First North Carolina Infantry
Report of Col. D. H. Hill, First North Carolina Infantry.
SIR: I have the honor to report that, in obedience to orders from the colonel
commanding, I marched on the 6th instant, with my regiment and four pieces
of Maj. Randolph's battery, from Yorktown, on the Hampton road, to
Bethel Church, nine miles from Hampton. We reached there after dark on
a wet night and slept without tents. Early on the morning of the 7th, I made
a reconnaissance of the ground, preparatory to fortifying. I found a breach
for Back River on our front and encircling our right flank. On our left was
a dense and almost impassable wood, except about one hundred and fifty
yards of old field. The breadth of the road, a thick wood, and narrow
cultivated field covered our rear. The nature of the ground determined me
to make an inclosed work, and I had the invaluable aid of
Lieut.-Col. Lee, of my regiment, in its plan and construction. Our
position had the inherent defect of being commanded by an immense field
immediately in front of it, upon which the masses of the enemy might be
readily deployed. Presuming that an attempt would be made to carry the
bridge across the stream, a battery was made for its especial protection, and
Maj. Randolph placed his guns so as to sweep all the approaches to it. The
occupation of two commanding eminences beyond the creek and on our right
would have greatly strengthened our position, but our force was too weak to
admit of the occupation of more than one for them. A battery was laid out
on it for one of Randolph's howitzers. We had only twenty-five spades, six
axes, and three picks, but these were busily plied all day and night of the
7th and all day on the 8th. On the afternoon of the I learned that a
marauding arty of the enemy was within a few miles of us. I called for a
party of third-four men to drive them back. Lieut. Roberts,
of Company F, of my regiment, promptly responded, and in five minutes his
command was en route. I detached Maj. Randolph with one howitzer to in
them, and Lieut.-Col. Lee, First Regiment North Carolina
Volunteers, requested and was granted permission to take command of the
whole. After a march of five miles they came across the marauders busy
over the spoils of a plundered house. A shell soon put the plunderers to
flight, and they were chased over New Market Bridge, where our little
force was halted, in consequence for the presence of considerable body
situated on the other side. Lieut.-Col. Lee brought in one prisoner.
How many of the enemy were killed and wounded is not known. None of
our command was hurt. Soon after Lieut.-Col. Lee left a citizen
came dashing in with the information that seventy-five marauders were on
the Back River road. I called for Capt. McDowell's company (E), of the
First Regiment of North Carolina Volunteers, and in three minutes it was in
hot pursuit. Lieut. West, of the Howitzer Battalion, with one piece, was
detached to join them, and Maj. Lane, of my regiment, volunteered to
assume command of the whole. After a wary march they encountered,
dispersed, and chased the wretches over the New Market Bridge--this being
the second race on the same day over the New Market course, in both of
which the Yankees reached the goal first. Maj. Lane brought in one
prisoner. Reliable citizens reported that two cart loads and one buggy load
of wounded, were taken into Hampton. We had not a single man killed or
wounded. Col. Magruder came up that evening assumed command.
On Sunday, the 9th, a fresh supply of tools enabled us to put more men to
work, and when not engaged in religious duties, the men worked vigorously
on the in entrenchments. We were aroused at 3 o'clock on Monday morning
for a general advance upon the enemy, and marched three and a half miles,
when we learned that the foe, in large force, was within a few hundred yards
of us. We fell back hastily upon our entrenchments, and awaited the arrival
of our invaders. Lieut.-Col. Stuart, of the Third Regiment, having
come with some one hundred and eighty men, was stationed on the hill on
the extreme right, beyond the creek and Company G, of my regiment was
also thrown over the stream to protect the howitzer under Capt. Brown.
Capt. Bridges, of Company A, First North Carolina Regiment took post
in the dense woods beyond and to the left of the road. Maj. Montague, with
three companies of his battalion, was ordered up from the rear, and took
post on our right, beginning a the church and extending along the entire front
on that side. This fine body of men and the gallant command of
Lieut.-Col. Stuart worked with great rapidity, and in hour
constructed temporary shelters, against the enemy's fire. Just at 9 o'clock
a.m. The heavy columns of the enemy were seen approaching rapidly and in
good order, but when Randolph opened upon them at 9.15 their organization
was completely broken up. The enemy promptly replied with his artillery,
firing briskly but wildly. He made an attempt at deployment on our right of
the road, under cover of some houses and a paling. He was, however,
promptly driven back by our artillery, a Virginia company--the Life
Guards--and Companies B and G of my regiment. The enemy attempted no
deployment within musketry range during the day, except under cover of
woods fences, or paling. Under cover of the trees he moved a strong column
to an old ford, some three-quarters of a mile below, where I had placed a
picket of some forty men. Col. Magruder sent Capt. Werth's company,
of Montague's command, with one howitzer, under Sergeant
Crane, to drive back this column, which was done by a single shot from the
howitzer. Before this a priming wire had been broken in the vent of the
howitzer commanded by Capt. Brown, and rendered it useless.
