We are ordered to
leave Bethel Church early tomorrow morning on a scouting expedition towards
Newmarket Bridge and Hampton.
SOURCE: William S.
White, A Diary of the War; or What I Saw of It, p. 96
We are ordered to
leave Bethel Church early tomorrow morning on a scouting expedition towards
Newmarket Bridge and Hampton.
SOURCE: William S.
White, A Diary of the War; or What I Saw of It, p. 96
BATTLE OF BETHEL CHURCH,
MONDAY, JUNE 10TH, 1861.
The above-named
place is a neat little country church situated some fifteen miles from
Yorktown, and twelve miles from Hampton. Since June 6th we have been throwing
up rude, but strong breastworks, and fortifying the place in the best manner we
knew how.
Our Parrot gun (No.
1) and a brass howitzer (my gun, No. 4) composed the main battery, just to the
left of the church. A howitzer of Captain Brown's Second Company was stationed
to our right, and about one hundred and fifty yards in our front. A rifled howitzer
of the Second Company was stationed about a hundred yards to the left of the
main battery. Two of Stanard's howitzers were stationed some miles in our rear,
to guard a flanking road, but came up in the heat of the fight and did good
service.
There was also a
howitzer a few yards to the left of the main battery, its position was changed
several times during the engagement.
There were in all
seven guns engaged in the battle, four belonging to the Third Company and three
to the Second Company.
All honor is due to
a noble hearted Virginia country woman, who undoubtedly saved our
camp from surprise, and kept the forces sent out early this morning from
running into the enemy unawares.
These troops were
under the immediate command of Colonel Magruder, and their mission was to
capture a post called New Market, occupied by six hundred Federal troops; they
having left Bethel Church about 3 A. M., with six hundred infantrymen, three
Howitzers and a small squad of cavalrymen, proceeding in the direction of New
Market, towards Hampton. After being on the road some two hours, this woman
came towards us in great haste, and gave Colonel Magruder the timely
information that the enemy a few moments since, some five hundred strong, had
been to her house, but a short distance in our front, had taken her husband
prisoner and were then marching to get in our rear.
Believing this party
to be an advance guard of the enemy, Colonel Magruder wheeled his column, and
we marched rapidly back to Bethel Church, to await further developments.
Our whole force only
numbered fifteen hundred, Virginians and North Carolinians, commanded by my old
Sabbath-school teacher in the Lexington days of long ago, Colonel D. H. Hill.
At 8 o'clock A. M.,
our videttes and advanced pickets commenced coming into camp and reported the
enemy advancing upon us, five thousand strong, under the command of Brigadier-General
Pierce, of Massachusetts.
Major George W.
Randolph, formerly Captain of the old Howitzer Company of Richmond, acted
during the day with conspicuous gallantry as Magruder's Chief of Artillery.
Then one by one and
in squads of five or six came the inhabitants, fleeing before the enemy. At
first they came in slowly, but anon their pale faces and the hurried manner of
their coming betokened the enemy to be not far distant.
Even the peril, so
near at hand, could hardly suppress the smile that flitted athwart our
countenances as a superannuated negro, driving lustily an aged mule attached to
a dilapidated cart filled with promiscuous plunder, appeared upon the scene
evidently making tracks for the rear.
Every man was at his
post, but not a cheek blanched, nor did an arm falter, for we felt as if the
entire South watched us that day, and we would pay their watching well.
Precisely at 9 A. M.
we saw the dazzling glitter of the enemy's muskets as they slowly appeared in
battle array marching down the Hampton road-then our trusty Parrot gun opened
its dark mouth and spoke in thunder tones the stern determination of our
devoted little band—then the howitzer on its left, and right, hurled shot and
shell into the bewildered ranks of the advancing foemen; and then came the
enemies shot, bursting and whizzing around our heads, and the sharp ring of the
rifle told of war in earnest.
Here on one side is
a band of beardless boys, who, heretofore, have scarcely been considered as
possessing a sufficiency of nerve to brain a cat, now handling their artillery
with a coolness and consummate skill that war-worn veterans would have gloried
in.
