brigadier-General Pierce, commanding at Hampton, to send forward Colonel Duryea's Fifth New York Regitment (Zouaves) at one o'clock on the morning of the 10th, by way of New Market Bridge, and thence by a by-road to a point between Little Bethel and Big Bethel, with the object of taking our outpost there in the rear. Colonel Townsend's Third New York Regiment, with a couple of mountain howitzers, was instructed to support Duryea, marching about an hour later. At the same time Colonel Phelps, commanding at Newport News, was directed to send out a battalion under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Washburn in time to make a demonstration upon Little Bethel in front, and to have him supported by Colonel Bendix's Seventh New York Regiment with two field-pieces.
Washburn's Battalion was made up of three hundred men from the First Vermont and three hundred men from Washburn's own regiment the Fourth Massachusetts. The two field-pieces were of the Second United States Artillery (regulars), under command of Lieutenant Greble. The two mountain howitzers with Townsend were manned bv a detachment from Colonel Carr's Second New York Regiment, "under the direction of a non-commissioned officer and four privates of the United States Army." The two supporting regiments, Townsend's and Bendix's, were expected to effect a junction at the fork of the road leading from Hampton to Newport News, about midway between New Market Bridge and Little Bethel. The movement was so timed that the attack on Little Bethel should be made at daybreak. In case of failure to surprise the outpost at Little Bethel, General Pierce, if he thought it expedient, was directed to attack the work at Big Bethel.
[1:88]In General Butler's "plan of operations" were instructions to "Burn up both the Bethels. Blow up, if brick." Artillerists to "handle the captured guns," and "spikes to spike them," were also to be provided.
Everything went according to the plan, up to a certain point. Duryea and Washburn had arrived at the places assigned them, and Bendix's supporting regiment had arrived at the fork of the road where the junction was to be made with Townsend. As day dawned Townsend's Regiment, with General Pierce and his aide-de-camp in advance, were within a hundred yards of Bendix's position, when suddenly the latter opened upon Townsend's column with both artillery and musketry, killing two and wounding nineteen, four of the latter being officers. General Pierce says that he was on the point of ordering a charge upon the supposed enemy when the mistake was discovered. Duryea and Washburn, hearing the flring in their rear, "reversed their march," to use General Butler's expression, and joined their beligerent reserves. Pierce held a council of war, decided to attack Bethel, and sent to Butler for reinforcements, who dispatched to him Colonel Allen's First and Colonel Carr's Second New York Regiments.
The enemy's forces, therefore, which were engaged against us at Bethel, may be summed up as follows:
| First New York, Colonel Allen (15) | 750 |
Second New York, Colonel Carr (15)
|
750 |
| Third New York, Colonel Townsend | 650 |
| Fifth New York, Colonel Duryea | 850 |
| Seventh New York, Colonel Bendix (15) | 750 |
| First Vermont (16) | 300 |
Fourth Massachusetts (16)
|
300 |
| Second U. S. Artillery, Greble's Detachment, say | 50 |
| Total | 4,400 |
[1:89]General, staff and couriers, and four guns.
General Pierce's General Order No. 12, given in his report, also mentions Colonel MeChesney's command as one of those designated to be held in readiness along with Allen's and Carr s. If also sent forward, that would swell the total to some 5,200.
While these proceedings were taking place with the enemy, the First North Carolina Volunteers were hurrying forward, over Lee's and Lane's familiar course, towards New Market Bridge. It is certain that neither of the marching columns was aware of the action of the other--the North Carolinians starting out from Big Bethel at three o'clock in the morning, and Butler's army from Hampton and Newport News at one o'clock and two o'clock. Except for Bendix's daybreak fight and the consequent delay, we should probably have come upon Duryea's and Washburn's troops a little to the Yorktown side of Little Bethel.
Our forces as assembled for battle may be thus summarized:
| First North Carolina Regiment, Colonel Hill | 800 |
| Three Companies of the Third Virginia Regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Stuart (17) | 208 |
| Three Companies of Virginia troops, Major Montague (estimated) | 150 |
| Battalion of Virginia Artillery, Major Randolph (estimated) | 150 |
| Douthatt's, Phillips' and Jones' companies of Virginia Cavalry (estimated) | 100 |
| Total | 1,408 |
Randolph reports one rifle (iron) Parrott gun, three howitzers, and one rifle howitzer on the ground. He sent, besides, one howitzer to the "Half-Way House," some three miles away, and one howitzer had previously been posted "in the rear of the road leading from the Half-Way House."
