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and a house for cover. An artillery shot went through the house and killed one of the men. Around noon, the 3rd New York
Infantry led by Colonel Townsend came forward to the skirmishers' position. They tried to attack the forward Confederate position but could advance only to within 500 feet (150 m) before being forced to lay down due to the heavy Confederate fire. Townsend feared he was being flanked and began to withdraw just as the Confederate howitzer facing his position broke and the Confederate commander in the redoubt, Colonel Stuart, pulled his 200 men of the 3rd Virginia Infantry back to a hill near the church. Stuart also feared he was being flanked. Part of the 5th New York Infantry which was attacking alongside the 3rd New York temporarily seized this position but were unable to hold it. Townsend had nothing to fear from the men on his left because they were a company of his own regiment who had become separated from the main body. By the time this was discovered, Townsend had pulled back. Magruder did not want to give up the advantageous forward position and sent Stuart back with another howitzer and reinforcements from the 1st North Carolina Volunteer Infantry Regiment. This Confederate move and Townsend's retreat left the 5th New York unsupported and they had to withdraw from their captured position as well. Renewed fire from the regained Confederate position ensured that neither Townsend nor Duryee would move forward against this position again.
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advanced position at that location. When the
Confederates arrived at Big Bethel Church, they found it marked with writings on the walls such as "Death to traitors," which were left by Union soldiers during an earlier reconnaissance and which greatly annoyed the Confederates. Hill seized high ground just north of the west branch of the Back River and established a well-fortified camp which crossed the road between Yorktown and Hampton and commanded the bridge over the Back River. On the north side of the river, Hill had his men dig entrenchments, laying out the position in the form of a square. He had an outlying position guarding an old ford on his left and a redoubt for a howitzer on his right and across the river. He also had some flank protection from heavy woods and marshes. Magruder's force also established an outpost at Little Bethel Church about 8 miles (13 km) from Hampton. The fortified position at Big Bethel Church was a short distance further north from Little Bethel Church, along and mainly north of Marsh Creek (now named Brick Kiln Creek), a tributary of Back Creek. The position at Big Bethel Church crossed and blocked the main road between Yorktown and Hampton. Magruder's force of almost 1,500 men occupied the position at Big Bethel Church, while only around 50 cavalrymen manned the outpost at Little Bethel Church. On June 8 Hill sent detachments to drive Union foraging (or pillaging) parties back to the fort.
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abandoned that position and fell back to their entrenchments behind Marsh Creek (later Brick Kiln Creek), the branch of the Back River near Big Bethel Church. As it had turned out, only this small group was stationed at Little Bethel, not the large force that Butler expected to find there. Gordon, in discussing the mistakes of the Union commanders in this operation says: "But behind all this was the most serious mistake of all – a mistake in Butler's plan. The
Confederates had no outpost of strength at Little Bethel, and the scheme to surround and capture it was an attack on a man of straw." He says that Butler could have struck the road to Yorktown 3 miles (4.8 km) north of Big Bethel and compelled Magruder to withdraw to Yorktown without firing a shot. The 5th New York Infantry (Duryee's Zouaves) had again been sent by Peirce as the leading regiment. Finding the Confederates were in flight from Little Bethel, the 5th New York Infantry burned the church at Little Bethel so the Confederates could not use it as an outpost and also set fire to the homes of several secessionists. The Union force then continued toward Big Bethel.
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They returned to the main body of the Union force and, after observation and talking to a black man and a local woman as well, told the officers in command that the
Confederates had between 3,000 and 5,000 men and 30 pieces of artillery. They actually had about 1,400–1,500 men and 5 artillery pieces, but Kilpatrick accurately reported that their position was well fortified. If the Union forces had not done enough already to give up their plan and position, Kilpatrick gave notice of the arrival of the Union force at Big Bethel by shooting at Confederate scouts and pickets. As the Union force came up to the field, they could not see the Confederates behind their fortifications but the Confederates also did not have a good view of the Union force because of the shade from the woods behind the field on the right and small buildings on the left. However, they could see the bayonets and flag of a Union force about 0.5 miles (0.80 km) to the left. Major Randolph, commanding the howitzer battalion, fired a shot at this column which ricocheted through the Union line and killed a soldier standing next to Colonel Bendix.
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a detachment of troops from the 5th New York, 1st
Vermont, and 4th Massachusetts infantry regiments. Though very tired from the night march and increasingly hot day, Winthrop and his force attempted to turn the Confederate left flank (from the Union right). Unlike the earlier unsuccessful Union attempts to cross the creek, Winthrop and his men crossed the creek uncontested because they tied their white cloths around their hats and pretended to be part of the Confederate force. Then they cheered and ran forward, somewhat prematurely giving away their identity. Two companies of the 1st North Carolina Infantry then turned to face them and their fire turned the Union force back with several casualties. One was Major Winthrop who had jumped onto a log and yelled "come on boys, one charge and the day is ours." These were his last words as he sustained a bullet through his heart while his men fled back across the creek. After the battle, Colonel Hill praised Winthrop's courage while disparaging the efforts of the rest of the Union soldiers.
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547:, the new capital of the Confederacy. An escaped slave, George Scott, who was working for the Union Army at Fort Monroe, was able to scout the Confederate position at Big Bethel and give a good report to Butler, but Butler knew little about the Confederate position at Little Bethel, which he assumed was also a substantial installation manned by a large force. Along with his aide, Major Theodore Winthrop, already an accomplished author, Butler devised a plan for a night march and surprise attack on the Confederate position at Little Bethel at dawn by columns converging from Newport News and Hampton. Butler's main objective was Little Bethel, where he expected to find a large Confederate force. Only after Little Bethel was taken would the commander in the field proceed to Big Bethel, if he chose to do so.
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position with the apparent ultimate intent of crossing the stream and turning the
Confederate flank but they were quickly discouraged and turned back by heavy Confederate fire. Lieutenant Greble came up the road to place his three guns where he and his small detachment of regulars from the 2nd U.S. Artillery Regiment could return fire, which he did resolutely but with little effect. Peirce then positioned the 5th New York (Duryee), 7th New York (Bendix) and the Massachusetts and Vermont companies (Washburn) to the right of the Hampton Road and the 3rd New York (Townsend) and 1st New York (Allen) to the left of the road. He would launch piecemeal attacks from these positions. Greble continued to fire at the Confederate positions while Peirce arranged his force and gave them some time to rest.
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company. Werth hurried to the ford and arrived before the
Zouaves of the 5th New York Infantry under Duryee and Kilpatrick. Werth drove them off from the ford with a howitzer shot but they continued to fight from the wood line. Grape shot tore the rectangle off Colonel Duryee's left shoulder, wounded Captain Kilpatrick in the thigh, and killed a soldier behind them. The 5th New York Infantry was exhausted from being the first unit on the march and from heavy action in the day's fighting so the unit was pulled back. Kilpatrick, who was badly wounded by the shot through his thigh, had to be rescued and carried away by Captain Winslow at the very end of the battle after his regiment had withdrawn. Otherwise, he would have fallen into Confederate hands.