On the other side regulars and fanatics fought for PAY and for the upholding of a government whose
oppression had to millions of people now become unbearable.
And the death
missiles came hurtling and screaming through the calm, clear, summer's air, but
those brave boys quailed not before the storm of death—they thought of kindred,
of homes, of peaceful firesides and of loved ones, who, with weeping eyes and
anguished hearts were praying to the God of Battles to shield them from all harm,
when the hour that tried men's souls drew near.
Not one of our men
failed in the discharge of his duty, but silently and rapidly did we pour shot
and shell into the enemies ranks.
'Twould be a vain
endeavor to attempt to describe one's feelings in a battle, for I believe after
the first shock is over they become somewhat blunted, and yet we all thought
enough to fall flat whenever we saw a shell coming from the Yankee battery. But
the musket and rifle balls could not be dodged and they whistled around us in a
perfect storm. There seemed to be some unseen hand that warded them off from
the men, but the horses and mules were not so fortunate. There was a very
stubborn, thickheaded old mule belonging to the Second Company Howitzers, and
just before the fight one of the boys hitched him to a cart and endeavored to
make him work, but 'twas no use, Mr. Mule asserted the popular theory of
rebellion and declined to be pressed into service, whereupon the soldier gave
him a “cussing," and tied him to a tree, hoping at the same time that the
first shot from the enemy "would knock his 'dern'd' head off." Alas,
for the poor mule!—the second shot fired by the enemy struck a tree just to the
left of my gun, glanced and passed directly through the mule, who, in the
agonies of death, doubtless deplored his untimely fate and refusal to work.
For nearly two hours
the fight was confined to the artillerists almost exclusively, but so soon as
the enemy came in musket range our infantry gave them a reception worthy of
Southern hospitality.
About this time one
of Captain Brown's howitzers, the one in front and to the right of the main
battery, became spiked by the breaking of a priming wire in the vent, and was
rendered ineffectual during the rest of the engagement.
By reason of this,
three Virginia companies of infantry on the right front flank were in
a measure unprotected, and were withdrawn by Colonel Magruder to the rear of
the church.
The New York Zouaves
seeing the gun disabled charged upon the works in which this howitzer was
placed, and our men retired slowly, discharging their pistols as they fell back
upon the North Carolina infantry.
Colonel Magruder
immediately ordered Captain Bridges of the "Edgecombe Rifles" to
retake the lost position, which 'tis said he attempted to do by himself,
failing to order his company to follow him, in his eagerness to obey orders.
But his company did
follow him in gallant style and drove the Zouaves off at a double-quick. The
two howitzer guns of Stanard's Third Company now coming up from the rear, under
the command of Sergeant Powell and Lieutenant Edgar F. Moseley, were
immediately placed in position, and again the battle raged.
Major Winthrop, aid
to General B. F. Butler, in command at Fortress Monroe, having come up with
reënforcements wearing our badges, white band around the cap, made an
ineffectual attempt to carry our works, and lost his life in the endeavor.
After his fall the enemy fled in disorder, having also lost a valued artillery
officer, Lieutenant Greble, who commanded his battery with great bravery. Badly
crippled and much worse frightened, they now were in precipitate flight toward
Hampton, hotly pursued by a small squadron of Virginia cavalry, who
reached the field just as the fight ended. If Magruder had have had a thousand
cavalry we could have taken the whole force prisoners. Our loss has been
comparatively small-one killed and ten wounded, three of the wounded belonging
to the Second Howitzers-Lieutenant Hudnall and Privates John Worth and Henry
Shook. The only one killed on our side was Private Henry L. Wyatt, of the North
Carolina Infantry, who fell in endeavoring to burn a small wooden house in
which the enemy were harbored. The Yankee loss was heavy, though we could not
find out the exact number, as they carried off many of their dead and wounded
in carts, wagons, carriages and buggies, which they took from the neighboring
farmers. Their loss was between two and three hundred. They had boasted that
they would, with cornstalks, drive off the mob of Virginians and North
Carolinians hastily collected together to impede their would-be triumphal
march.
About 4 o'clock P.