At 9 o'clock the head of the enemy's column (Bendix's Seventh New York) appeared in the road, half a mile away, and [1:90] soon they seemed to fill it. Who will forget that tremendous moment, ushering in the war! A few minutes after 9 oclock a shot from Randolph's Parrot gun, aimed by himself, screamed away at them. It hit the earth just in their front and ricocheted. (18) They fell away from the road like a mist before the sun, their artillery at once replied, and the battle began.
The positions of the several companies of the First North Carolina Regiment at the opening of the battle, and their changes of position during its progress, were as follows:
Company A, Captain Bridgers, was posted in the dense wood, or swamp, beyond the works, beyond the creek, and to the left of the road. They were deployed as skirmishers. When Brown's howitzer was spiked and abandoned, Company A was transferred to the right, where they attacked the enemy and recovered the howitzer.
Company B, Lieutenant Owens, on the south face of the works. From this position the company took part in the repulse of the enemy's first attempt on our right and in the repulse of Winthrop's attack.
Company C, Captain Ross, on the left of Company B, and occupying the adjacent part of the east face of the works. After the temporary capture by the enemy of Brown's abandoned howitzer, Company C was ordered (with Company A) to recapture it. When this was done they were returned to their original position, where they took part in the repulse of Winthrop's attack.
Company D, Captain Ashe, at the northeast angle of the works.
Company E, Captain McDowell, on the north and northwest faces of the works.
Company F, Captain Starr, in the woods to the north and left of Company D's position, with exception of a detachment under Lieutenant Roberts stationed at a ford a mile below the bridge.
Company G, Captain Avery, was thrown beyond the stream to the right of the road, near an old mill-dam, where they took part in the repulse of the enemy's first advance on our right. [1:91] Subsequently they were moved forward to the support of the howitzer which had replaced the spiked and abandoned one.
Company H, Captain Huske, on the west face of the works, on the right (north) of Montague's Battalion. Shortly after the fight began Company H was moved forward to the support of the main battery (Randolph's), southeast of the church. When Winthrop made his attack upon the south- east angle, half of the company, under Lieutenants Cook and McKethan, were sent thither by Colonel Magruder, where they took part in the repulse of Winthrop.
Company I, Lieutenant Parker, on the right (north) of Company H's first position, and extending to the northwest angle of the works. During the progress of the battle Company I was deployed in front of its position in the works and remained thus until it was over.
Company K, Captain Hoke, in the woods on the left (north) of Company F. During the battle Company K was deploved one hundred and fifty yards in front of its position), in anticipation of Winthrop's skirmishers striking there. Upon their failure to do, this it was withdrawn to its original position. At the close of the battle Company K was sent forward, as described further on.
Lieutenant-Colonel Stuart's three companies were stationed on the hill to the extreme right, beyond the creek, where he completed the slight breastwork erected to protect his command.
Major Montague's three companies were stationed on the west face of the works, back and northwest of the church. Upon Stuart's retirement to this point, shortly after the action began, Montague's command was ordered to a point a mile and a quarter to the left. The enemy making no demonstration in that quarter, they took no other part in the action.
Randolph's artillery was posted as follows: The Parrot gun and one howitzer in the main battery on the right of the road, near the front of the church; a howitzer under Captain Brown in the battery erected on the right, beyond the ravine; a howitzer near the bridge, on the right of the road; the rifled howitzer [1:92] on the left of the road, behind the right of the redoubt erected there. (19)
The three companies of cavalry (dismounted) were posted in rear of the whole. (20)
A detachment of fifteen cadets from the North Carolina Military Institute was posted beside the last mentioned howitzer.
How these dispositions for defense appeared to the attacking party is revealed by their reports of the battle.
Captain Judson Kilpatrick, of Duryea's Fifth New York (afterwards the cavalry general who had the interesting experience with Wheeler's Cavalry near Fayetteville in 1865), with two companies of his regiment, acted as the enemv's advance guard.