A force estimated at one thousand five hundred was now attempting to
outflank us and get in the rear of Lieut.-Col. Stuart's small command.
He was accordingly directed to fall back, and the whole of our advanced
troops were withdrawn. At this critical moment I directed Lieut.-Col.
Lee to call Capt. Bridgers out of the swamp, and ordered him to reoccupy
the nearest advanced work, and I ordered Capt. Ross, Company C, First
Regiment North Carolina Volunteers, to the support of Lieut.-Col.
Stuart. These two captains, with their companies, crossed over to Randolph's
battery, under a most heavy fire, in a most gallant manner. As Lieut.
-Col. Stuart had withdrawn, Capt. Ross was detained at the church,
near Randolph's battery. Capt. Bridgers, however, crossed over and drove
the zouaves out of the advanced howitzer battery, and reoccupied it. It is
impossible to overestimate this service. It decided the action in our favor.
In obedience to orders from Col. Magruder, Lieut.-Col. Stuart
marched back, and in spite of the presence of a foe ten times his superior
in number, resumed in the most heroic manner possession of his
entrenchments. A fresh howitzer was carried across and place in the battery
and Capt. Avery, of Company G, was directed to defend it at all hazards.
We were now as secure as the beginning of the fight, and as yet had no man
killed. The enemy, finding himself foiled on our right flank, next made his
final demonstration on our left. A strong column, supposed to consist of
volunteers from different, and under command of Capt. Winthrop,
aide-de-camp to Gen. Butler, crossed over the creek and appeared at the
angle on our left. Those in advance had put on our distinctive badge of a
white band around the cap, and they cried out repeatedly, "Don't fire." This
ruse was practiced to enable the whole column to get over the creek and
form in good order. They now began to cheer most lustily, thinking that our
work was open at the gorge, and that they could get in by a scudded rush.
Companies B and C, however, dispelled the illusion by a cool, deliberate,
and well directed fire. Col. Magruder sent over portions of Companies
G, C, and H of my regiment to our support and now began as cool firing
on our side as was ever witnessed.
The three field officers of the regiment were present and but grew shots were
fired without their permission, the men repeatedly saying, "May I fire? "I
think I can bring him." They were all in high glee, and seemed to enjoy it
as much as boys do rabbit-shooting. Capt. Winthrop, while most gallantly
urging on his men, was shot through the heart, when all rushed back with
the utmost precipitation. So far as my observation extended he was the only
one of the enemy who exhibited even an approximation to courage during
the whole day.
The fight at the angle lasted but twenty minutes. It completely discouraged
the enemy, and he made no further effort at assault. The house in front,
which had several as a hiding place for the enemy, was now fired by a shell
from a howitzer, and the outhouses and palings were soon in a blaze. As all
shelter was now taken from him, the enemy called in his troops, and started
back for Hampton. As he had left sharpshooters behind him in the woods on
our left, the dragoons could not advance until Capt. Hoke, of Company K,
First North Carolina Volunteers, that thoroughly explored them. As soon as
he gave the assurance of
the road being clear, Capt. Douthatt, with some one hundred dragoons, in
compliance wit Col. Magruder's orders, pursued. The enemy in his haste
threw away hundreds of canteens, haversacks, overcoats, &c.; even the dead
were thrown out of the wagons. The pursuit soon became a chase, and for
the third time the enemy won the race over the New Market course. The
bridge was torn up behind him and our dragoons returned to camp. There
were not quite eight hundred of my regiment engaged in the fight, and not
one-half of these drew trigger during the day. All remained manfully
at the posts assigned them and not a man in the regiment behaved badly. The
companies not engaged were as much exposed and rendered equal service
with those participating in the fight. They deserve equally the thanks of the
country. In fact, if is the most trying ordeal to which soldiers can be
subjected, to receive a fire which their orders forbid them to return. Had a
single company left its post our works would have been exposed; and the
constancy and discipline of the unengaged companies cannot be too highly
commended. A detachment of fifteen cadets
from the North Carolina Military Institute defended the howitzer under
Lieut. Hudnall, and acted with great coolness and determination.
I cannot speak in too high terms of my two fields officers,
Lieut.-Col. Lee and Maj. Lane. Their services have been of the highest
importance since taking the field to the present moment. My thanks, too, are
due, in an especial manner, to Lieut. J. M. Poteat, adjutant, and Lieut. J.
