Our position here, at Bethel, is not considered very tenable, as it is very easily flanked, but so far the enemy has shewn no disposition to make any advances.
SOURCE: William S.
White, A Diary of the War; or What I Saw of It, p. 101
Our position here, at Bethel, is not considered very tenable, as it is very easily flanked, but so far the enemy has shewn no disposition to make any advances.
SOURCE: William S.
White, A Diary of the War; or What I Saw of It, p. 101
A Dinwiddie trooper
was shot to-day by a Georgian, through mistake, wounded slightly. Sent a
howitzer with mounted men and a strong guard of cavalry to New Market Bridge,
near Hampton, to reconnoitre. Saw a small body of the enemy, but too far off to
get a shot at them. The enemy, under cover of a flag of truce, sent for the
bodies of Major Winthrop and Lieutenant Greble, who fell in the battle of
Bethel. The body of the former was found, and of course their request granted,
but the body of the latter could not be found.
SOURCE: William S.
White, A Diary of the War; or What I Saw of It, p. 101
Magruder arrived at
Bethel Church a few hours since, and right glad were we to see him, for “Old
Mac," as we call him, has our fullest confidence. Sent my
"detachment," mounted, with a guard of cavalry to New Market Bridge
to reconnoitre. Results: procured two cart loads of corn, one spade and two
shovels, shot at one of our own videttes, but didn't hit him, as he ran too
fast. We could have been easily cut off had the Yankees possessed any daring.
SOURCE: William S.
White, A Diary of the War; or What I Saw of It, p. 101
A BIG SCAMPER.
Reported by our
videttes that the enemy, ten thousand strong, were moving rapidly on the
Warwick road, and would attack us from the rear.
Magruder instantly
ordered a retreat, and the troops made very quick time for men not frightened.
There was a good
deal of hard swearing, some throwing away of baggage, and in fact a little
touch of stampede, but when we reached Yorktown the ten thousand Yankees turned
out to be only a marauding party of some fifty or more.
Hardly had we gotten
into Yorktown when my detachment was ordered to return to Bethel, with a
squadron of cavalry, to guard a wagon train sent back to recover the stores
left there.
This time we were
mounted but were pretty well broken down when we reached Bethel, as the train
moved very slowly. Upon reaching the church I had the good fortune to find a
cold boiled ham, and with the aid of ship crackers, I soon made a good square
meal. As soon as we loaded up the wagon train, we started back for Yorktown;
being much fatigued and very sleepy I could scarcely keep my seat in the
saddle. A fifteen mile march, and a thirty mile ride on horseback, in one day
is no easy matter.
SOURCE: William S.
White, A Diary of the War; or What I Saw of It, p. 101-2
Reached Yorktown
early this morning so wearied and fatigued I could hardly hold my head up.
Slept three or four hours on the ground and woke up feeling but little
refreshed.
SOURCE: William S.
White, A Diary of the War; or What I Saw of It, p. 102
Nothing of importance
stirring—very hot and rather hard to get anything to eat unless one's pocket is
well lined with Confederate money and then you can get any quantity of prime
fish and oysters, with an occasional "snifter" to aid digestion. Our
men seem disposed to find fault with everything—continually quarreling among
themselves, and seem disposed to fight something.
SOURCE: William S.
White, A Diary of the War; or What I Saw of It, p. 102
Early this morning
we were awakened by a heavy wind storm and we had as much as we could do to
keep our tents from being blown away. Sent off a gun from Brown's Second
Company on a scouting expedition.
SOURCE: William S.
White, A Diary of the War; or What I Saw of It, p. 102
Everything quiet—no signs
of the enemy and I do not think they will make an attempt against Yorktown
unless with a much larger force than they have at Fortress Monroe. Several
small schooners have run the blockade and arrived at this port.
SOURCE: William S.
White, A Diary of the War; or What I Saw of It, p. 102
Twenty-one years of
age to-day! Little did I think this time last year that I would be here now,
and in arms against the United States government.
