Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-08-11
THE BATTLE AT BIG BETHEL
Statement of Facts by Brighten.
Pierce.


Statement of Facts by Brighten.
Pierce.
Regarding it as due to the just expecta-
tions of the citizens of Massachusetts, that q
correct statement should be made of an affair
which has recently exercised the minds of all
who have our country's welfare at heart,
have deemed it advisable to lay before the
public few facts in regard to the unfortunate
engagement at Big Bethel on the morning of
June 10th, 1861. And am better able to
perform the duty at this time, having fulfilled
the period of my appointed service; and re-
turned to civil life. Without the fear of
transcending civilians limits, l may now
make statements which I have ever, during
my military services conscientieusly refrain
ed from making, knowing full well soldiers
duty in that respect, and holding myself re.
sponsible to my superior officer, and not to
the public at large.
l do not propose to review the various
newspaper assaults upon me or my conduct.
Lite to me is too short, and far too valuable,
to be thus ill-spent; and moreovet, if it be
necessary for the success of my conntry's
cause that should be sacrificed, God grant
that may be imbued with a more noble aud
unselfsh patriotism than to raise my arm to
stay the eXecutiener.
But the questions have been asked, and
with much persistency,-why was it that the
General commanding the expedition had not
previously made reconnaissance, and ascer-
tanned that there was at Big Bethel a masked
battery? Why was it that, on the way to
Bethel. collision happened between the
New York Third (Col. Townsend) and Sew
enth (Col. Bendix) Regiments? Why was a
retreat ordered at Big Bethel? And finally
what was the object in attacking that position
of the enemy at all, without it was intend
ed to Immediately push on to Richmond?
These are questions that may fairly deserve
consideration.
1t was by order of the Secretary of War to
the Governor of Massachusetts,, to send a
Brigadier-Generalt to fulfil the unexpired term
of Gen. Butler, promoted to Major General,
that was ordered by the Governor to report
myself in person to Gen. Butler at Fortres.
Monroe, and by letter, to Gen. Scott at
Washington. On the 30th day of May, 1861, ,
agreeable to order, with my Staff repaired
to Fortress Monroe.
1t was by the order of Major General But
Ter, commanding in the Eastern Department
of Virginia, that did on the 4th day of June
assume the command of the First, Second
and Fifth Regiments of New York Volun-
teers, encamped near Hampton. and known
as Camp Hamilton" Subsequently, the
New York Third, Tenth and Twentieth Regi-
ments were attached to my command. 1t
was no ordinary task to regulate and con-
duct camp where every commissioned off,
Ger deemed it mis- duty to throw obstacles In
the way of a Massachusetts, Brigadier. will
not say all, for honorable exceptions are to
be made. L am deeply indebted to some of
those officers, and desire to acknowledge my
gratitude for their kind and courteous con-
duct toward me, and for the very efficient aid
which they SO cheerfully rendered.
On the 9th day of June l received orders
from General Butler, and accompanying
them plan for an expedition to rout force
of the enemy stationed at Big Bethel. The
particular regiment to proceed from Hamp-
ton to make the attack was designated in the
order. Upon inquiry as to what rebel force
there was there, was told by the Command
ing General, that he had ordered the proper
reconnaissance made, and had ascertained
that there was at that point about 500 of the
enemy. Relying upon this, and in obedience
to the order of the commanding General,
proceeded on the night of June 9th to the at
tack on Big Bethel. 1t was by his order that
l took new recruits, who had never been un-
der fire, and who had hardly been in camp
month, and contrary to all the established
rules of warfare, to march at midnight II
miles into the county without one moments
rest, and with only twenty rounds of car
fridge, to make an attack upon an enemy of
unknown numbers, aud, as we found, strong
ly entrenched in masked batteries.
1t was by the order of the commanding
General that l was provided with only two
small howitZers and one six FOUNDER, with
only twelve rounds of cartridges-hardly
sufficient for five minutes fre-to attack a
masked battery of at least six well-mounted
cannon.
1t was by the direction of the comma nding
General that every man in the detachment
which went from Camp Hamilton wore on
his lett arm white badge; that, as the at
tack was to be made in the night, or the gray
of the morning, and by detachments from
two different camps, no accident might &C.
cur; and 1t was to the neglect on the part of
him who ordered the expedition and arrang-
ed the plan to notify the detachment from
Newport News of that badge, that / attri-
butte the most lamentable occurrence OF the
day-the collision of friends in the morning.
Indeed, have since learned that the white
| badges were seen on our arms by those who
first fired upon US, but alasl for them they
had no significance
The orders given me in regard to the at
tack were explicit, yet they betray aOant o.
h7atcotedgs Of the elenys numbers and position:
Had the opportunity been afforded me to
have made reconnaissance myself, l am con-
f1dent that the defeat, at least, would not
have been ours. And yet, with all these in
adequate preparations, think, had the enc
my's right and centre been as vigorously as
saulted by the New York troops as was their
left by the Massachusetts, and Vermont, we
might, at least, have entered the battery,
though perhaps only to have been driven
out; for it must be recollected that Big Beth
Ell is much easier of access fromsY orktown,
the rendezvous at that time of II, 900 seces-
cessiOn troops, than from Fortress Monroe.
1t was not until the Third and Fifth New
York regiments had been completely demo-
rallied, and utterly incompetent from ex-
haustion to continue the attack, and were re-
treating from the field in disorder, and not
until | found it utterly impossible to rally
them to another charge, that reluctantly
acceded to retreat, which was sounded by
Col. Townsend, and Immediately taken up
by Col. Duryea.
Much mas been said about my placing two
New York regiments under CALLING fir e, and
holding them there without orders for more
than an hour. In regard to this, l have to
say, that when our men were retiring from
the field, the First and Second New York
regiments, sent as achievements, arrived.
Immediately ordered them to form in line of
battle to protect the retiring regiments until
they could pick up and bring off their dead
and wounded. Had not done this our loss
must have been much greater, as the enemy
were evidently preparing to follow US. 1t
may be well TO mention that while those two
TeSimouts were uoiuiuS snis pocitoH tuelr eu-
tire loss did not exceed two men killed and
wounded.
No great benefit could have been derived
to our arms had we taken the batteries at
Big Bethel, for to have held the position
would have seriously embarrassed us, if, in
deed, it would not have been an utter impos-
sibility. And as we were neither prepared,
nor of sufficient force TO proceed to attack
Yorktown, regard it as very ill-advised
adventure at best, apparently without any
other object than to try the calibre of the en-
envy, which, under the circumstances, was
hardly warranted.
After the battle had taken place, and pub.
| lie opinion had fastened on me the oppro-
hi. 81 Tho aafaat I e e