He savs that he drove in our pickets at eight o'clock, and then made an "armed reconnoissance" of our position and forces. He was much impressed with what, he saw. He "found the enemv with about from three to five thousand men posted in a strong position on the opposite side of the bridge, three earthworks and a masked battery on the right and left; in advance of the stream thirty pieces of artillery and a large force of cavalry." (21) General Butler's view from Fortress Monroe, was different. He reiterated in his report, his conviction that we had not more than a reginient during the battle, and that if his orders "to go ahead with the bayonet," after the first volley, had been obeved, the "battery" would have been captured.
When within a mile of our position, Gen. Pierce halted his [1:93] column, and then, within eight hundred yards of our works, formed his troops in line of battle. Duryea's Fifth New York was placed on the right (our left) of the road. Washburn's Vermonters and Massachusetts men, after some preliminary movements, were also sent to the right and placed in extension of Duryea's line. Townsend's Third New York was formed on the left (our right) of the road. Bendix's Seventh New York which had brought up the rear in the march from the scene of his daybreak fusillade, was now ordered to the front. (22) The head of his column was dispersed, as we have seen, by Randolph's opening shot, after which, as Bendix reports, he did the best he could "as skirmishers in the woods" (on our left), finally taking position with Washburn's command. Bendix had one piece, of artillery with him when he first moved to the front. This seems to have been joined by the three other pieces, when all were served, under Grebel's command, in or near the orchard to the left (our right) of the road.
The first movement upon our lines was made by two companies of Townsend's Regiment, advancing as skirmishers against our right. They were promptly driven back by our artillery, one of Stuart's companies, and Companies B and G of the First North Carolina.
Meanwhile, Duryea's and Washburn''s troops, advancing against our left, made several attempts to charge our works, but were prevented by the creek. (23) During these attempts they approached the old ford below the bridge, where Colonel Hill had posted a picket of some forty men under Lieutenant Roberts. This led Colonel Magruder to reinforce the latter with Werth's company of Montague's Battalion and the howitzer at the bridge, which latter drove back the enemy with one shot. (24)
Townsend now moved forward his whole regiment in line of battle against our right, with 100 of Duryea's Fifth Regiment (Zouaves) as skirmishers on his right. In this forward [1:94] movement, Townsend reports that one of his companies (presumably the one on his left flank) got separated from the rest of the regiment by a "thickly-hedged ditch" (probably the ravine mentioned in Stuart's report), but continued to march forward in line, with it. Captain Brown's gun having been disabled and withdrawn some time before, Colonel Stuart reported to Colonel Magruder the advance of this heavy force (which he estimated at fifteen hundred, accompanied by artillery), and the advance also, of "a line of skirmishers down the ravine on my right," obscured from his own view but discovered by his scouts. He was accordingly directed by Colonel Magruder to fall back to the works occupied by Montague, back of the church, and the whole of our advanced troops (that is, those across the creek, on the right of the road) were withdrawn.
At this critical moment Colonel Hill called Captain Bridgers, with his Company A, of the First North Carolina, out of the swamp (on the left) and directed him to occupy the nearest advanced work (on the right of the road). He also ordered Captain Ross, with his Company C, of the First North Carolina, to the support of Lieutenant-Colonel Stuart. "These two captains, with their companies," says Hill, "crossed over to Randolph's battery, under a most heavy fire, in a most gallant manner. As Lieutenant-Colcnel Stuart had withdrawn, Captain Ross was detained at the church, near Randolph's battery. Captain Bridgers, however, crossed over and drove the Zouaves out of the advanced howitzer battery, and reoccupied it. It is impossible to overestimate this service. It decided the action in our favor."
Of this decisive movement Colonel Magruder says in his hasty report, made the same day:
"Whilst it might appear invidious to speak particularly of any regiment or corps, where all behaved so well, I am compelled to express my great appreciation of the skill and gallantry of Major Randolph and his howitzer battalion and Colonel Hill, the officers and men of the North Carolina Regiment. As an instance [1:95] of the latter, I will merely mention that a gun under the gallant Captain Brown of the howitzer battery having been rendered unfit for service by the breaking of a priming-wire in the vent, Captain Brown threw it over a precipice, and the work was occupied for a moment by the enemy. Captain Bridgers, of the North Carolina regiment, in the most gallant manner, retook it and held it until Captain Brown had replaced and put in position another piece, and defended it with his infantry in the most gallant manner. Colonel Hill's judicious and determined action was worthy of his ancient glory."