No—then other and
brighter prospects filled my mind, but, alas! those bright dreams of the future
have been long since dispelled and years of bloody war face me now.
SOURCE: William S.
White, A Diary of the War; or What I Saw of It, p. 102-3
The salt meat and
horrid low country water have an injurious effect on our men, and many have
been made sick. The heat is also quite oppressive, but in the afternoon we are
much refreshed by the cool sea breeze, which in some measure repays us for the
oppressiveness of noon day. And then a bath in the clear waters of the beautiful
York! that is well worth the dull monotony of the day. Reinforced to-day by
Georgia and Louisiana troops.
SOURCE: William S.
White, A Diary of the War; or What I Saw of It, p. 103
Our strength at this
place now amounts to about seven thousand men—on the entire Peninsula, nearly
ten thousand.
It is quite evident
that the Yankees will not act on the offensive, and we must decoy them out of
their strongholds if we wish to bring on another engagement.
SOURCE: William S.
White, A Diary of the War; or What I Saw of It, p. 103
Received orders for
two howitzers with twenty-five picked men, mounted, to report to
Lieutenant-Colonel Chas. Dreux, commanding the First Louisiana Battalion. Left
Yorktown with an infantry force of some two thousand men and marched within six
miles of Bethel Church. It is reported the enemy intend landing a large force
on the Poquosin River, and we are acting as a small corps of observation.
Magruder joined us a short while since.
SOURCE: William S.
White, A Diary of the War; or What I Saw of It, p. 103
Slept on the
roadside all night, and just missed being run over by a wagon, whose driver did
not see me. Our rations being short, I was sent out in the afternoon to procure
something to eat for the boys. Being unsuccessful at the adjoining farm-houses,
I rode some four miles, and at last succeeded in getting an old woman to
promise to bake me some corn bread, but I could not get it until 10 o'clock, as
she was very busy. When my bread was ready, it was raining in torrents, and I
concluded to stay all night, though I well knew some hungry stomachs were
yearning for my appearance at camp. Was given a very nice, comfortable bed, but
being unaccustomed to such effeminate luxuries, I slept on the floor, lulled
into forgetfulness of a soldier's life by the pattering of the rain-storm on
the roof above me.
SOURCE: William S.
White, A Diary of the War; or What I Saw of It, p. 103
Arrived at camp early
next morning, and found our entire force had moved in the direction of Hampton.
The rain was still falling without intermission, and my cakes having long since
become all dough, I threw them away. Followed the tracks of our troops until I
was within a short distance of New Market Bridge, when I found they had turned
off the main road and had taken the direction of Newport News; then I became
completely bewildered, and wandered about in the woods for a long time, unable
to find my way back, and fearing to go forward, as I was, knowing the distance
I had ridden, not more than a half mile from the enemy's camp. Finally I got
into the main road, and soon after came across one of our scouts,
"Uncle" Ben. Phillips, and he put me on the right track. We captured a
negro, dressed in a blue uniform, just as he was going into the enemy's camp at
Newport News, and turned him over to General Magruder.
SOURCE: William S.
White, A Diary of the War; or What I Saw of It, p. 104
Our troops are
nearly "used up" on this march, as it has been raining the whole
time. At one time we were in sight of the enemy's camp, but we did not have the
force to attack nor they the courage to come out. Camped about five miles from
Newport News.
SOURCE: William S.
White, A Diary of the War; or What I Saw of It, p. 104
Last evening we
received orders to be ready to move by sunrise this morning, and many of us
took the liberty of going into the city to bid our friends farewell—perhaps for
the last time, for none of us know the result of this terrible war.
Our destination is
Yorktown, where we will report to General Magruder, who now commands our forces
on the Peninsula. We "broke camp" after an early breakfast and left
in splendid spirits, as all of our boys were eager to see service."
Well, it was the
morning of June 4th, when we were ordered away from Chimborazo to join
Magruder's forces on the Peninsula, and we eagerly obeyed the summons.