484:(a regiment of German speakers), the 4th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment, Scott's Life Guards and a detachment of U.S. regulars to man artillery, completed the mission. On June 8, 1861, the camp, which was commanded by Colonel Phelps of the 1st Vermont Infantry, also was reinforced by the 9th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment (Hawkin's Zouaves). Butler also further occupied and expanded Camp Hamilton, started by Colonel Dimick in the equally lightly defended, adjacent town of Hampton, just beyond the confines of the fort and within the range of its guns. After Colonel Abram Duryee of the 5th New York Infantry commanded Camp Hamilton for a week, on June 4, 1861, Massachusetts militia Brigadier General Ebenezer Peirce assumed command.
129:
778:
677:, who were coming up the narrow road from the direction of Hampton to the south. The 3rd New York Infantry was being led down the road by General Peirce and his staff on horseback without an advance guard. Bendix knew that no cavalry was with the Union force and mistook the 3rd New York for a Confederate cavalry regiment. More importantly, the 3rd New York Infantry wore gray uniforms, with white bands on their arms such as had been seen previously on the hats, at least, of Confederates. Bendix, who had not been given the watchword or the instructions on armbands, thought the Confederates were behind his regiment as well as in front and ordered his men to fire upon Townsend's men.
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111:
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intended to block the main
Yorktown–Hampton road. These men hurriedly tried to entrench and to find other cover, such as old mill dam, as the Union force approached. The Confederate force consisted of the same units that Magruder had sent to Big Bethel a few days earlier: Colonel Hill's 1st North Carolina Volunteer Infantry (about 800 men), three companies of Lieutenant Colonel William D. Stuart's 3rd Virginia Infantry (208 men), a cavalry battalion of about 100 men under Major Montague, and the Richmond Howitzer Artillery Battalion of about 150 men under Major George W. Randolph.
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526:
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that Bendix had opened fire with muskets and an artillery piece on the 3rd New York
Infantry and the commanding general's party, wounding 21 men (two mortally) and causing dozens of other men to flee the field. At this time, the colonels of various regiments, in particular Duryea and Washburn, advised Peirce to call off the operation. However, Butler's aides, Major Winthrop and Captain Haggerty, urged Peirce to move forward, and he chose to continue with the attack.
2252:, 2001, p. 74 described the engagement at Fairfax Court House as "ostensibly the first land battle of the war." His use of the word "ostensibly" is made clearer on the next page where he distinguishes as "mere skirmishes" the battles at Fairfax Court House and Philippi and, on p. 75, describes the Battle of Big Bethel as the "first real land battle" of the war. On the other hand, on p. 77 he lumps all the engagements together as "these first minor skirmishes."
334:, devised a plan for a night march, followed by a dawn attack to drive the Confederates back from their bases. Butler chose not to lead the force in person, for which he was later criticized. The plan proved too complex for his poorly-trained subordinates to carry out, especially at night, and his staff had also omitted to communicate the passwords. They were trying to advance without knowledge of the layout or strength of the Confederate positions when a
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802:, had been killed. The others were called back and soon Major Randolph was able to destroy the house with artillery fire. Lieutenant Greble, whose guns had been hidden by the house, continued to fire and exposed his position. By this time the battle was ending and Peirce ordered all of his force to retire. It was clear that the Confederate position was too strong and his troops were too exhausted to continue a costly and increasingly futile attack.
2211:"Coming at this juncture, the battle of Bethel flashed a bright gleam over the military situation in Virginia. It was like a glass of generous wine to a fainting man. The thunder of guns fought by Richmond men, bearing tidings of victory, reanimated all hearts in the homes of Richmond. It was the prelude, the prophesy, the earnest of the more signal and important victory on the plains of Manassas." Gordon, 1883, Pamphlet 1, p. 15
611:, a Massachusetts militia general of apparent bravery but no regular army, military school or other formal military training or combat experience. Earlier in the day on June 9 Butler had summoned Peirce from Camp Hamilton to Fort Monroe to advise him of the plan. Foreshadowing the further difficulties that would arise during the operation, Peirce was too ill to ride his horse and went to the fort by boat.
877:. Magruder feared another larger and better-planned Union attack on his position and felt he should maintain his defense at Yorktown and along the Warwick River. The press in the Confederate States in particular made the Confederate victory appear to be more momentous than it was and greatly exaggerated the number of Union soldiers killed in the battle, a common reaction by both sides to battles in 1861.
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the men even wrote to newspapers and others to condemn Peirce's handling of the operation, lack of coordination of forces, sporadic efforts at fighting, wasting of time, and leaving too much discretion to subordinates. Even Butler spoke of Peirce's shortcomings in handling the matter, although in more restrained language than he is reported to have used in private.
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ordered that all the troops should wear a white rag or handkerchief on their left arms so they would recognize each other. Any attacking regiment was supposed to first shout the watchword. Butler's aide and messenger to the
Newport News command, Captain Haggerty, forgot to advise Phelps and the Newport News contingent of these precautions.
884:(Battle of First Manassas) six weeks later, it provided what proved to be undue encouragement and confidence in a quick victory in the war to the Confederates. Union morale was correspondingly damaged but as events proved, the Northern public and military showed resilience and determination in the face of several early defeats.