M. we were reënforced by the Second Louisiana Regiment, and had they have
gotten to us sooner our victory would not have been fruitless. Thus ends the
first pitched battle between the United States troops and the Confederate
forces. Although in itself it was a battle of no magnitude or great importance,
yet it showed to the boasting North how terribly we were in earnest, and gave
comfort and encouragement to the faint and weak-hearted on our side.
SOURCE: William S.
White, A Diary of the War; or What I Saw of It, p. 96-100
The enemy having
retired to Fortress Monroe, we left Bethel Church last evening and arrived at
Yorktown at 1 o'clock in the night.
Nothing of interest
to day, save the sending off of a howitzer belonging to my company, guarded by
a squadron of cavalry. They will return to Bethel Church.
SOURCE: William S.
White, A Diary of the War; or What I Saw of It, p. 100
Slept the greater
portion of the day—had no "roll call"—feet much blistered and unable
to wear shoes, consequently the hot, broiling sun has full sweep at them. The
New Orleans Zouaves, Colonel Coppens commanding, six hundred strong, arrived at
Yorktown this evening. They are a rough looking set, but are splendidly drilled
and well officered.
SOURCE: William S.
White, A Diary of the War; or What I Saw of It, p. 100
Had a grand review
of all the troops stationed at Yorktown to-day, numbering five or six thousand.
Magruder is a magnificent looking soldier when in full dress uniform.
Stanard's battery,
Third Company, with the New Orleans Zouaves, ordered back to Bethel Church,
left about sun down, and took the road easily, marched eight or nine miles and
camped on the roadside. Nothing has been heard of the enemy since the late
fight. According to their account of the late battle, our one Parrot gun was a
masked battery of forty pieces of rifled artillery.
SOURCE: William S.
White, A Diary of the War; or What I Saw of It, p. 100-1
Arrived at Bethel
Church this morning about 9 A. M., and immediately set to work to get breakfast—such
a breakfast: salt pork, black Rio coffee and hard crackers. Well, such is a
soldier's life, and we mustn't complain. The Zouaves are having even a harder
time of it than we, for their rations have not yet arrived. Most of their
officers seem to be gentlemen, but some of them are very cruel to their men.
The Second Louisiana regiment came down a few hours since.
SOURCE: William S.
White, A Diary of the War; or What I Saw of It, p. 101
FALL OF FORT SUMTER.
The ball has opened;
crowds of eager citizens may be seen gathered together at the corners of the
streets excitedly discussing the grand topic of the day, and that topic is war.
Yes! bloody, destructive war will soon be upon us in all its horror. Oh, God!
grant us the power and fortitude to withstand the terrible calamity now hanging
o'er us, which no power, save that of Divine interposition, can prevent.
Dispatch after
dispatch, from the far South, comes over the magnetic wires, and soon the
astounding news, "big with the fate" of a new-born people, is shouted
by a thousand tongues that
“SUMTER HAS
FALLEN."
The crowds on the
street soon become a dense mass—calm, dignified men seem instantly transformed
into wild Secessionists; there are no Unionists now; we are all determined to
stand by the South, right or wrong—too late for discussion now—with her to
conquer or die.
Some one in the
crowd cries out, "For the Governor's House." This was received with a
shout, and as “Honest John Letcher" had been excessively Union, the crowd
rushed furiously toward the Governor's mansion, and after repeated calls,
Governor Letcher made his appearance, not a little discomposed by the clamor
and confusion of this excited mob. He attempted to speak, but the maddened
populace suspected "Honest John" was still unwilling to come out
boldly for the Confederate cause, and consequently his remarks were unheard,
save by those immediately around him.
Only half appeased were
the dizzy and infatuated mass. Some other excitement was wanted, and the
"Star Spangled Banner" floated, as it were, half timidly upon the
highest point of our State Capitol, and each star seemed to weep as the Demon
of Death stretched forth his mighty wings to begin his sad flight.
"Tear down that
accursed flag," was shouted by the crowd, and immediately some half dozen,
bolder than the rest, rushed quickly into the Capitol, in which the State
Convention was then sitting, hurried up the steps, and in less time than I take
to write this the Star Spangled Banner was torn from its flag-staff, and
supplanted by Virginia's proud motto, "Sic Semper Tyrannis."