When marching
through Church Hill I felt very sad, for I was passing my old home, and I
looked into the garden, all choked up with weeds now, thinking all the while of
the fragrant flowers I used to gather there, long ago, and of those dear ones
who used to watch them as they first began to bloom in the sunny summer time.
Memories of the by-gone crowded thick and fast upon me, and then I saw one who
had nursed me in the happy days of childhood. She rushed out into the street,
clasped me in her arms, and whilst great tears of grief trickled down her dusky
cheek, placed in my hands a huge loaf of bread, begged me to accept it, and
humbly apologized because it was all she could give.
Lives there a
Virginian whose soul does not melt into tenderness when memory backward flows
to childhood's happy days, and he remembers the ever venerated “mammy,"
whose name was perhaps the first ever articulated by his childish lips; whose
snow-white 'kerchief and kindly heart will ever be in the memories of the happy
past; whose ample lap was so often childhood's couch, when tiny feet were
wearied in roaming over the green fields, and joyously wading through the
limpid streamlets of the old homestead! And then at night-fall, when the
candles were lighted, and the elder ones gathered around the fire-place, how
gently, tenderly, that old black "mammy" raised him up in her great
strong arms, carried him through the spacious hall, and up the wide winding
stair-case; then placing him carefully in his low trundle-bed, first taught his
infant lips the hallowed words of the Lord's Prayer.
Ah! mayhap she's
dead now, but the memory of that dear old nurse still lingers, and though that
blue-eyed boy is a stern strong man, yet the green sod of her grave is oft
bedewed with tears.
After a great deal
of trouble and some pretty hard work we succeeded in getting our guns and
horses on the York River train, and finally bade adieu to Richmond.
SOURCE: William S.
White, A Diary of the War; or What I Saw of It, p. 94-5
Rain poured in
torrents all night. We reached West Point about daybreak, remained there three
hours, and arrived at Yorktown at 12 o'clock.
An enemy's blockader
is in sight, but keeps at a respectful distance.
SOURCE: William S.
White, A Diary of the War; or What I Saw of It, p. 95
Left Yorktown this
morning to meet the enemy, who are reported to be advancing.
10 P. M.—Camped at
Bethel Church; enemy reported six miles off. Our guns occupy a good position.
The church exhibits many marks of a late visit of the enemy. Scoundrels! They
even write blasphemy upon the walls of a house consecrated to God.
SOURCE: William S.
White, A Diary of the War; or What I Saw of It, p. 95
Throwing up
breastworks all day, and we now are impatiently awaiting the enemy. Provisions
are scarce; had a couple of hard crackers and a teaspoonful of salt pork gravy.
Somewhat different from good old Mrs. Mottley's suppers at the Linwood House on
Main street, where we Richmond boys most delighted to board. However, I didn't
suffer much, having succeeded in getting a good dinner for a slight
compensation. The people in this neighborhood are in rather poor circumstances,
and of course we are willing to pay for anything we get of them.
SOURCE: William S.
White, A Diary of the War; or What I Saw of It, p. 95
MY FIRST FIGHT.
My gun, Fourth
Detachment, Third Company, was ordered off to meet a party of the Yankees who
had been committing daily depredations upon the inhabitants of Elizabeth City
county. We were supported by thirty First North Carolina Infantrymen and twenty
cavalrymen, making in all some sixty-five men. After marching five or six miles
we came upon them, and immediately opened with our twelve-pounder howitzer, but
the Yankees concluded not to fight and fled precipitately. We captured one
prisoner, and he was wounded by an old Peninsula scout, whose name was Ben
Phillips, commonly known amongst our soldiers as "Uncle Ben."
It is my impression
that this was the first cannon shot fired at land forces in Virginia, and
also that this was the first prisoner captured. His name was Mooney, and he
belonged to the Second Regiment New York Zouaves.
Soon after we left
another gun belonging to my company was sent out to reënforce us, and taking
another road it came upon the Yankees before either party were aware of it. The
Yankees, as before, made a hasty retreat, and our men captured another
prisoner. Nobody hurt on our side.
SOURCE: William S.
White, A Diary of the War; or What I Saw of It, p. 95-6