The National tribune., 1909-08-26

men, encouraging thSn 10 .ttidck a
rebel fortifieation at Big Bethel
The announcement of the death of
Theodore Winthrop was received with
the most sincere grief, not only in the
North, but also by his many admirers
in the South, some among those he was
assaulting. These rescued from the SOL
diers who had looted his person MS
watch and other belongings and sent
them with the body to his friends. About
II years ago 1 met in North Carolina
an officer of the 1st n. c., who was per-
sonaIly a witness of the killing of Maj.
Winthrop, and whose statement / offer
as a matter of historical accuracy. The
so-calied battle of Big Bethel was not
battle, hardly a skirmish, SO inexperi-
enced were the officers and men on both
sides that no advantage was taken of
blunders on either side Col. d. II. Hill
had command of the LIST N. c. and Ran
doiph's Battery and company of Vir-
ginia militia mounted, and was sta
toned at a church called Big Bethel
Here he threw up line of breastworks
only two or three feet high. Gen. Ma
gruder. who was in command of the
Peninsula, had headquarters at York
town, and had come to Big Bethel the
Sunday before the attack was made
He and Col. Hill were not on friendly
terms, and their intercourse was con-
fined to official matters. On this day
they entered the church together to
listen to the preaching of a Baptist
clergyman, who had come from the
vicinity of Fortress Monroe-from
Hampton-snd who gave information
of the surprise intended by Gen. Butler,
and of the number of troops to be sent
and of the line Of march.
The ToiIsome Advance.
After the preacher had ended his
services Col Hill. who was a church
member, made some remarks to the SOL
diers, with whom the church was
crowded, assuring them that God was
on our side, protecting us, as they were
defending their homes, their wives,
their sweethearts, against invading van
dals. Magruder followed, saying very
briefly that God was always found on
the side of those who kept their powder
dry and took the best aim at their enc
mics. The preacher having disclosed
the purpose of Gen. Butler TO make a
night march and a surprise of the rebel
camp at daylight, Gen. Magruder or
dered Col. Hill to put his regiment in
molten ct IL midnight and move for
ward to surprise the enemy on their
march.
The night was dark and the march
slow. About or O'Clock in the MORN
ing woman in an old-fashioned carry
all met the troops, and told the officers
that the Yankees were close at hand.
and that there were 10000 of them,
and that they were killing and plumber
ing; that they had taken her husband:
she had escaped. and was fleeing up
country for safety. As the troops were
in the open country Col Hill objected
to meeting the enemy there, as they
could discover his weakness, surround
and capture him Magruder hesitated
to order an advance against the judg-
- (NCl I'd p1n n
(afterward Secretary of War for the
Confederate States) was called on for
hts opinion. He sided with Col. Hill,
and the regiment was ordered back to
camp. to the defensive works they had
left.
In the words of my informant: I'VE
had hardly settled ourselves in our old
places when we heard firing on our
right and supposed 1t was an attack on
some of Magruder's outlying picket sta
fion of which we had no knowledge, and
did not realize at that time that our
enemies were shooting each other and
saving our powder and lead, but we
were nerying ourselves UP to the time
when we would be attacked. which oc-
CURED about in the morning, when
DURYEA'S Zouaves came marching up
the road in splendid order. Gen. Ma
gruder had a cannon run out on the
road. and, aiming il himself, sent a ball
down the road. scattering the Zouaves
who then deployed, came forward, de-
liyered a volley. and at the same time
received one from our side. AS soon as
they fred they all fell on their backs
and commenced to load according TO
their tactics felt gratified and amazed
at the accuracy of aim of our men, who
I supposed had killed or MANNED the
entire attacking force, for these Zou-
ares were the only troops that came
within firing distance on our right. Had
they been supported as they should
have been they would have captured
CDR entire force Duryea was supported
erly by Greble's Battery. and after the
] first fire Grebie's men, most all of them