The National tribune., 1890-02-20

but slightly injured in an attempt to blow 1t
up, and the enemy soon after had it IN order,
Many of the heavy guns were broken, but
many more were left in a condition to be oil
service TO the enemy.
The destruction of this Navy-Yard was sad
loss TO the Government Had the place been
properly reinforced it could have been held,
aud. with Fortress Monroe in our possession,
would have been an important point for the
movements of our army.
The work of destruction having been accom-
plished the force was recalled, and the Pawnee,
having in tow the Cumberland, returned to
Fortress Monroe. The Sd and 4th Mass. were
now settled in the Fortress. Daily drills were
held work on the Notifications was begun
old guns were replaced by those of more i'm
proved patterns; the storehouses were filled
with provisions, and the old Fortress was, in
fact, made impregnable by land or sea. The
most intimate relations existed between the
Regular and volunteer troops-the Regulars
doing all in their power to teach us the art OF
war.
Soon after the regiment sailed from New
York / was detailed TO act rs Adiutant's clerk,
and retained the position until the end of our
service. The valuable instructions which were
kindly given me by Corp'l Peoples, clerk to the
Regular Post Adjutant, we're of great value TO
me at this time and later i'm the war; Corpl
Peoples was an old veteran, who had been
soldier for D years. So well did he inform me
in every detail of making out reports, etc,
that one morning when / carried the Adju-
tants report TO Col. Phelps's headquarters at
Newport News, was asked by the Colonel If |
had ever been in the Regular Army. lie said
that | made the only correct report that was
made 10 him. i told him that what l had
learned had been obtained while we were at
Fortress Monroe, and with the assistance of
CorpI Peoples May 21, 1861,
GEN. BUTLER ASSUMED COMMAND
Of the Department OF Virginia and North Caro-
lima, with headquarters in the Fortress. and
May %, 1861, the 4th Mass, 9TH n. Y. Ger
man), and Ist Vt, together with section of n
light battery, all under command of Col Phelps,
of lst VT, were the first troops to land and
take possession of Newport News, point that
later in the war was of great Importance to the
Government, and to-day we find il one of the
largest shipping ports in the South. The day
we landed all we found was n broken down
wharf and one building
Under the able supervision Of Lieut. Grebel,
who commanded the u. s. artillery with us, q
long line of esrthworis were constructed to
guard against attack from the land side, Gnd n
number of riHed guns were mounted OH the
embankment facing the James River.
Our men had 10 work hard but they per-
formed their work with will.
Col. Phelps proved TO be an able commander,
and the army lost n valuable officer when. later
in the war he resigned because the Govern
ment would not approve of his arming the col
ored men. His views were only in advance of
the Governments, and would not be accepted.
The force at Newport News was soon strength
ened by the arrival of Col. Rush Hawkins with
his regiment Of Zouaves, and we were now ready
aud well able 10 meet any attack or to make
an advance against the enemy. Col. Bendix's
9TH n. Y. tSteuben Regimcnt) was an un-
1,,E l. 4 "A.
into the country, and always returned with
loss of men, either killed or captured.
The first rebel prisoner captured was one Of
the famous
LOUISIANA TIGERS,
that regiment being with the rebel force en-
camped near Big Bethel. This rebel while out
scouting came upon squad of soldiers who
were quietly eating their Tations and thinking
they were members of his regiment no came
mp 10 them, when to his surprise he found
them TO be Union soldiers of Hawkins's Zou-
ayes, and he was made prisoner. The uni-
form OF the two regiments being SO nearly
alike, the rebel was deceived. The Zouave
boys certainly felt proud when they marched
the first prisoner into camp and presented him
to Gen. Phelps's headquarters.
Gen. Butier having received information
that the enemy at Big Bethel was intending
10 make an attack on our lines at Newport
News, decided to advance on the enemy. As a
result Of this movement the first battle Of the
war was fought after the fall of SUMTER June
10. 1851, and known as the battle of Big Bethel.
Who was the c5usc OF all the blnnders and
failure or the movement / will not say. Ger
tainly there was lack OF cooperation Of GER
tain parties in high command. Truth will not
lay the blame on Brighten. Pierce. / know
some Of the facts. bat will not discuss them Mt
this time.
l. I'll Il. A. Z
movement were made by Gen. Butler June q,
1851. Two cOlumns-ouc from Newport News
and one from Fortress Monroe-were 10 march
and meet at Little Bethel, there TO surprise
aud capture the enemy's outposts, then 10 ad-
vance rapidly on the main force at Big Bethel.
all OF which was hoped b be accomplished by
daylight. The troops from Newport News
were ordered 10 move just after midnight aud
comprised FIVE companies Of the 4th Mass.
under command Of Maj .Whittemore; five COM
pznies OF the lst VT, under Lent.- Col. Wash
burn; 7th n. Y, under Col. Bendix, and a Sec
ton Of U. :. light artillery, under Lient Gre
bel.
This force marched in two divisions. The
first division, under command Of Lieut. Col.
Washburn. comprised the 4th Mass. ist VT.
and one piece of artillery. and left camp about
o'clock a. m, June 10, 1861 followed ia one
hour by the second division. under the COM
mand Of Col. Bendix, and comprised the 7th
n. y. aud one piece OF artillery; Lieut.. Grebel
was with the first division, Corp1 Peoples
with the second division, in command Of the
artillery. Orders were given 10 guard against
loud talking, and the march was indeed a very
quiet one.
The first division reached the York town road
between 3 aud I a. m, and were startled by
THE FIEE or susKErEY
and cannon in our rear. For moment both
officers and men appeared paralyzed, and many
were the white faces seen at that trying mo-
ment.
"What can be tho cause Of the firing in our
rearf Are we cntrapped2" These questions
quickly passed from lip TO lip; but Whatever
the cause. IL was no time 10 ask questions
no time for inactiOn. Col. WashbuFn at once
ordered Capt. Clark's company, of the 4th
Mass, to c0unteF-march and hasten al double
| quick TO the rear, toward the firing, followed
| IN few moments by all the trO0ps
The troops % cooperate from Fortress Mon.
roe were Col. Duryea's 5th aud Col. Townsendi
i Cd n. y, with two mountain howitzers, march
| ing in two divisions. Col Duryea, with hi
! Zouayes. left Camp Hamilton at midnight
! preceded at 10 p IN. by two companies O
/ skirmisherg, under Capts. Bartlett aud Kilpat
| rick. and Col. TOwnsend's regiment, with twt
| howitzeTs, and accompanied by Brig. Gen
| Pierce, left camp an hour later
! Gen. Pierce at a late moment, and afte
! all details bad been made, was ordered b,
4 Gen. Butler 10 take command Of the troops OF
the Yorktown road. Butler aud Pierce wer
Her q fr. s.