W. Ratchford aide, both of them cadets of the North Carolina Institute at
Charlotte. The latter received a contusion in the forehead from a grape shot,
which nearly cost him his life. Capt. Bridgers' Company, A; Lieut.
Owens, commanding Company B; Capt. Ross, Company C; Capt. Ashe,
Company D; Capt. McDowell, Company E; Capt. Starr, Company F;
Capt. Avery, Company G; Capt. Huske, Company H; Lieut.
Whittaker, commanding Company I; Capt. Hoke, Company K, displayed
great coolness, judgment, and efficiency. Lieut. Gregory is highly
spoken of by Maj. Lane for soldierly bearing on the 8th. Lieuts. Cook
and McKethan Company H, crossed over under a heavy fire to the assistance
of the troops attacked on the left. So did Lieut. Cohen, Company C.
Lieut. Hoke has shown great zeal, energy, and judgment as an engineer
officer on various occasions.
Corporal George Williams, Privates Henry L, Wyatt, Thomas Fallan, and
John Thorpe, Company A, volunteered to burn the house which concealed
the enemy. They behaved with great gallantry. Wyatt was killed and the
other three were recalled.
Sergeant Thomas J. Stewart and Private William McDowell, Company A,
reconnoitered the position of the enemy, and went far in advance of our
troops. Private J. W. Potts, of Company B, is specially mentioned by his
company commander; so are Sergeant William Elmo, Company C; Sergeants
C. L. Watts, W. H. McDade, Company D; Sergeant J. M. Young, Corporal
John Dingler, Privates G. H. A. Adams, R. V. Gudger G. W. Werly, John
C. Wright, T. Y. Little, J. F. Jenkins, Company E; R. W. Stedman, M. E.
Dye, H. E. Benton, J. B. Smith, Company F; G. W. Buhmann, James C.
McRae, Company H.
Casualties.--Private Henry L. Wyatt, Company K, mortally wounded; Lieut.
J. W. Ratchford, contusion; Private Council Rodgers, Company H, severely
wounded; Private Charles Williams, Company H, severely wounded; Private
S. Patterson, Company D, slightly wounded; Private William White,
Company K, wounded; Private Peter Poteat, Company G, slightly wounded.
I cannot close this too elaborate report without speaking in the highest
terms of admiration of the Howitzer Battery and its most accomplished
commander, Maj. Randolph. He has no superior as an artillerist in any
country, and his men displayed the utmost skill and coolness. The left
howitzer, under Lieut. Hudnall, being nearest my works, came under
my special notice. Their names are as follows:
Lieut. Hudnall, commanding (wounded), Sergeant B. S. Hughes, G. H.
Pendleton, R. P. Pleasants, William M. Caldwell, George W. Hobson,
William McCarthy, H. C. Shook (wounded) L. W. Timberlake, George P.
Hughes, John Worth (wounded), D. B. Clark.
Permit Regiment North Carolina Volunteers. Their patience under trial,
perseverance under toil, and courage under fire have seldom been surpassed
by veteran troops. Often working night and day--sometimes without tents and
cooking utensil--a murmur has never escaped them to my knowledge. They
have done a large portion of the work on the entrenchments at Yorktown, as
well as those a Bethel. Had all of the regiments in the field worked with the
same spirit, there would not be an assailable point in Virginia. After the
battle they shook hands affectionately with the spades, calling them "clever
fellows and good friends."
The men are influenced by high moral and religious sentiments, and their
conduct has furnished another example of the great truth that he who fears
God will ever do his duty to his country.
The confederates had in all about one thousand two hundred men in the
action. The enemy had the regiments of Col. Duryea (zouaves), Col.
Carr, Col. Allen, Col. Bendix, and Col. Wardrop (Massachusetts),
from Old Point Comfort, and five companies of Phelps; regiment from
Newport New. We had never more than three hundred actively engaged at
any one time. The Confederate loss was eleven wounded; of these, one
mortally. The enemy must have lost some three hundred. I could not,
without great disparagement of their courage, place their loss at a lower
figure. It is inconceivable that five thousand men should make so
precipitate a retreat without having sustained at least this much of a
reserves.
Let us devoutly thank the living God for His wonderful interposition in our
favor, and evidence, our gratitude by the exemplariness of our lives.
With great respect,
D. H. HILL,
Col. First Regiment North Carolina Volunteers.
Col. J. B. MAGRUDER, Commander York Line.
Source: Official Records
CHAP. IX.] ENGAGEMENT AT BIG BETHEL, VA. PAGE 93-2
[Series I. Vol. 2. Serial No. 2.]