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The water area known as Hampton Roads is one of the world's biggest natural harbors (more accurately a roadstead or "roads") and incorporates the mouths of the Elizabeth River and James River with several smaller rivers and itself empties into the Chesapeake Bay near its mouth leading to the Atlantic
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Butler was criticized for the debacle at Big Bethel, including his decision not to lead the operation in person. His appointment as major general of volunteers was confirmed by the U.S. Senate by only two votes. Most of the criticism fell on the Massachusetts militia general, Ebenezer Peirce. Many of
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came forward on a white mule and began to lead the men toward a ford through the creek 0.75 miles (1.21 km) from the main road to Hampton. A platoon guarding the ford was outnumbered by the Union force and retreated as they approached. Magruder ordered Captain W. H. Werth forward with a howitzer
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By chance, Magruder had started a large part of his force toward Hampton to launch a surprise attack of his own on the Union forces. After hearing the gunfire and being alerted by an elderly local lady that a Union force was only a few hundred yards down the road, Magruder hurried his men back to his
475:
On May 27, 1861, General Butler sent a force 8 miles (13 km) west to occupy the lightly defended adjacent town of Newport News at Newport News Point, an excellent anchorage for the Union Navy. This force established and significantly fortified Camp Butler and a battery at Newport News Point that
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on June 1, 1861, two days earlier than the Battle of Philippi and nine days before the Battle of Big Bethel. Historian David J. Eicher discounts both the Battle of Fairfax Court House and the Battle of Philippi as "mere skirmishes" and says the first "real land battle of the conflict" was the Battle
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The 5th New York Infantry was replaced for one last assault on the Union right by Major Winthrop, who was also an officer of the 7th New York Infantry but was serving on the staff of General Peirce, having been detailed from General Butler's staff since he helped Butler plan the attack. Winthrop led
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Union skirmishers went forward to try to determine the strength of the Confederate position. Most were driven back immediately. Two companies from the 5th New York led by Captain Kilpatrick and Captain John G. Butler, the General's nephew, advanced across an open field with only a few trees, a shed,
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Butler wished to drive the Confederates back from their advanced positions at Little Bethel and Big Bethel because they had begun attacking and harassing his pickets and patrols with squads from these outposts, threatening his bases outside of Fort Monroe and his lines of communication with them and
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Butler soon had to return many of his men to Washington to reinforce the defeated Union force after the First Battle of Bull Run as fear for the security of the capital ran high. While Butler continued to maintain the camp at Newport News, he had to abandon the camp at Hampton for lack of men. When
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of 1862. However, Butler did send an expedition up the Back River with naval support on June 24, 1861, which destroyed 14 transports and several small boats that had supplies for the Confederate forces. Both sides generally continued to hold and improve their positions and works until the Peninsula
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Thinking they had been cut off when they heard the gunfire from the road back to Hampton behind them, Duryée's men of the 5th New York Infantry withdrew from their advanced position and headed south to the sound of the guns, as did the other Union troops from the Vermont and Massachusetts regiments
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On the night of June 9–10, according to the plan devised by Butler and Winthrop, 3,500 Union soldiers were sent in two columns from Camp Hamilton at Hampton and Camp Butler at Newport News with orders to converge near the Confederate positions at Little Bethel after a night march and launch a
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On May 14, 1861, while Colonel Dimick was still in command of the garrison, he seized a well just outside the fort in what was then Elizabeth City County because the fort did not have enough water even for its original small garrison. His forces also occupied the Mill Creek Bridge, which was needed
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After the American Civil War began with the formal surrender of Fort Sumter to Confederate forces on April 14, 1861, and President Lincoln's call for volunteers to suppress the rebellion on April 15, 1861, Virginia's political leaders quickly set in motion the process of seceding from the Union and
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officer killed in the war. After littering the road back to Fort Monroe with coats and equipment on a very hot afternoon, the Union troops arrived back at Fort Monroe about 5:00 p.m. that afternoon. About 100 Confederate cavalry pursued the Union force but could not mount an attack and pulled
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Advanced Union skirmishers continued to fire at the Confederate positions from the house on the field and other outbuildings on the south side of the creek. Colonel Hill asked four volunteers to go forward and burn the house. Fire from across the main road stopped them and they dove to the ground.
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Having determined to continue to Big Bethel without knowledge of the layout or strength of the Confederate positions, Peirce sent Duryee's 5th New York Infantry out first. Captain Kilpatrick along with Captain Charles G. Bartlett and skirmishers were sent forward to scout the Confederate position.
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While Colonel Dimick remained in command of the 415 regular army soldiers, Volunteer Major General Benjamin F. Butler of Massachusetts took command of Fort Monroe and the entire garrison on May 23, 1861. With continuing reinforcements, Butler could not only retain the Union hold on Fort Monroe but
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commanded by Colonel Abner B. Packard, were able to reinforce Fort Monroe's garrison of 415 regulars within five days of the President's call. The 4th Massachusetts was the first to arrive. These reinforcements helped ensure that this strong point and base of operations would be fully prepared for
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volunteer regiments within a few days of the Virginia convention voting to secede from the Union on April 17, 1861. This important fort provided a base for the blockade of Norfolk, Virginia, and the Chesapeake Bay and for the recovery of southeast Virginia and the Virginia Peninsula for the Union.
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at Hampton Roads and could be reinforced and resupplied by water without attack by shore batteries or harassment by the nearly non-existent Virginia or Confederate naval forces. The fort was nearly immune from attack from the land side since it could be approached only over a narrow causeway and a
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Total Federal casualties at the Battle of Big Bethel and the friendly fire incident that preceded it were 76, including 18 killed, 53 wounded, and 5 missing. Poland, 2006, p. 238 gives an account of the Union casualties by regiment as follows: Staff: 1 killed (Winthrop); 4th Massachusetts: 1
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Lieutenant Greble refused to pull back until the last, continuing to work his remaining gun, for he did not have enough able men left to man them both. This effort cost him his life as the Confederate artillery concentrated on his position and he was struck in the back of the head by a cannonball
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Almost the entire Confederate force was now behind earthworks and north of Marsh Creek (Brick Kiln Creek), the branch of the Back River at Big Bethel. The exception was that some of the 3rd Virginia Infantry were in an open field to the south of the branch to protect a howitzer position which was
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After the attack by Bendix's men, Peirce pulled his force back south of the New Market Bridge, a counter-march of about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) to assess the situation and to await an expected further Confederate attack in a more advantageous position. To the dismay of all, it was soon discovered
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of the 1st North Carolina Volunteers, later the 11th North Carolina Infantry Regiment, the only Confederate soldier killed in the battle was the first Confederate soldier killed in combat in the Civil War. This is only correct to the extent a distinction is made between the first officer killed,
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On June 6 Magruder sent D.H. Hill and the 1st North Carolina Volunteers and Randolph and part of the Richmond Howitzer Battalion with four artillery pieces to Big Bethel Church (or Great Bethel Church) within 8 miles (13 km) of the Union's camps at Newport News and Hampton to establish an
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The friendly fire incident alerted the Confederates at Little Bethel, as well as Magruder's main force, of the Union movement. Upon approach of the Union force and the sound of the gunfire from the New York regiments, the approximately 50 Confederates manning the outpost at Little Bethel Church
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On June 4 a Confederate patrol under Capt. H.H. Werth discovered that the 5th New York Infantry (Duryee's Zouaves) had been at Big Bethel. "They behaved well enough to the people of the neighborhood but defiled the walls of the church with warnings, designed to strike terror into the hearts of
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Most of the Big Bethel battlefield, and the whole Little Bethel site, have not been preserved. Today the sites are generally covered with residential and commercial development. Marsh Creek or Brick Kiln Creek has also been dammed, creating the Big Bethel Reservoir on the battlefield site. The
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Magruder discovered this, on August 7, 1861, a Confederate force burned Hampton so it could no longer be used to shelter runaway slaves. Butler did not attempt to shell the Confederates from the fort for fear he would be blamed, at least in part, for the burning of the town due to cannon fire.
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The two forces then began an intermittent fight that began at 9:00 a.m. and lasted until 1:30 p.m. After the initial artillery shot, Bendix's men began to scatter into the trees for protection. The 5th New York Infantry under Colonel Duryee charged the left of the forward Confederate
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The column from Camp Hamilton was to start at midnight, and that from Newport News a little later, as its line of march would be shorter. Anticipating possible confusion during a night march by inexperienced troops, Butler ordered the watchword, "Boston," to be given to each column and further
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Major Winthrop and several other Union dead were buried on the field by the Confederates. Soon thereafter, Magruder granted a request by Winthrop's brother and Union officers, under a flag of truce, to recover Winthrop's body. They returned the body to the field with a respectful escort.