In Colonel Magruder's second report, dated June 12th, he again refers to the subject, saying:
"I cannot omit to again bring to the notice of the General Commanding-in-Chief the valuable services and gallant conduct of the First North Carolina Regiment and Major Randolph of the howitzer batteries. These officers were not only prompt and daring in the execution of their duties, but most industrious and energetic in the preparations for the conflict. The firing of the howitzer batteries was as perfect as the bearing of the men, which was entirely what it ought to have been. Captain Bridgers, of the North Carolina Regiment, re-took in the most daring manner, and at a critical period of the fight, the work from which Captain Brown of the artillery had withdrawn a disabled gun to prevent its falling into the hands of the enemy, and which work had been subsequently occupied by the enemy. Captain Bridgers deserves the highest praise for this timely act of gallantry."
Stuart was now sent back to his original position; he and Captain Averv with his Company G, of the First North Carolina, drove off some skirmishers advancing through the orchard; and the enemy's operations ceased on that side of the road.
It is interesting to note that the same company of Townsend's men who were separated from the rest of their regiment were supposed by Stuart to be moving to outflank him, were [1:96] mistaken by Townsend for a flanking party from our side. Townsend says, referring to this company of his regiment"Upon seeing among the breaks in the hedge the glistening bayonets in the adjoining field, I immediately concluded that the enemy were outflanking us, and conceived it to be my duty immediately to retire and repel that advance. I resumed, therefore, my original position on the left of Colonel Duryea. Shortly after all the forces were directed to retire, the design of the reconnoissance having been accomplished."
A very potent body of men that separated company proved to be.
We were now as secure, says Colonel Hill, as at the beginning of the fight, and as yet had no man killed. Foiled on our right flank, the enemy now made his final effort upon our left. A column consisting of Washburn's command of Vermont and Massachusetts troops, led by Major Theodore Winthrop, of General Butler's staff, crossed over the ereek and appeared at the angle on our left. They came on with a cheer, no doubt thinking that our work was open at the gorge and that thev could enter by a sudden rush. "Companies B and C, however," savs Colonel Hill, "dispelled the illusion by a cool, deliberate and well directed fire. Colonel Magruder sent over portions of Companies G, C and H of my regiment to our support, and now began as cool firiiig on our side as was ever witnessed. The three field officers of the regiment were present, and but few shots were fired without their permission. They (the men) were all in high glee, and seemed to enjoy it. Captain Winthrop, while most gallantly urging on his men, was shot through the heart (25), when all rushed back with the utmost precipitation."
Major Theodore Winthrop, the officer referred to, was General Butler's acting military secretary, who represented Gen. Butler upon General Pierce's staff. He was of the old Massachusetts [1:97] family of Winthrop, but the son of Francis Bayard Winthrop, of New Haven, Connecticut.
The fight at the angle lasted but twenty minutes. It seemed to completely discourage the enemy, and he made no further effort at assault. It is no doubt to this period that Colonel Magruder refers in his report when he sets the ending of the battle at half past twelve o'clock, whereas Major Randolph says the last shot was fired at half past one o'clock.
Meanwhile, Colonel Allen's First New York and Colonel Carr's Second New York had come up. General Pierce threw Allen's Regiment into the lane on his left which Townsend's Third Regiment had occupied at the beginning of its advance, and from which it had now retired; and he placed Carr's Regiment in the position which had been occupied by Duryea's Fifth Regiment, now withdrawn. Under protection of this new line the dead and wounded were ordered to be collected and carried off. The retreat then began, Allen's and Carr's Regiments covering the rear.
