The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-03-26

the Confederate capital. Ii was not long
before his anticipations were verified.
Several weeks had been passed in
marching and counter-marching, In
alarms from scouting parties. n in the
usual threatenings which from time to
time linger upon the ragged edge Of bat
tie" before the event itself takes place.
The Confederates now and then made
audacious and unexpected forays almost
within cannon shot of the stronghold on
the Chesapeake by way of keeping the
enemy on the "qui vfve," while the lat
ter was rapidly perfecting his plans for
what he battered himself would be an
easy conquest of the adjacent country.
At length on a bright morning before the
middle OF June, the Federal army In force
advanced by several routes into the open
country. The Confederates with scarcely
one-fourth their numbers prepared to re-
ceive them. Their vigilant and PIX
perielced commander, approaching the
Importance of not exposing his small COM
manC L. the danger of being ~out-fianked
by the superior numbers OF the enemy,
was 'orced to fall back from one position
TO ar other until the enemy had advanced
a col siderable distance from his base or
opera tons. At last a time came when he
Nigh with propriety venture to resist his
furth sr progress. Accordingly and with
inc ruNltt VI HIS OIIlctTS Ht drAfi iiiif
TO mike a stand at a place from which
the approaching Federal column could be
distin ctly seen at the same time that his
own force could not we'll be discovered.
Major George w. Randolph commanded
the two companies OF HowitZers. the only
artillery then present with Magruder's
infantry. The enemy advanced in all the
confidence Of superior numbers and pres
tige Or authority and power. II was on
June IL, 1851, when the head OF the
Federal columns appeared in sight Of the
Confederates, who had hastily thrown
UP a light earthwork near a country
church. Suddenly a flash Of light burst
from among the pines and underground,
The battle had begun. The fire of the
Howitzers was already doing its work.
IL was delivered with such rapidly and
precision that the columns Of the enemy
first staggered, then recoiled and then
rctreated. The infantry at the sane time
opened fire along their lines, but II was
strictly an artillery fight. and the battle
Of Bethel must ever be regarded as a
triumph Of that arm OF the service. n
dolph's little navy pets had proved them
selves more venomous TO the enemy than
even he could have anticipated. The
same little rifled gun that had exhibited
It's capacity for, accurate Workmanship
from The cliffs at Wilton, had pierced the
enemy's column at the first fire, and had
gone rioting in destruction through its
length. The reputation of the Howitzers
was now established; and their gifted
and exulting founder had lived to witness
the triumph of his original creation.
The defeat OF the Federals at Bethel
church in its effects. is too well-known
TO be dwelt upon here. 1t was received
by them with astounding surprise. They
could scarcely understand how It was
that a few small pieces Of artillery could
have made such havoc and in so short
a time. They insisted that the distin-
guished leader Of the Confederates must
have had with him some Of the trained
veterans who had shared his gallant
career during the Mexican campaigns.
When at last they were assured that the
work had been done by a few young men
fresh from the walks of civil life. their
surprise knew no bounds. The victory
at Bethel was hailed with delight over the
entire South. When the news reached
the first company OF Howitzers, then
separated from their comrades in the
Peninsula by more than a hundred miles,
their JOY was exultant. They were them
selves daily threatened by overwhelming
numbers Of the enemy, but in the light
OF this brilliant achievement they felt the
encouragement consequent upon such sue
cess, and were Inspired by the fame their
comrades had Just achieved. Immediately
after the action at Bethel. Major Ram
dOlph was promoted TO colonel Of artillery.
and on June Il. 1881, General Magruder
used the following words in his general
order: Il annot omit to again bring to
the notice of the general commanding
In chief, the valuable services, etc, of the
First North Carolina regiment. and Major
Randolph. of the HowitZer batteries. The
firing OF the Howitzer batteries was
perfect as the bearing Of the men, which
was entirely What 1t ought to have been"
The Second and Third companies re-
NAMED with General Magruder until the
following year, taking part In the ardu-
Gus n remarkable campaign, by which
that officer succeeded in holding his posi-
ton in the Peninsula against the i~ncreas-
ing forces of the enemy until the arrival
of General Joseph e. JohDston's army
In April, 1Sf2.
Up to this time his defensive operations
might. with propriety. be likened TO those
Of another peninsula, far more renowned
in the annals of war. but, none the less,
successful, so far as the results were con-
cerned. When Magruder drew in his lines
behind the water licenses OF that marshy
region and held the enemy back from
Richmond against the great odds
against him, he but repeated the opera
tions OF Sir Arthur Wellesley. when, in
the face of Napoleon's overwhelming
forces, he retired behind the lines of
Torres Nedras, and so saved his base of
operations at the Portuguese capital IN
1893.
In April, 1862. General Magruder was
reinforced by General Joseph Il. John
ston's army, who, at the same time, SUI
perseded him in command. The First
company OF HowitZers came down with
Johnston's army from Loudoun county,
where they had been since August, 1861.
They had, therefore, the honor OF partici-
pating in some degree with their COM
rades Of the Second and Third companies
In the defense OF the lines originally
formed by Magruder, who was still In
command when they arrived.
We nave here traced in a hurried way
the origin, rise and development OF the
Howitzer battalion. To other and more
| competent hands we cav the task OF
writing a full account Of its memorable
| record. When this shall be done. it is not
| going too far TO say that its historic re-
nown, beginning at the battle Of Bethel,
and increasing with each campaign of the
war in Virginia, will rival the career OF
the most distinguished military corps OF
modern times. That much OF this was
| due to its original founder will appear by
the following extract Of General Magru-
der's report Of it's services under him:
LEES FARM. May 3, 1852.
1.-THE steadiness and heroism OF the
officers and men of the artillery of the
Peninsula, both heavy and light, were
very conspicuous during the attack or
the 5th of April, and throughout tbs
| siege which followed. The high state OF
efficiency Of this arm OF the service was
- " d..