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killed; 1st New York: 1 killed; 2d New York: 2 killed, 1 wounded; 3rd New York: 2 killed, 27 wounded or missing; 5th New York: 6 killed, 13 wounded; 7th New York: 3 killed, 7 wounded, 2 missing; 1st Vermont: 2 killed, 3 wounded, 1 missing; Second U.S. Artillery: 1 killed (Greble).
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The secession of Virginia was ratified by popular vote on May 23, 1861. Although a formality, Virginia Governor Letcher did not issue a proclamation officially transferring Virginia forces to the Confederacy on June 6, 1861. United States War Dept., Robert Nicholson Scott, et al.
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At least forty men of the 3rd New York Infantry had fled back to the fort at Hampton where they reported that their regiment was being cut to pieces by a large Confederate force. Before waiting for a request for reinforcement, Colonel William H. Allen then headed north with the
1275:. Retrieved May 14, 2011. pp. 911–912. The delay was caused mostly by negotiations over whether the State or the Confederacy would control certain property. Maj. Gen. Lee, as commander of the state forces, issued an order in compliance with the proclamation on June 8, 1861.
642:. The plan was for this force to meet the 3rd New York Infantry under Townsend at a road junction about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) from Little Bethel and form a combined reserve. Peirce and his staff headed for Little Bethel with Townsend's 3rd New York Infantry Regiment.
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to help Townsend's regiment. Peirce also soon sent a message back to Hampton for the 2nd New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment under Colonel Joseph B. Carr to come up to the area. They were ordered to stop at the New Market Bridge and ultimately acted as a rear guard.
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Later, Bendix's men claimed the mistake was mutual and that Townsend's men had opened fire on them at the same time. Tomes says some of Townsend's men admitted this and blamed it on the absence of white bands on the arms of Bendix's men. Tomes, 1862–1867, p.
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Confederates, such as "Avengers," " Death to Rebels," and others of like import. Back of the pulpit was a rude picture of a gibbet, on which a Confederate dangled in the horrors of strangulation. Underneath was written—'The Doom of Traitors!' " Gordon, 1883, p. 17
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surprise attack on the Confederate positions at Little Bethel at dawn. After taking Little Bethel, if the commander of the force chose to do so, he could go on to attack Big Bethel. The entire force was under the immediate overall command of Brigadier General
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might also be considered a small Civil War battle, with several killed and wounded on each side, but the Confederate side in the affair was a civilian mob, not an organized military force like the force the mob attacked, which was several companies of the
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to approach Little Bethel from the opposite side. Washburn would be followed by Colonel Bendix's German–speaking 7th New York Infantry Regiment and two artillery pieces manned by regulars from the 2nd U.S. Artillery Regiment, commanded by Lieutenant
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Gordon, 1883, pp. 33–34 says that 18 Union dead were left on the field and surmises the official Union casualty figures were too low, though the actual figures were nowhere near what were reported in the press, even in the accounts of Union
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while finally winding up his work. When they received word of Greble's death, Lieutenant Colonel Warren, Captain Wilson, and five of their men rushed back to recover Greble's body before they left the field. Greble was the first graduate of
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for access to the peninsula from the fort and the nearby Clark farm. The fort soon could not hold all of the arriving reinforcements so Union forces established Camp Troy, soon renamed Camp Hamilton in honor of an aide to General-in-Chief
633:, commanding at Newport News, would send detachments from his own 1st Vermont Infantry and Colonel David W. Wardrop's 4th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment (90–day militia) under the command of Lieutenant Colonel
948:. Civilian mobs also were engaged with military forces in two similar riots in St. Louis in the early days of the war after the surrender of Fort Sumter. Compared to the large battles to come, all the engagements before the
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under Lieutenant Colonel Washburn. Those troops were approaching Little Bethel in front of the site of the incident. The Union forces had lost the element of surprise for their attack and delayed the timing of it as well.
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fragments of the site that remain are not readily identifiable. The site of Lt. Greble's death is now a convenience store. A group of local preservationists has developed a plan to preserve areas, currently located on
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Gordon, 1883, p. 30 said: "The Federal guns were well handled by Lieutenant Greble, of the regular United States army. Shot after shot struck our earthworks, and but for these defences our loss would have been
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joining the Confederacy. Even before secession was formally accomplished, Virginia agreed to coordinate its state military forces with the Confederacy and began to seize federal property. The United States
625:) from Camp Hamilton at Hampton to a point between Little Bethel and Big Bethel and then, after having cut the road to Big Bethel, to attack the Confederates at Little Bethel. Colonel Frederick Townsend's
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In the early stages of the war, uniforms had not been standardized, and some Union units wore some items of clothing that were gray, though gray had also begun to be adopted by the Confederate Army.
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Meanwhile, Kilpatrick was trying to lead part of the 5th New York around the Confederates from the right but they came under heavy fire. As men were falling, Lieutenant Colonel (later major general)
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before dawn and were in position to continue the advance as planned. Before Duryée's men could advance close enough to the Confederate positions to open the attack, they heard gunfire behind them.
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of Big Bethel, although, after a brief summary of the Battle of Big Bethel, he characterizes the early Civil War engagements without apparent distinction as "these first minor skirmishes." The
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Major Randolph's artillery and Colonel D. H. Hill's 1st North Carolina infantry troops were commended by Magruder for their actions. Within hours of the battle, Magruder withdrew his forces to
220:
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fortifications at Big Bethel. The Confederates were now fully alerted to the Union Army movement and were able to get back into position well before Peirce's men arrived at Big Bethel.
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to defend the southeastern area of the Peninsula and push Union forces back to the fort. Magruder was given the command on May 21, 1861. On May 24 he established his headquarters at
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327:
and another at Newport News. Magruder had also established two camps within range of the Union lines, at Big Bethel and Little Bethel, to lure his opponent into a premature action.
498:
in charge of Virginia (soon to be Confederate) forces, which already were in league with the Confederacy, responded to the growing Union threat from Fort Monroe by sending Colonel
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narrow isthmus and had massive walls and hundreds of cannons. An inlet called Mill Creek was the body of water that almost cut the fort off from the mainland of the Peninsula.
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from their positions at Camp Hamilton and despite some delays arrived near Little Bethel at about 4:00 a.m. Part of this regiment under Captain (later brigadier general)
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back as they approached Hampton because the Union force had pulled up the New Market Bridge over the southern branch of the Back River to thwart the Confederate pursuit.
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Authoritative sources, including his tombstone, show Peirce is the correct spelling of the general's name although in some accounts it is mistakenly shown as "Pierce."
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One account states the skirmishers were under Captains Kilpatrick, Bartlett, and Winslow, and all were under the command of Lieutenant Colonel (later major general)
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213:
2278:
Eicher, 2001, p. 75. He says on p. 75 regarding the Battle of Philippi: "Although this minor skirmish was glorified in the press ... it had little significance."
859:, said a primary lesson for Union Army leaders was that "...the gray overcoats and soft hats had to go, lest they (Union soldiers) be shot by their own troops."
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of 1862. While small compared to many later battles, Big Bethel attracted exaggerated importance because of the general feeling that the war would soon be over.