The following extract from Major Randolph's report gives us a glimpse of Allen's and Carr's Regiments as they arrived on the field:
"After some intermission of the assault in front, a heavy column, apparently a reinforcement, or reserve, made its appearaiiee on the Hampton road and pressed forward towards the bridge, carrying the United States flag near the head of the column. As the road had been clear for some time, and our flanks and rear had been threatened, the howitzer in the main battery (26) had been sent to the rear, and our fire did not at first check them. I hurried a howitzer forward from the rear, loaded it with canister and prepared to sweep the approach to the bridge, but the fire of the Par- rott gun again drove them back. The howitzer brought from the Half-Way House by Lieutenant Moseley arriving most opportunely, I carried it to the battery on the right to replace the disabled piece. On getting there, I [1:98] learned from the infantry that a small house in front was occupied by sharpshooters, and saw the body of a Carolinian lying thirty yards in front of the battery, who had been killed in a most gallant attempt to burn the house. I opened upon the house with shell for the purpose of burning it, and the battery of the enemy in the Hampton road being on the line with it, and supposing probably that the fire was at them immediately returned it with solid shot. This disclosed their position, and enabled me to fire at the house and at their bat- terv at the same time. After an exchange of five or six shots a shell entered a window of the house, increased the fire already kindled, until it soon broke out into a light blaze, and, as I have reason to believe, disabled one of the enemy's pieces. This was the last shot fired. (27) They soon after re- treated, and we saw no more of them."
Lieutenant John T. Greble, of the Second United States Artillery (regulars), was killed "by a cannon shot," says General Butler, and General Pierce tells us that this occurred "just at the close of the action." he was in command of the enemy's artillery, and was regarded as an able as well as a gallant officer.
Captain Hoke, with his Companv K, of the First North Carolina, now advanced and explored the woods in front. Upon his ascertaining that the road was clear, some one hundred dragoons, under Captain Douthatt, pursued the enemy as far as New Market Bridge, which the latter tore up behind him. "The enemy in his haste," says Colonel Hill, "threw away hundreds of canteens, haversacks, overcoats, etc.; even the dead were thrown out of the wagons," and "the pursuit soon became a chase."
For Colonel Hill's acknowledgments to his staff and to his company officers and others in detail, the reader is referred to the extract from his report given in the appendix to this article.
After the battle was over and the enemy had retreated, the Louisiana reginient arrived, after a forced march from Yorktown. On the other hand, as a set-off against this ex post facto reinforcement, it is worth recording that an associated press [1:100] dispatch, dated at Fortress Monroe, June 10th, stated that Colonel McChesney's Regiment formed a reserve for General Pierce's army, and also that Colonel Hawkins's Regiment had "moved from Newport News" during the day.
Yorktown being exposed, the battlefield was occupied by cavalry, and the remainder of the troops, including the Louisiana regiment, were marched back to the former place the same night.
Of Wyatt, Colonel Magruder's report says: "Too much praise cannot be bestowed upon the heroic soldier whom we lost. He was one of four who volunteered to set fire to a house in our front which was thought to afford protection to our enemy, and advancing between the two fires, he fell midway, pierced in the forehead by a musket ball. Henry L. Wyatt is the name of this brave soldier and devoted patriot. He was a member of the brave and gallant First North Carolina Regiment."
In the Virginia volume of the "Confederate Military History," Major Jed Hotchkiss, its author, says: "It is generally admitted that young Wyatt was the first Confederate soldier killed in action in Virginia during the civil war." As that was also the first battle of the war, it may be recorded that Wyatt was the first Confederate soldier killed in battle in that war.
[1:101] Private John H. Thorpe, an honor graduate of the University of North Carolina, one of the four companions of Wyatt, afterwards a captain in the Forty-seventh Regiment, thus describes the death of Wyatt:
"When we got there [the redoubt] I saw a Zouave regiment of the enemy in line of battle about three hundred yards away. Our boys popped away at them, but the fire was not returned. Then, in good order, they marched away down the New Market road. Probably the order to retreat had been given the whole Federal army. A few minutes later Colonel Hill, passing from our right through the company, said: 'Captain Bridgers, can't you have that house burned?' and immediately went on. Captain Bridgers asked if five of the company would volunteer to burn it, suggesting that one of the number should be an officer. Corporal George T. Williams said he would be the officer and four others said they would go. Patches and a hatchet were provided at once, and a minute later the little party scrambled over the breastworks in the following order: George T. Williams, Thomas Fallon, John H. Thorpe, Henry L. Wyatt and R. H. Bradley. A volley was fired at us as if by a company, not from the house, but from the road to our left. As we were well drilled in skirmishing, all of us instantly dropped to the ground, Wyatt mortally wounded. He never uttered a word or a groan, but lay limp on his back, his arms extended, one knee up and a clot of blood on his forehead as large as a man's fist.. He was lying within four feet of me, and this is the way I saw him. To look at Wvatt one would take him to be tenacious of life; low, but robust in build, guileless, open, frank, aggressive."
