Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-08-25
T~FHE
civil WAR
fifty YEARS AGO TODAY
-T~FKE
Ine TO- 1861 An Expedition Planned by Gen. Butler Against
Bio Bethel Va Through Series of Bunders Resulted Dis
astrouy for the Federal Troops

gerating the force of the enemy were
received and credited without question.
According to General Butler. the mi
llitia general commanding did not know
what to do with his troops when he
had them on the field and did not fol-
low the simple orders given him.
General Butler was disguised with
the failure of the expedition, his own
plan, and was free in his criticism OF
the Officers involved. He insisted that
if the men had only sat down and
eaten lunch, the mere fact of then
staying on the ground would have been
enough to frighten the Confederates
away"
The incident made a painful impress
sion throughout the north. 1t could
not be believed that. in this. the first
clash with the enemy on Virginia SOIL
the northern men ran away in fear \
| Analysis ofNone of the causes Of their
panic led to the point of the trouble.
Two columns of troops were TO marcn
at night by different roads toN com
mon point, concentrate and attack al
daylight They were to know each 9TH
or by a password. BY somebody's err
ror one regiment at least had not been
told what this password was. Therefore
They mistoolx friends for enemies ana
fired.
The absence of a clear understanding
about this important detail could Well
lead to the train of mischances Whlch
followed.
PLAN OF THE EXPEDITION.
on the road from HAMPTON up the
|, aninsula toward Yorktown there were
! two churches. Little Bethel and Big
Bethel, the first about eight miles dls-
liant from both Hampton and Newport
News. and the second some three miles
farther on.
Al Little Bethel there had been for
fsome time Confederate outpost from
(which. according to General Butler, hao
come night attacks on federal pickets,
raids into the neighborhood Of Han1p-
lion and Newport News and the capture
J of unionists and Of their slaves, the
latter to be used in constructing the
] confederate works at yorktown ana
WILLIAMSBURG.
At Big Bethel was cohsioers'Ole
force of Confederate troops VINO t"ere
fcpnstruc ting outworks OF strelsI III ~
Ihyaak mn both of the posts and destroy
lfhe two churchesgwas the purpose OF an
lexpedition which, General putler ORDERED
sent out from the two camps IN inc
early morning of Monday, june lO.
From camp Hamilton, at Hampton
/ the Fifth New York, Col. A. Durysa :
lzouave regiment. was start flrs1' anu
lby detour reach the road IN the rear
4of- Little Bethel, followed by Col fred
ericl6 rTownsend,s Third New YORK WHICH
should support him.
From Camp Butler at Newport News
a battalion under Lieut.. Col. P. T. Wash
burn, of the First Vermont was to make
a demonstration upon little Bethel from
Bendix, and the Seventh New YORK (not
Il se noted Seventh, but q volunteer Or
ganization) and two field pieces VINO
/ al Trtatx ND "a r
q fork in the ro;td about ore and hat
miles from Little Bethel sG4
Little Bethel disposed of, the troops
were>to go to Big Bethel and break up
/ the force there The general command
of the expedition was given to Gen. Eb
lenezer w Pierce, of Massach usetts, 'Wro
had recently Joined the forces under
General Butler
UNEXPECTED DISASTER.
j Every precaution. which might insure
the success aof the expedition seemed to
have been taken. Patrols were to be
put out the night before to prevent arl'I
information getting to the enemy. How
litzers were to be used, with detaah.
ment of United Staes artillery to work
them, and there were rifles for the best
marksmen. Planks and beams were sert
along to repair a bridge on the way.
The attack was timed for Ndaybredk.
and that no mistake might be made or
ders were given theta-the men should
shout the watchYord Boston before
attacking Both parties were to wear
white badgesN or rags on their arms,
that they might be distinguished.
All began well. Colonel DURYEA'S reg
iment was ferried over Hampton creek
lat 1920, $50 strong, and started on it's
way TO get in the rear Of the Confeder-
ates. Two hours later Colonel Town
sends force of $50 and the howitzers fol-
lowed it, accompanied by General Pierce
and staff by 5. o'clock they had cross
ED Newmarket bridge and were nearing
Little Bethel.
General Pierce. his staff and the hQwitz-
ers were leading. I'VE discovered" he
wrote in his report. "a large body Of men
by the roadside who appeared 10 be
emerging from the woods and taking up
their position on the road, and, believing
them 10 be friends we were passing
on when we suddenly discovered they
Colonel Bendix stated subsequently that
they saw what they supposed to be cav
were occupying the road with a field
piece.
1--WE were Immediately saluted with
volley from their small arms and dis
charge from this field piece. quickly fol-
lowed by an indisoriminate fire from Col
onel Townsend's regiment. rpde back.
ordered them to charge bayonets and
shout Boston Colonel Townsend's men
fell to the right and left OF the road in
confusion"
CONTEMPORARIES READY.
The attacking force was Col. Bendix's
German regiment. which was to have
Joined the Fifth there at the fork.
airy, instead of the infantry they were
looking for. and that as he directed the
gunner to load the men began firing.
The result of the mistake was p killed
andNwounded and the failure of the plan
ned surprise. Colonel Duryea's and Lieu
tenant Colonel Washburn's commands,
which were i'm advance. came hurrying
back at the sound of firing In their rear,
and when the mistake was discovered
and the advance begun again Little
Bethel was empty of Confederates and
the force at Big Bethel was ready and
waiting for the attack.
This force consisted OF the First North
Cnrolina infantry three companies of the
Third Virginia regiment, a battalion of
Virginians, including both infantry and
cavalry and a battery of six howitzers
and one rifled PARROT gum the whole
amounting to some 400 men, and CON-