349:, the first regular army officer killed in the war. The Confederates suffered only eight casualties, with one killed. Although Magruder subsequently withdrew to
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Major Whittemore of the 4th Massachusetts Infantry wrote that he had ridden out in front alone, discovered the mistake and got the New Yorkers to cease firing.
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206:
629:, with two howitzers, was to march from Hampton after the 5th New York Infantry had departed and provide support at Little Bethel. Meanwhile, Colonel
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Historian Charles Poland says the battle of Big Bethel was "what most Richmond papers called the first land battle of the war." Poland, 2006, p. 207
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forces in the area had no hope of taking the fort by force, especially after April 20, 1861, when the small Union garrison was reinforced by two
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1492:
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Quarstein, 2000, p. 45 credits Winthrop alone for the plan but Winthrop's own notes state, somewhat poetically, that it was a joint project.
1103:
In 1952 Elizabeth City County was absorbed by the independent city of Hampton, which had been the county seat and largest town in the county.
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At the time, the outcome of the battle was an important boost to Southern confidence and morale. Along with the Confederate victory at the
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427:
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Big Bethel was one of the first Civil War land battles both in present-day Virginia and in the war after the bombardment and surrender of
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Because Massachusetts militia forces were ready to respond to President Lincoln's call for volunteers, two 90–day regiments, the
931:
907:
506:
and set up his defenses. Soon Magruder's original small Virginia force was increased to about 1,500 men by the inclusion of Colonel
2144:
1293:
Quarstein, 2000, p. 44 says that Montague's cavalry force preceded these units on June 6 and that they did not arrive until June 7.
686:
674:
626:
481:
965:, containing a remnant of an earthwork and the memorial to Henry Lawson Wyatt, the only Confederate soldier killed in the battle.
2746:
595:
2265:, which undoubtedly was a small skirmish although one in which a few casualties were incurred, took place in present–day
2540:
2516:
2351:
1479:
1422:
1068:
572:
514:(Wythe Rifles), a cavalry battalion under Major E.B. Montague, and the Richmond Howitzer Artillery Battalion under Major
439:, under Colonel J. Wolcott Phelps joined the garrison and several other volunteer regiments from New York soon followed.
923:
2661:
2555:
2499:
2368:
2305:
2233:
1045:
240:
561:
2392:. Richmond, VA: Carlton McCarthy and Co., 1886. Extracts from an old order book, First Howitzers of Richmond, VA.
1944:
Some accounts such as Quarstein, 1997, p. 40 mention only Vermont and Massachusetts soldiers in Winthrop's attack.
985:
states after the surrender of Fort Sumter on the previous day set in motion the process of secession of the four
856:
749:
659:
618:
414:
Colonel Dimick refused to surrender the fort and the small and poorly equipped Virginia (soon to be Confederate)
807:
300:
357:, he had won a propaganda victory, and local Union forces attempted no further significant advance until the
134:
91:
981:
President Lincoln's call for volunteers to reclaim federal property and suppress the rebellion of the seven
811:
379:
320:
146:
777:
245:
2266:
457:
304:
120:
2756:
2751:
2262:
1496:
930:(then part of Virginia) or the Battle of Big Bethel was the first land battle of the entire war, the
2642:. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1880–1901. Series I, Volume 2 , Chapter IX.
789:
Pvt. Henry L. Wyatt, the first Confederate soldier from North Carolina to be killed in the Civil War
2435:
2156:
Gordon (who was with the howitzers battalion), 1883, p. 34, says the Confederates had nine wounded.
1264:
The War of the Rebellion: a compilation of the official records of the Union and Confederate Armies
949:
935:
881:
874:
354:
582:
265:
2564:
History of the Confederate States Navy From Its Organization to the Surrender of Its Last Vessel
2228:, edited by David S. Heidler and Jeanne T. Heidler. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 2000.
1217:
History of the Confederate States Navy From Its Organization to the Surrender of Its Last Vessel
447:, on the Segar farm on the Hampton side of Mill Creek, within range of the guns of Fort Monroe.
1591:
Gordon, 1883, p. 28 says: "We had white bands on our hats to distinguish us from the enemy...."
962:
940:
852:
499:
910:
on June 1, 1861, and the first enlisted man killed, which Private Wyatt appears to have been.
480:. By May 29 Butler's force, which included the 1st Vermont Infantry, Colonel John A. Bendix's
919:
511:
391:
250:
1845:
844:
737:
467:
436:
307:
had been ratified by popular vote on May 23, and Confederate colonel (later major general)
8:
492:
345:
The Union forces suffered 76 casualties, with 18 killed, including Maj. Winthrop and Lt.
338:
incident gave away their own. The commander in the field, Massachusetts militia general,
255:
765:
525:
2629:
2145:
Civil War Chief of Sharpshooters Hiram Berdan: Military Commander and Firearms Inventor
1932:
870:
828:
799:
673:
Colonel Bendix's 7th New York Volunteer Infantry had opened fire on Colonel Townsend's
608:
544:
515:
507:
503:
358:
350:
339:
312:
286:
282:
150:
28:
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2512:
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1371:
1340:
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1156:
1087:
1064:
1041:
1010:
770:
667:
663:
634:
461:
387:
331:
324:
323:, a former Massachusetts lawyer and politician, who established a new camp at nearby
80:
2424:. Volume III. Clement A. Evans, ed. Atlanta: Confederate Publishing Company, 1899.
1339:. Volume III. Clement A. Evans, ed. Atlanta: Confederate Publishing Company, 1899.
1243:, Volumes 1–4. Richmond, VA: Carlton McCarthy and Co., 1883. Pamphlet No. 1.
903:
773:, a noted American writer and Union officer, was killed in the Battle of Big Bethel
519:
308:
155:
2674:
590:
2612:
2596:
2579:
2562:
2530:
2506:
2474:
2456:
2419:
2375:
2357:
2334:
2245:
2226:
Encyclopedia of the American Civil War: A Political, Social, and Military History
1737:
1697:
1521:
1412:
1406:
1365:
1334:
1262:
1238:
1215:
1191:
1149:
1081:
1058:
510:'s 1st North Carolina Volunteer Infantry, Lieutenant Colonel William D. Stuart's
477:
198:
655:
464:, and other locations on the south side of Hampton Roads from the Confederates.
2617:. Volume V, A to Helena. Madison, Wisconsin: Federal Publishing Company, 1908.
1977:
1370:. Volume V, A to Helena. Madison, Wisconsin: Federal Publishing Company, 1908.
994:
898:
848:
639:
630:
444:
399:
346:
159:
76:
45:
827:
Union forces attempted no further advance on the Virginia Peninsula until the
364:
The engagement was also known as the Battle of Bethel Church or Great Bethel.
2715:
2697:
2684:
2390:
Contributions to a History of the Richmond Howitzer Battalion, Pamphlet No. 4
2386:
Contributions to a History of the Richmond Howitzer Battalion, Pamphlet No. 3
2382:
Contributions to a History of the Richmond Howitzer Battalion, Pamphlet No. 1
927:
495:
419:
403:
335:
116:
476:
could cover the entrance to the James River ship canal and the mouth of the
1425:. Retrieved June 11, 2011, p. 37 referred to the plan as devised by Butler.
