The National tribune., 1907-12-26
IN THE DISMAL SWAMP.
Revisiting the BattIefcIds of the Roam
eke Countrywide Gallant Charge OF
the Hawkins ZOuaNes.

the Hawkins ZOuaves.
Editor National Tribune: Ever since
the war Lieut.. Thoaaas L. Bartholo-
NEW. of Bridgeport, Conn, now Major
on Gov Woodruff's staff, and as Such
Treasurer of the Soldiers Home ana
Hospital of Connecticut, and l had been
planning to visit the battlefield of Cam
den or South Mills n. c., fought April
19, 1862. where I had saved his life
during the battle, and for which act
had received the Congressional Medal
of Honor for most distinguished gal
lantry in voluntarily, under a heavy
fire going to the aid of Il wounded OH
GER" On the 18th day of November,
1907, more than As years after the bat
tle we started with his son, Frank A
Bartholomew, now 43 years of age. up
on six days trip, our objective point
being this battlefield. On the night or
the 18th Lieut.. Bartholomew and his
son left Bridgeport. remained at my
house, and next morning, at cape
Charles we took the steamer Pennsyl-
vania for Fortress Monroe, crossing
Chesapeake Bay. a sail of about "a
miles. The old fort is no longer as it
was during the war, and is now train
ing school for artillery practice. We
passed the Exposition Grounds, which
were brilliantly Illuminated, and which
are on Sewelfs Point, where shots We're
exchanged during the war between the
Union and Confederate batteries. and
over TO Norfolk, passing the old Rip
Raps, where SO many of our soldiers
were confined. Next morning we board
ed a train of the Norfolk & Southern
Railroad A ride of so miles brought
us to the little village of Camden, which
is the Countyseat Of Camden County.
Here we hired team, and We're driv-
en- to the battlefield by typical South
ern darky.
Battle of South Mills.
After passing the old store from
which the Confederate cavalry pickets
fed at our approach to warn their COM
rades, and about an eighth of mile
up the road, a turn to the right is
taken, and on the left of the road still
stands the old red brick court house
past which we marched on the day of
the battle. 1t is wonderful what
changes have occurred since that time.
A new generation has sprung UP, and
the battle is scarcely mentioned. the
little village of South Mills is situated
on the Dismal Swamp Canal, about 13
miles from Camden. The battlefield is
about two miles south of the village,
where on the day of the battle the
enemy made a stand and disputed our
further march. A brief sketch of the
cause of this battle may not prove un-
little is said of it in history. and yet It
proved of vast importance to the Union.
being far-reaching in its result. The
capture of Hatteras Inlet and Roanoke
Island by the army and navy under
Gen. Burnside and Admiral Goldsbor-
ough gave the Union forces command
of Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds
opened an easy communication with
Hampton Roads, and was therefore a
perpetual menace to the city of Nor
folk, occupied by the enemy. The oc-
cupation of Roanoke Island also re-
suited in the capture of Newbern, Fort
Macon and Beaufort, opened up the
whole coast of North Carolina and put
stop TO blockade running, particular
iy at Wilmington, where the enemy
loaded their vessels with cotton, sent it
10 England, receiving money and muni-
tions of war in return. About the 18th
of April, 1862, an expedition was fitted
out from Roanoke Island under the
respective commands of Gen. Jesse L.
Reno and Col. Rush c. Hawkins Its
object was to destroy the Culpeper and
Northwest locks near and above the
little village of South Mills, at the
southern terminus of the Dismal Swamp
Canal where the canal empties into the
Pasaquotank River, about 80 miles
south of and in the rear Of Norfolk, in
order to prevent the Confederate iron
CLAUS coming lllFu Jne cdidi from tndL
city 10 disturb our troops operating in
North Carolina. and also to convey the
idea that the entire Burnside expedition
was marching upon Norfolk. On April
16, 1862, the Zouaves boarded the
steamer Ocean Wave, and waded ashore
in the early morning at place called
Chantilly, in the Pasaquotank River
opposite Cobb's Point and about mid
way between Elizabeth City and Cam
den.
Lieut. Bartholomew was then the
Second Lieutenant of Co. B, 9Th y. Y.
to which company / was attached as a
drummer boy, being then about - years
of age. The entire Union forces under
the immediate command of Gen. Reno
met the enemy, commanded by Gen.
A. r. Wright, who had been sent there
by Gen. Huger, in command Of Nor
folk. about two miles south of South
Mills. where the battle took place. The
Confederates call this battle Sawyer's
Lane, on account of the lane where
they took the stand to dispute our
further passage. Space will not per
init nae TO go into the details Of this