Wyatt's body was soon taken off the field by his comrades, who carried him to Yorktown the same night, where he died. He had apparently not recovered consciousness from the time he was struck. His body was carried to Richmond the next day, where he was buried with military honors from the Reverend Mr. Duncan's church.
[1:102] Camps were named for Wyatt during the war; his portrait has been placed in the State Library at Raleigh; and his memory, as well as that of the First Regiment, is perpetuated in the inscription: "First at Bethel; last at Appomattox!" cut upon the Confederate Monument in front of the Capitol.
Henry Lawson Wyatt was a son of Isham and Lucinda Wyatt, of Tarboro. He was twenty years of age at his death. His parents had moved to Tarboro in 1856 from Pitt county, though he was born during their early residence in Richmond, Va.
In the South, on the other hand, the result was hailed as an augury of the early triumph of the Confederacy, which had thus demonstrated its ability to overcome four times its numerical strength on the battlefields--a disproportion almost exactlv representing the relative populations of the two sections.
In the Virginia Convention, on the 17th of June, Mr. Tyler (ex-President of the United States) submitted a series of resolutions, which were unanimously adopted, eulogizing Magruder, Hill and their officers and men for the recent brilliant victorv at Bethel Church. Mr. Tyler followed the reading of his resolutions in a speech of great eloquence and force. There was, he said, but one instance on the whole page of history that could be cited as a parallel to the victorv at Bethel Church--that was the battle and the victory of Buena Vista, "where the gallant Davis, now our President, with his Mississippi regiment, and the invincible Bragg, with his grape and canister, turned the fortunes of the day and routed an enemy of about five to one."
The Richmond Dispatch said: "It is one of the most extraordinary victories in the annals of war. Four thousand thoroughly drilled and equipped troops routed and driven from the field by only eleven hundred men. Two hundred of the enemy killed, and on our side but one life lost. Does not the hand of God seem manifest [1:104] in this thing? The courage and con- duct of the noble sons of the South engaged in this battle are beyond all praise. They have crowned the name of their country with imperishable lustre and made their own names immortal. With odds of four to one against them, they have achieved a complete victory, putting their enemy to inglorious flight, and giving to the world a brilliant pledge of the manner in which the South can defend its firesides and altars."
The Richmond Whig said: "The rush, the dash, the elan of our boys was, however, the great and distinguishing feature of the affair. Cool and determined as Bonaparte's veterans, they pitched into the fight with the gaiety of school-boys into a game of ball. They have taken the step which is the angury and earnest of victory. Their dashing bearing, in the face of four times their number, will inspire a spirit of emulation among all our forces, and lead to the rout of the invaders wherever they show themselves."
Nor was there any disposition to withhold credit from North Carolina as the chief actor in the great achievement. The press of the capital State was lavish in its praise of our regiment. Said the Petersburg Express: "All hail to the brave sons of the Old North State, whom Providence seems to have thrust forward in the first pitched battle on Virginia soil in behalf of Southern rights and independence."
Said the Richmond Whig: "The North Carolina regiment covered itself with glory at the battle of Bethel."
Said the Richmond Examiner, the leading paper of the Confederacy: "'Honor those to whom honor is due. All our troops appear to have behaved nobly at Bethel, but the honors of the day are clearly due to the splendid regiment of North Carolina, whose charge of bayonets decided it, and presaged their conduct on many a more important field. Virginia's solemn sister is justly jealous of glory; her simple, honest, courageous population are weary of the grand silence of their forests of pine; they have come out to fight with a deep determination to make their mark, which both friends and foes have yet to fathom. Of this occasion North Carolina may be content. No forced praise and [1:105] empty compliments are necessary now; for every statement of the facts, made no matter by whom, or how, brings out the steady valor and decisive action of her sons and representatives in a light too clear to leave any place for error, or cause for regret, except that the foe neither would nor could await their advancing line of steel."
In our own State, Governor Ellis promptly recommended to the Convention that Colonel Hill, the commander of the North Carolina Troops, be promoted to the rank of Brigadier, and that a full brigade be formed and placed under his command. In the Convention, on June 15th, Mr. Venable offered a resolution, which was unanimously passed, as follows:
"Resolved, That this Convention, appreciating the valor and good conduct of the officers and men of the First Regiment North Carolina Volunteers, do, as a testimony of the same, authorize the said regiment to inscribe the word 'Bethel' upon their banner."
| Command. | Killed. | Wounded. | Total. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hill's First North Carolina Regiment | 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Randolph's (Virginia) Howitzer Battalion | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Stuart's three companies of Third Virginia Regiment | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Montague's three companies | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| The three companies of Virginia Cavalry | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Grand total | 1 | 9 | 10 |
[1:106]The names of these ten are as follows.