615:
290:
2572:
2412:
1225:
1014:
460:
blockade of Chesapeake Bay, move up the Peninsula, and threaten to retake
2622:
2484:
2397:
1375:
1248:
1091:
986:
753:
395:
383:
316:
2589:
2467:
2449:
1707:
1202:
1160:
952:(Battle of First Manassas) are fairly characterized as mere skirmishes.
2606:
2429:
1531:
1344:
1272:
982:
913:
407:
36:
311:
was sent down the peninsula to deter any advance on the state capital
998:
1267:
Series I, Volume II. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1880.
1139:
On that same day a popular vote ratified the secession of Virginia.
1002:
990:
760:
296:
2476:
The National almanac and annual record for the year 1863, Volume 1
2458:
Pictorial history of the civil war in the United States of America
1193:
Pictorial history of the civil war in the United States of America
1151:
Pictorial history of the civil war in the United States of America
1083:
The National almanac and annual record for the year 1863, Volume 1
450:
415:
2722:
Battles of the Chesapeake Bay Blockade of the American Civil War
1526:. Volume 1 of 3. New York: Virtue and Yorston, 1862–1867.
847:, a company commander in the 1st Vermont who later received the
543:
standing in the way of his planned move up the Peninsula toward
2344:
Battle of Big Bethel: Crucial Clash in Early Civil War Virginia
1472:
Battle of Big Bethel: Crucial Clash in Early Civil War Virginia
622:
586:
Engagement at Big Bethel Church, June 10, 1861, a historic map
1935:
by Daniel Burt Veazey, Dictionary of North Carolina Biography
1410:
Volume VIII, August 1861. p. 251. In 1997, Quarstein, John V.
955:
862:
The Confederates suffered only one killed and seven wounded.
706:
2601:. Volume 1. New York: Virtue and Yorston, 1864–1867.
471:
The 4th Massachusetts Regiment works to fortify Camp Butler
2492:
The Glories Of War: Small Battles and Early Heroes Of 1861
1038:
The Glories Of War: Small Battles and Early Heroes Of 1861
594:
Map of Big Bethel Battlefield core and study areas by the
537:
390:
on the southern tip of the Virginia Peninsula between the
1495:, Peirce lost an arm leading a charge on June 30, at the
382:
garrison under the command of Colonel Justin Dimick held
2727:
Battles of the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War
2598:
The War with the South: A History of the Great Rebellion
2077:
Some accounts give the number of Union casualties as 79.
1523:
The War with the South: A History of the Great Rebellion
342:, received most of the blame for the failed operation.
2361:
The Longest Night: A Military History of the Civil War
2250:
The Longest Night: A Military History of the Civil War
435:
defense and saved for the Union. On May 13, 1861, the
372:
2584:. Volume 1. Boston: E.P. Dutton & Company, 1868.
2567:. New York: Rogers & Sherwood, 1887, p. 39.
1702:. Volume 1. Boston: E.P. Dutton & Company, 1868.
922:. Although arguments have been made that either the
914:
Claim as first land battle of the American Civil War
315:by Union troops based at the well-defended post of
2444:. 4 vols. New York: Century Co., 1884–1888.
2342:Cobb, J. Michael, Edward B. Hicks and Wythe Holt.
1470:Cobb, J. Michael, Edward B. Hicks and Wythe Holt.
228:
2548:The Official Virginia Civil War Battlefield Guide
2298:The Official Virginia Civil War Battlefield Guide
330:Butler took the bait, when he and an aide, Major
2713:
2522:Quarstein, John V. "First Blood at Big Bethel."
2388:. Richmond, VA: Carlton McCarthy and Co., 1884.
2384:. Richmond, VA: Carlton McCarthy and Co., 1883.
2380:. Richmond, VA: Carlton McCarthy and Co., 1883.
2317:Quarstein, John V. "First Blood at Big Bethel."
1387:Official Records, Butler's report, June 10, 1861
1220:. New York: Rogers & Sherwood, 1887, p. 39.
761:Deaths of Winthrop, Wyatt, Greble; end of battle
406:was to the south. The fort was supported by the
2732:Confederate victories of the American Civil War
2346:. El Dorado Hills, CA: Savas Beatie LLC, 2013.
1474:. El Dorado Hills, CA: Savas Beatie LLC, 2013.
1329:
1327:
873:, where he established a line protected by the
319:. This garrison was commanded by Major General
2656:. 2nd ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1998.
2529:Quarstein, John V. and Dennis P. Mroczkowski.
2511:. Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publications, 1997.
2094:
2092:
1963:
1961:
1959:
1750:
1748:
1560:
1558:
1493:29th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry
1457:
1455:
1453:
1451:
1449:
1417:. Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publications, 1997.
1057:Quarstein, John V. and Dennis P. Mroczkowski.
719:
451:Butler takes command, expands Union bridgehead
430:commanded by Colonel David W. Wardrop and the
2737:Battles of the American Civil War in Virginia
2535:. Charleston, SC: Tempus Publications, 2000.
1731:
1674:
1672:
1670:
1507:
1505:
1063:. Charleston, SC: Tempus Publications, 2000.
214:
2550:. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books, 2001.
2300:. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books, 2001.
2165:Some reports showed 9 wounded rather than 7.
2001:
1999:
1865:
1863:
1821:
1819:
1780:
1773:
1771:
1769:
1660:
1658:
1656:
1654:
1652:
1621:
1619:
1599:
1597:
1324:
281:was one of the earliest land battles of the
2581:A History of Massachusetts in the Civil War
2101:
2089:
1956:
1872:
1745:
1699:A History of Massachusetts in the Civil War
1642:
1640:
1555:
1446:
1378:. Retrieved June 8, 2011. pp. 120–121
2455:Lossing, Benson John and William Barritt.
1667:
1502:
1190:Lossing, Benson John and William Barritt.
1163:. Retrieved May 1, 2011. pp. 501–502
1148:Lossing, Benson John and William Barritt.
956:Commemoration and battlefield preservation
892:
522:and future Confederate Secretary of War).
402:. The bay was to the east of the fort and
221:
207:
16:1861 American Civil War battle in Virginia
1996:
1881:
1860:
1816:
1798:
1766:
1649:
1616:
1594:
932:Battle of Fairfax Court House (June 1861)
908:Battle of Fairfax Court House (June 1861)
707:Confederate advance, return to Big Bethel
649:
614:Peirce was ordered to first send Colonel
2479:. Philadelphia: George W. Childs, 1863.
2462:. Philadelphia, George W. Childs, 1866.
2363:. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2001.
2026:
1899:
1789:
1637:
1208:
1197:. Philadelphia, George W. Childs, 1866.
1155:. Philadelphia, George W. Childs, 1866.
1086:. Philadelphia: George W. Childs, 1863.