Peal after peal of
long continued applause rent the air, seeming to ascend up to the very throne
of Heaven and calling upon God to witness the stern determination of the
Southern people. The few Unionists who still madly clung to the fond hope that
peace would yet be restored, threatened vengeance on the Secessionists for
tearing down the United States flag, and, in fact, it was said that
"Honest John" went so far as to order out the "Public
Guard" to disperse the crowd collected on the Capitol Square.
Well was it for the
"Guard," and also for “Honest John" that such was not the case,
for had they made their appearance, a terrible riot would have been the
inevitable consequence.
Indeed, the times
and the Richmond people remind me much of the run-mad Red Republicanism of
France, for never were a people so enthusiastically mad as now. However, any
nation to be successful, must first be baptized in the blood of its own
citizens, and now we are to have this theory brought practically into effect.
Nightfall, instead
of quieting the excitement, seemed if possible to add fresh fuel to the flame.
The crowded streets and wild shouts of the people, together with the lurid
glare of an hundred tar-barrels, torches steeped in rosin, and rockets whirling
high above the houses, presented a spectacle rarely witnessed by our somewhat
apathetic people of Richmond.
Already the work of
Revolution has commenced. Far away on the coast of South Carolina the smoke and
din of battle has awakened the people of Virginia, who too long have
slumbered when work should have been done, to the consciousness that the war
cloud, with all its pent up fury, is now bursting upon them. The question now
most agitating the public mind is—“What will be the action of
the Virginia Convention, now sitting in the State-House, and elected
as it was by such an overwhelming Union majority?"
They cannot
withstand this outside pressure brought to bear upon them, and must either
remove to some other point in the State or pass the Ordinance of Secession at
an early date, and then leave it to the people whether or not we will cast our
lot with our sister Southern States. My mind is fully made up to join the
Southern army no matter whether Virginia secedes or not, though from
the time I can remember I have bitterly opposed the doctrine of secession.
SOURCE: William S.
White, A Diary of the War; or
What I Saw of It, p. 89-91
VIRGINIA HAS
SECEDED FROM THE UNION!
Yes, to-day the
Convention passed the Ordinance
of Secession, though some of our best men signed it under protest, and some
did not sign it at all. The excitement has quietly died away; other and
weightier matters than parading the streets and burning tar-barrels now occupy
the Southern people. Stern preparations for meeting the impending struggle are
seen on every hand. Recruits are rapidly filling up our volunteer
organizations, and soon old Virginia will be in condition to enter
the arena of war. To-day I re-connected myself with the Richmond Howitzers,
commanded by Captain George W. Randolph, having resigned my membership in that
command soon after the "John Brown raid." Its Lieutenants are J. C.
Shields, of the Richmond Whig, and John Thompson Brown, a prominent lawyer of
this city. Captain Randolph bore an important part in the Convention, and
always supported the Southern cause, though never an extremist in his views.
Our numbers are rapidly increasing, and we expect soon to form a battalion with
Captain Randolph as Major.
SOURCE: William S.
White, A Diary of the War; or
What I Saw of It, p. 91
To-day we received
the news of the Baltimore riot, and it has created great excitement. Lincoln's
troops have met with a warm reception in Baltimore.
SOURCE: William S.
White, A Diary of the War; or
What I Saw of It, p. 92
“THE PAWNEE WAR.”
For a day or so
since there has been a report current that the United States steamer
"Pawnee" was certainly on its way to Richmond, and we were ordered to
hold ourselves in readiness to leave at a moment's notice. We have not yet been
"mustered into service," and of course we spend our nights and spare
moments at home, consequently there must be some preconcerted signal to call us
together if we should be immediately wanted. That signal was the tolling of the
public bell—three strokes, silence, then three strokes again. Last night I was
"on guard," and this morning 'twas nearly midday before I arose.