First North Carolina.--Henry L. Wyatt, private, Company A, mortally wounded; Lieutenant J. W. Ratchford, aide-de-camp to Colonel Hill, wounded; Council Rogers, private, Company A, severely wounded; Charles Williams, private, Company A, severely wounded; S. Patterson, private, Company D, slightly wounded; William White, private, Company K, wounded; Peter Poteat, private, Company G, slightly wounded.
Randolph's Howitzers.--Lieutenant Hudnall (commanding the howitzer in Hill's lines on the left of the road), wounded; H. C. Shook, private under Hudnall, wounded; John Worth, private under Hudnall, wounded.
The tabulated report of the Federal losses which General Butler gave in his report to Lieutenant- General Scott, dated June 16th (that being the only one which appears printed in any of the Federal reports), is as follows:
| Commands. | Killed. | Wounded. | Missing. | Aggregate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Staff | 1 | O | 0 | 1 |
| Infantry | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fourth Massachusetts | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| First New York | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Second New York | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Third New York | 2 | 27 | 1 | 30 |
| Fifth New York | 6 | 13 | 0 | 19 |
| Seventh New York | 3 | 7 | 2 | 12 |
| First Vermont | 2 | 3 | 1 | 6 |
| Second United States Artillery | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | 18 | 53 | 5 | 76 |
The staff officer killed was Major Theodore Winthrop. Lieutenant John T. Greble (Second United States Artillery) was also among the slain. Colonel Magruder's report gives three as the number of prisoners taken by us.
[1:107]In Colonel Magruder's second report (June 12th) occurs this: "I have now to report that eighteen [Federal] dead were found on the field, and I learn from reliable citizens living on the road that many dead, as well as a great many wounded, were carried in wagons to Hampton. I think I can safely report their loss at from twenty-five to thirty killed and one hundred and fifty wounded. I understand the enemy acknowledge one hundred and seventy-five killed and wounded."
Colonel Hill's report says: "The enemy must have lost some three hundred. I could not, without great disparagement of their courage, place their loss at a lower figure. It is inconceivable that five thousand men should make so precipitate a retreat without having sustained at least that much of a reverse."
General Pierce, commanding the Federal troops, says in his report of June 12th to General Butler: "'For killed, wounded and missing, please refer to my former report."
The "War of the Rebellion" records, from which the reports quoted in this article are derived, contain but one report from General Pierce, that of June 12th.
General Butler's first report, dated June 10th, says: "I am informed by him [General Pierce] that the dead and wounded had all been brought off." He adds: "Our loss is verv considerable, amounting, perhaps, to forty or fifty, a quarter part of which, you will see, was from the unfortunate mistake, to call it by no worse name, of Colonel Bendix."
General Butler's second report, dated June 16th, says: "It is a pleasure to be able to announce that our loss was much less even than was reported in my former dispatch, and appears by the official report furnished herewith." (29) He adds: "I have been very careful to procure an accurate account of the dead, wounded and missing, in order that I mav assure those friends who are anxious for the safety of our soldiers and an exact account may be given of all those injured. There is nothing to be gained by any concealment in this regard. The exact truth, which is to
(1) The Charlotte Democrat of May 1, 1861, said: "This regiment is said to be the finest looking body of men ever assembled In the State."
(2) The Yorktown correspondent of the above paper, writing on May 27th of the extraordinary character of the rank and file of the First Regiment, said that among the privates were two editors and a number of lawyers and doctors." The chaplain, too, the Rev. Mr. Yates (since a distinguished Doctor of Divinity), was taken from the ranks of Company B, one of the Charlotte Companies.
(3)Saturday Night.
(4) Major Jed Hotchkiss, in Confederate Military History, Vol. III. page 43.
(5) Confederate Military History, Volume III, page 128.
(6) FayettevilleObserver, May 27, 1861.