784:
776:
764:
743:
687:1st New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment
675:3rd New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment
627:3rd New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment
589:
581:
524:
482:7th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment
466:
437:1st Regiment, Vermont Volunteer Infantry
2508:The Civil War on the Virginia Peninsula
1414:The Civil War on the Virginia Peninsula
596:American Battlefield Protection Program
538:Butler plans to drive Confederates back
487:
2714:
2526:vol. L, no. 2 (April 2011): 48–53, 79.
2494:. Bloomington, IN: AuthorHouse, 2006.
2421:Confederate Military History: Virginia
2338:Volume VIII, August 1861. p. 251.
1336:Confederate Military History: Virginia
1040:. Bloomington, IN: AuthorHouse, 2006.
897:Many authors have stated that Private
601:
2742:York County in the American Civil War
2614:The Union Army: Cyclopedia of battles
2193:OR, Magruder's report, June 10, 1861.
1848:, who was acquainted with the ground.
1739:The Union Army: Cyclopedia of battles
1367:The Union Army: Cyclopedia of battles
202:
2441:Battles and Leaders of the Civil War
529:Confederate earthworks at Big Bethel
2640:of the Union and Confederate Armies
2143:Roy Martin Marcot, Gerald Denning,
386:, a nearly impregnable fortress at
373:Union holds, reinforces Fort Monroe
230:Blockade of the Chesapeake Bay
13:
2646:
1982:North Carolina Digital Collections
1978:"Photograph of Henry Lawson Wyatt"
1728:Hotchkiss, 1899, pp. 137–138
1534:. Retrieved June 11, 2011. p. 272.
926:, on June 3, 1861, in present-day
550:
14:
2768:
2668:
2532:Fort Monroe: the Key to the South
2407:. New York: Bonanza Books, 1961.
2321:vol. L, no. 2 (April 2011): p. 79
2050:Hotchkiss, 1899, p. 138–139
1347:. Retrieved June 11, 2011. p. 135
1060:Fort Monroe: the Key to the South
1009:. New York: Bonanza Books, 1961.
887:
353:and his defensive line along the
2311:
2290:
2281:
2272:
2255:
2238:
2214:
1710:. Retrieved June 12, 2011. p. 89
1172:Quarstein, 2000, pp. 38–40
1121:Quarstein, 2000, pp. 31–32
941:Baltimore riot of April 19, 1861
697:
127:
109:
35:
2654:The Civil War Battlefield Guide
2205:
2196:
2187:
2178:
2168:
2159:
2150:
2137:
2134:Poland, 2006, pp. 232–233
2128:
2119:
2110:
2080:
2071:
2062:
2053:
2044:
2035:
2023:Poland, 2006, pp. 222–223
2017:
2008:
1970:
1953:Poland, 2006, pp. 219–220
1947:
1938:
1926:
1917:
1908:
1896:Poland, 2006, pp. 218–219
1890:
1857:Poland, 2006, pp. 216–217
1851:
1838:
1828:
1807:
1757:
1722:
1713:
1690:
1681:
1634:Poland, 2006, pp. 210–212
1628:
1606:
1585:
1576:
1567:
1552:Poland, 2006, pp. 208–209
1546:
1537:
1514:
1485:
1464:
1437:
1428:
1399:
1396:Poland, 2006, pp. 207–208
1390:
1381:
1359:
1350:
1315:
1306:
1296:
1287:
1278:
1254:
1251:. Retrieved June 9, 2011. p. 15
1231:
1205:. Retrieved May 1, 2011. p. 502
1184:
1175:
1166:
1142:
1133:
857:1st United States Sharpshooters
660:5th New York Volunteer Infantry
619:5th New York Volunteer Infantry
2747:1861 in the American Civil War
2675:Official reports of the battle
2032:Tomes, 1862–1867, p. 280
1905:Tomes, 1862–1867, p. 277
1795:Tomes, 1862–1867, p. 276
1124:
1115:
1106:
1097:
1074:
1051:
1030:
1020:
975:
566:
1:
2575:. Retrieved February 1, 2011.
2438:, and Clarence C. Buel, eds.
2328:
367:
1228:. Retrieved February 1, 2011
818:
7:
1573:Lossing, 1866, pp. 505, 506
720:Union attacks at Big Bethel
666:captured three Confederate
573:Confederate order of battle
10:
2773:
2609:. Retrieved June 11, 2011.
2592:. Retrieved June 12, 2011.
2519:. Retrieved June 11, 2011.
2432:. Retrieved June 11, 2011.
2267:Arlington County, Virginia
2068:Poland, 2006, pp. 225, 238
570:
559:
2652:Kennedy, Frances H., ed.
2625:. Retrieved June 8, 2011.
2487:. Retrieved May 31, 2011.
2473:McKean, William Vincent.
2436:Johnson, Robert Underwood
2400:. Retrieved June 9, 2011.
2263:Battle of Arlington Mills
1497:Battle of White Oak Swamp
1094:. Retrieved May 31, 2011.
1080:McKean, William Vincent.
946:6th Massachusetts Militia
577:
432:4th Massachusetts Militia
428:3rd Massachusetts Militia
236:
178:
165:
140:
102:
52:
34:
26:
21:
2631:The War of the Rebellion
2490:Poland, Jr., Charles P.
2470:. Retrieved May 1, 2011.
2405:The Civil War: A History
2377:The Battle of Big Bethel
2222:The Battle of Big Bethel
1240:The Battle of Big Bethel
1036:Poland, Jr., Charles P.
1007:The Civil War: A History
968:
950:Battle of First Bull Run
936:Fairfax County, Virginia
906:, who was killed at the
882:Battle of First Bull Run
855:while fighting with the
781:Lieut. John Trout Greble
555:
48:, artist, June 10, 1861.
2269:, also on June 1, 1861.
1786:Hotchkiss, 1899, p. 136
893:First Confederate death
285:. It took place on the
2107:Quarstein, 2000, p. 51
2098:Quarstein, 2000, p. 49
2059:Quarstein, 1997, p. 41
1967:Quarstein, 2000, p. 48
1878:Quarstein, 2000, p. 47
1754:Quarstein, 2000, p. 46
1564:Quarstein, 1997, p. 38
1461:Quarstein, 2000, p. 45
1284:Quarstein, 2000, p. 44
1112:Quarstein, 2000, p. 30
963:Langley Air Force Base
853:Battle of Malvern Hill
790:
782:
774:
757:
650:Friendly fire incident
598:
587:
530:
500:John Bankhead Magruder
472:
398:where they empty into
141:Commanders and leaders
2636:a Compilation of the
2628:U.S. War Department.
2561:Scharf, John Thomas.
2374:Gordon, E. Clifford.
2224:pp. 226–227 In
1923:Lossing, 1866, p. 510
1813:Quarstein, 1997 p. 39
1678:Lossing, 1866, p. 506
1582:Lossing, 1866, p. 505
1511:Lossing, 1866, p. 504
1499:. Cobb, 2013, p. 161.
1434:Lossing, 1866, p. 503
1237:Gordon, E. Clifford.
1214:Scharf, John Thomas.