Having dressed myself I sauntered leisurely up Main street toward the Spotswood
Hotel, where our battery was stationed, thinking sombrely of the great struggle
before us, when hark! a bell tolls—once, twice, three times—silence; again it
tolls. "Fall in, Howitzers!" The first command of the war!
With a shout the
soldiers rush to their rendezvous and soon we are on our way to Wilton—a high bluff
commanding the approach to Richmond, and some eight miles below. Of all the
amusing spectacles this "Pawnee War" was the most amusing I ever
beheld. It was a matter of utter impossibility for such a vessel as the
"Pawnee" to come up the river any where near Richmond, yet no one
thought of that—young and old, rich and poor, bond and free turned out en masse
to drive back or sink with double-barrel shot guns, and long-let-off-from-duty
horse-pistols, this formidable Northern War steamer. ’Tis said that one of our
heaviest citizens paid Walsh, the gunsmith, five dollars in good and
lawful Virginia currency to show him how to load his pistol. Walsh
must have taken it for granted that somebody was going to be hurt.
The Richmond
Howitzers, a battery of six guns; the Fayette Artillery, six guns; the Richmond
Grays; Company "F," and a host of amateur warriors took position on
the Wilton Bluffs and calmly awaited the war ship's approach, but no Pawnee
came, and quietly we gathered our blankets around us, and, for the first time,
"slept the warrior's sleep."
The "pale moon
rose up slowly”—rose on a country just commencing a fratricidal war, and the
twinkling stars seemed holding a "council of grief," as from their
starry home they beheld sleeping men who would awake to a soldier's life.
SOURCE: William S.
White, A Diary of the War; or
What I Saw of It, p. 92-3
No dread
"Pawnee" coming we returned to Richmond to-day, and in a few days
will go into a camp of instruction. We now consider ourselves regular soldiers
of the Southern Confederacy, having received our first orders yesterday, and we
date our enlistment from that period.
SOURCE: William S.
White, A Diary of the War; or
What I Saw of It, p. 93
To-day Virginia ratified
the Constitution of the Confederate States, and may now be considered one of
the Confederacy.
SOURCE: William S.
White, A Diary of the War; or
What I Saw of It, p. 92
On or about April
25th, we were ordered to the Baptist College, a large brick building at the
west end of the city, where we were put through a regular course of
instruction. Having had many accessions to our number, now some three hundred,
we formed a Battalion of Artillery, and unanimously elected our Captain, Geo.
W. Randolph, as its Major. Three companies comprised this Battalion, known as
the First, Second, and Third Companies of Richmond Howitzers.
Of the First
Company, we elected our former First Lieutenant, John C. Shields, one of the
proprietors of "The Richmond Whig," Captain, and Edward S. McCarthy,
a bold and fearless gentleman, Lieutenant.
Of the Second
Company, we elected our former Second Lieutenant, John Thompson Brown, a lawyer
of high standing and great personal worth, Captain. As he was then at
Gloucester Point, near Yorktown, with two of our guns and about forty men, we
elected no other officers for that company, leaving them to supply the
deficiency themselves. Here it will not be amiss to state that this detachment
of men fired the first shot in Virginia, driving back the Federal Tug
“Yankee," at Gloucester Point.
Of the Third
Company, we elected Robert C. Stanard Captain, Edgar F. Moseley, First
Lieutenant, and John M. West, Second Lieutenant.
Being a member of
the Third Company, this "Diary" will, of course, refer more
especially to that company and its members. We remained at the Baptist College
for a few weeks under the command of Colonel J. Bankhead Magruder, then moved
our camp to Howard's Grove, on the Mechanicsville Turnpike, and finally moved
to Chimborazo Hill, east end of the city, where we remained until we left
Richmond for the field. About the middle of May our First Company, Captain J.
C. Shields, was ordered to Manassas, much to our regret, whilst we were left in
camp to become more perfect in the Battery Drill. We were under the instruction
of a late U. S. Army officer, Lieutenant Smeed, and he evidently understood
what he was about. Our officers and men, as yet, know but little about the
"Battery Drill,” but are rapidly improving.
SOURCE: William S.
White, A Diary of the War; or
What I Saw of It, p. 93-4