(7) There is no detailed account of the battle of Bethel in the official record. Indeed, General Butler ("War of the Rebellion," Vol. II, page 82) declares that it would serve no useful purpose, however interesting such an accouut would be, to attempt to make it in the absence. of a "map of the ground and details." Endeavor has been made, therefore, in this article, to construct such an account by a comparison of the various official reports of both sides which have been pubilshed.
(8) Upon map No. 1, of Plate No. XVIII, of the atlases accompanying the Government's publication, "War of the Rebellion," s a basis, an outline has been prepared of so much of the York Peninsula as may be useful for the present purpose. A map of the battlefield of Bethel has also been prepared from a tracing of the original map made by General Lewis (then Second Lieutenant of Companv A) a few days after the battle. The positions of the Federal troops have been located by a study of their official reports. Those of the Confederates are as given in Lieutenant Lewis' map, and are those held just before the opening of the battle. There were some important changes afterwards, and these are noted in detail further on.
(9) Across the stream.
(10)June 10th.
(11) A purse of $225 was made up by the officers of the regiment after the battle and presented to the old lady who brought the information.
(12)"War of the Rebellion," VoL. II, pages 23-27.
(13)Ibid., pages 69-74.
(14)"War of the Rebellion," page 77 et seq.
(15) This Is the average of the known strength of Duryea's and Townsend's Regiments, as given In Pierce's report, "War of the Rebellion," Vol. II, page 88.
(16)Bendix's report, Ibid, page 88.
(17) Stuart's report, "War of the Rebellion," Vol. II, page 97.
(18) Bendix says in his report: "Before we had got ready for action the enemy opened their fire upon us, striking one man down at my side at the first shot."
(19) The following is a summary of such portions of Major Randolph's report as are useful to the present purpose: The howitzer on the right (under Captain Brown) was spiked early in the action by the breaking of a priming-wire, and was withdrawn. It was replaced near the close by Moseley's howitzer brought up from the Half-Way House. The ford on the left being threatened, the howitzer at the bridge was withdrawn and sent to that point. The rifled howitzer was withdrawn from the left of the road and sent to the rear when that was supposed to be threatened. The same disposition was subsequently made of the howitzer in the main battery near the church, leaving only the Parrott gun there. Randolph says in his report: "The fire was maintained on our side for some time by the five pieces posted in front"; but one of them being spiked and another sent to the ford early in the action, the fire was continued with three pieces and at no time did we afterwards have more than three pieces playing upon the enemy." He reports ninety-eight shot altogether fired by his artillery. As his first shot was shortly after nine o'clock and his last at half-past one o'clock, that would be an average of one in three minutes. The three wounded in his battalion received their injury, in the words of his report, "from the fire of musketry on our left flank, the ground on that side between us and the enemy sinking down so as to expose us over the top of the breastworks erected by the North Carolina regiment." (The fire of the musketry alluded to was from Winthrop's attacking force).
(20) Magruder's report, "War of the Rebellion," Vol. II, page 91.
(21) Kilpatrick's report, "War of the Rebellion," VoL II, page 89.
(22) Bendix's report, "War of the Rebellion," page 88.
(23) Pierce's report, Ibid., Vol. II, page 85.
(24) Werth's report, Ibid., page 103.
(25) Private G. W. BuHman and private Steve Russell, of Company H (Fayetteville), private McIver of Company C (Charlotte), and Ca[tain Ashe, Company D (Chapel Hill), for his negro servant, claimed the firing of the fatal shot.
(26) By the "main battery" Major Randolph meant the one near the church, containing the Parrott gun and a howitzer.
(27) Elsewhere in his report, "War of the Rebellion," Vol. II, page 99, Major Randolph fixes the hour at which the cannonading ceased at half-past one.
(28) An illustration is presented by the experience of Lieutenant W. E, Kyle (commander of sharpshooters in General McRae'a Brigade), who was a private in Company H. After the battle of Bethel he wrote of the victory to his relatives in Christiansburg, Va.. his native place. The fact that this native of Virginia had been able to take part in winning a victory over the invaders of Virginia because he had become a citizen of North Carolina and a member of a North Carolina regiment, excited the emulation of the youth of his old home to such an extent that great numbers, who had held back, hastened to enter the service.
(29) The inclosure is the tabulated return given above, showing eighteen killed, fifty-three wounded and five missing.