1071:. pp. 28, 30–31
798:One of them, Private
788:
780:
768:
747:
593:
585:
571:Further information:
562:Union order of battle
560:Further information:
528:
512:3rd Virginia Infantry
470:
179:Casualties and losses
2336:The Atlantic Monthly
2202:Poland, 2006, p. 233
2184:Poland, 2006, p. 227
2125:Poland, 2006, p. 231
2116:Poland, 2006, p. 235
2086:Poland, 2006, p. 234
2041:Poland, 2066, p. 224
2014:Poland, 2006, p. 222
2005:Poland, 2006, p. 221
1914:Poland, 2006, p. 219
1887:Poland, 2006, p. 218
1869:Poland, 2006, p. 217
1846:Gouverneur K. Warren
1825:Poland, 2006, p. 216
1804:Poland, 2006, p. 214
1777:Poland, 2006, p. 213
1763:Poland, 2006, p. 237
1664:Poland, 2006, p. 212
1625:Poland, 2006, p. 211
1603:Poland, 2006, p. 210
1443:Poland, 2006, p. 208
1408:The Atlantic Monthly
1356:Poland, 2006, p. 207
1321:Poland, 2006, p. 206
1312:Poland, 2006, p. 202
1130:McKean, 1863, p. 547
845:William Y. W. Ripley
738:Gouverneur K. Warren
488:Confederate response
293:, on June 10, 1861.
279:Battle of Big Bethel
22:Battle of Big Bethel
2698:37.0937°N 76.4250°W
2694: /
2578:Schouler, William.
2505:Quarstein, John V.
1933:Wyatt, Henry Lawson
1719:Gordon, 1883, p. 36
1696:Schouler, William.
1646:Gordon, 1883, p. 26
851:for heroism at the
748:Last charge of the
602:Union plan, advance
1543:Cobb, 2013, p. 79.
1491:As colonel of the
924:Battle of Philippi
829:Peninsula Campaign
800:Henry Lawson Wyatt
791:
783:
775:
758:
609:Ebenezer W. Peirce
599:
588:
531:
516:George W. Randolph
508:Daniel Harvey Hill
504:Yorktown, Virginia
473:
359:Peninsula Campaign
287:Virginia Peninsula
283:American Civil War
151:Ebenezer W. Peirce
147:Benjamin F. Butler
29:American Civil War
2703:37.0937; -76.4250
2541:978-0-7385-0114-7
2517:978-0-7385-4438-0
2352:978-1-61121-116-0
1984:. 1910. p. 2
1480:978-1-61121-116-0
1423:978-0-7385-4438-0
1069:978-0-7385-0114-7
1005:. Hansen, Harry.
812:U.S. Regular Army
771:Theodore Winthrop
664:Judson Kilpatrick
635:Peter T. Washburn
462:Norfolk, Virginia
388:Old Point Comfort
332:Theodore Winthrop
274:
273:
197:
196:
135:CSA (Confederacy)
98:
97:
81:Hampton, Virginia
2764:
2757:June 1861 events
2752:1861 in Virginia
2709:
2708:
2706:
2705:
2704:
2699:
2695:
2692:
2691:
2690:
2687:
2638:Official Records
2546:Salmon, John S.
2418:Hotchkiss, Jed.
2358:Eicher, David J.
2322:
2315:
2309:
2296:Salmon, John S.
2294:
2288:
2285:
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2194:
2191:
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2157:
2154:
2148:
2147:, 1989, page 108
2141:
2135:
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2114:
2108:
2105:
2099:
2096:
2087:
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904:John Quincy Marr
832:campaign began.
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520:Thomas Jefferson
309:John B. Magruder
241:Gloucester Point
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2647:Further reading
2595:Tomes, Robert.
2524:Civil War Times
2403:Hansen, Harry.
2331:
2326:
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2319:Civil War Times
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551:Opposing forces
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478:Nansemond River
453:
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340:Ebenezer Peirce
321:Benjamin Butler
299:'s decision to
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894:
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849:Medal of Honor
820:
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60:June 10, 1861
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2019:
2010:
1988:December 20,
1986:. Retrieved
1981:
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656:Abram Duryée
653:
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613:
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541:
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491:
474:
456:support the
454:
441:
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380:Regular Army
376:
363:
344:
329:
295:
291:Newport News
278:
276:
260:
103:Belligerents
41:
27:Part of the
2701: /
987:Upper South
920:Fort Sumter
754:Thomas Nast
567:Confederate
396:James River
384:Fort Monroe
317:Fort Monroe
251:Aquia Creek
92:Confederate
2716:Categories
2689:76°25′30″W
2686:37°05′37″N
2460:, Volume 1
2329:References
2244:Historian
1195:, Volume 1
1153:, Volume 1
989:states of
983:Deep South
808:West Point
621:(Duryée's
408:Union Navy
392:York River
368:Background
261:Big Bethel
186:53 wounded
64:1861-06-10
42:Big Bethel
2573:317589712
2413:500488542
2175:soldiers.
1226:317589712
1015:500488542
999:Tennessee
819:Aftermath
303:from the
256:Pig Point
193:7 wounded
188:5 missing
184:18 killed
2623:78364034
2485:20269046
2398:83619463
1482:. p. 75.
1376:78364034
1249:83619463
1092:20269046
1048:. p. 200
1003:Arkansas
991:Virginia
902:Captain
871:Yorktown
658:led the
654:Colonel
545:Richmond
394:and the
351:Yorktown
313:Richmond
297:Virginia
191:1 killed
166:Strength
72:Location
2590:2662693
2468:1007582
2450:2048818
2308:. p. 72
1708:2662693
1203:1007582
1161:1007582
1017:. p. 48
668:pickets
623:Zouaves
416:militia
325:Hampton
289:, near
94:victory
62: (
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1345:951143
1343:
1273:427057
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1159:
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1027:Ocean.
1013:
756:, 1861
578:Battle
301:secede
132:
114:
88:Result
969:Notes
769:Maj.
752:, by
556:Union
458:Union
305:Union
174:1,400
171:3,500
121:Union
2658:ISBN
2619:OCLC
2603:OCLC
2586:OCLC
2569:OCLC
2552:ISBN
2537:ISBN
2513:ISBN
2496:ISBN
2481:OCLC
2464:OCLC
2446:OCLC
2426:OCLC
2409:OCLC
2394:OCLC
2365:ISBN
2348:ISBN
2302:ISBN
2261:The
2230:ISBN
1990:2012
1704:OCLC
1528:OCLC
1476:ISBN
1419:ISBN
1372:OCLC
1341:OCLC
1269:OCLC
1245:OCLC
1222:OCLC
1199:OCLC
1157:OCLC
1088:OCLC
1065:ISBN
1042:ISBN
1011:OCLC
1001:and
277:The
79:and
77:Tabb
57:Date
2248:in
1613:274
2718::
2634::
2091:^
1998:^
1980:.
1958:^
1862:^
1818:^
1768:^
1747:^
1669:^
1651:^
1639:^
1618:^
1596:^
1557:^
1504:^
1448:^
1326:^
997:,
993:,
2558:.
2543:.
2502:.
2452:.
2415:.
2371:.
2354:.
1992:.
222:e
215:t
208:v
123:)
119:(
66:)
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