I r* 1687 3(D - ) 
 
 Duke University Libraries 
 
 The battle of B 
 Conf Pam #498 
 
State Convention.] [June, 1861, 
 
 'Jrdered to be Printed. 
 
 Syme & Hall, Printers to the Convention. 
 
 THE. BATTI.E OF BETHEL CHURuH. 
 
 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, / 
 Executive Department, Rale'.gh, June 21, 18G1 . \ 
 
 Ti> ilie Honorable the Presidenl 
 
 and Members of the Convention : 
 Gentlemen :— Herewith I transmit a dispatch from Gen. 
 D. H. Hill, j!;ivinp; furtlior interesting details of the Battlf 
 of Bethel Church. 
 
 Too niucli praise cannot be accorded to our brave soldiers 
 who v.orc engaged in that action. I will at an early day. 
 as for as my power extends, manifest the public approval oi' 
 their gallantry and good conduct upon the occasion referred 
 to l)y suitable promotions. 
 
 Respectfully submitted , 
 
 JOHN W. ELLIS. 
 
 OFFICIAL REPORT OF COL. HILL. 
 Hon. John W. Ellis, Governor of North Carolina: 
 
 SiFv — I have the honor to report that in obedience to orders 
 from the Colonel commanding, I marched on the 6th inst,, 
 with my Kegiment and four pieces of Maj. Randolph's bat- 
 tery, from Yorktown, on the Hampton Road, to Betho] 
 Church, nine miles from Hampton. 
 
 We reached there, after dark, on a wet iii.<j,ht, and slej.l 
 without tenls. Early on the morning ol" the 7th. I made a 
 
2 State Convention. [June, 
 
 iroconnoissance of the ground preparatory to fortifying. 1 
 found a branch of Back River in our front and encircling our 
 right flank. On our left was a dense and almost impassable 
 wood, except about 150 yards of old field . The breadth of the 
 road, a thick wood, and a narrow cultivated field covered 
 our rear. The nature of the ground determined me to make 
 an enclosed work, and I liad the invaluable aid of Lieut. 
 Col. Lee, of my regiment, in its plan and construction. Our 
 position had the inherent defect of being commanded by an 
 immense field immediately in front of it, upon which the 
 masses of the enemy might be readily deployed . Presuming 
 that an attempt would be made to carry the bridge across the 
 stream, a battery was made for its especial protection, and 
 Maj. Randolph placed his guns so as to sweep all the ap- 
 proaches to it. The occupation of two commanding emi- 
 nences beyond the creek and on our right, would have great- 
 ly strengthened our position, but our force was too weak to 
 admit of the occupation of more than one of them . A battery 
 was laid out on it for one of Randolph's Howitzers. We 
 had only 25 spades, 6 axes, and Spicks, but these were busi- 
 ly plied all day and night of the 7thj and all day on the 8th. 
 On the afternoon of the 8th I learned that a marauding par- 
 ty of the enemy was in a few miles of us, I called for a 
 party of 34 men to drive tliem back. Lieut. Roberts, of F 
 company of my regiment, promptly responded, and in five 
 minutes his command was en route. I detached Maj. Ran- 
 dolph, with one howitzer to join him, and Lieut. Col. Lee, 
 1st Regiment North Corolina Volunteers, requested and was 
 granted permission to take command of the whole. After 
 a march of five miles, they came across the marauders, busy 
 over the spoils of a plundered house. A shell soon put the 
 plunderers to flight, and they were chased over New Market 
 Bridge, where our little force was halted in consequence of 
 the presence of a considerable body stationed on the other 
 side. Lieut. Col. Lee brought in one prisoner. How many 
 of the enemy were killed and wounded is not known. None 
 of our command was hurt. fSoon after Lieut, Col. Lee left. 
 
1861.] State r,oNVENTiox. 3 
 
 ii citizen caine dashing 'ni with the inlbrmatiou that 75 ma- 
 rauders were on the Back Elver road. I called for Capt. 
 McDoweirs Comp^'ny E, of the 1st Regiment North Carolina 
 Volunteers, and in three minutes, it was in hot pursuit. 
 Lieut. West, of the Howitzer Battalion, with one piece, was 
 detached to join them, and Maj. Lane, of my regiment, 
 volunteered to assume command of the whole. After a 
 weary m3\cli, tliey encountered, dispersed and chased the 
 wretchy'j over New Market hridge — this being the second 
 race o;n the same day over the New Market course, in hotli 
 of '^vhich the Yankees reached the goal first. Major Lane 
 'jrought in one prisoner. Reliable citizens reported that two 
 cart loads and one buggy load of wounded were brought 
 into Hampton . We had not a single man killed or wounded. 
 Col. Magruder came up that evening and assumed command. 
 On Sunday the ninth, a fresh supply of tools enabled us to 
 put more men to work, and when not engaged in religious du- 
 ties, the men worked vigorously on the entrenchments. We 
 were aroused at 3 o'clock on Monday morning, for a general 
 advance upon the enemy, and marched 3^ miles, when we learn- 
 ed that the foe in large force was within a few hundred yards 
 of us. We fell back hastily upon our entrenchments, and await- 
 ed the arrival of our invaders. Lieut. Col. Stewart, of the 3d 
 Va. Regiment, having joined us with]some 180 men, was station- 
 ed on the hill on the extreme right, beyond the creek, and com- 
 pany G, of my Regiment, was also thrown over the stream to 
 protect the Howitzer under Capt. Brown. Capt. Bridgcrs, of 
 company A, 1st N. C. regiment, took post in the dense wood 
 beyond and to tlie left of the bridge. Maj. Montague, with 
 three companies of his battalion, was ordered up from the rear, 
 and took post on our right, beginning at the Church and ex- 
 tending along the entire front on that side. This fine body of 
 men, and the gallant command of Lieut. Col. Stewart, worked 
 with great rapidity, and in an hour had constructed temporary 
 shelters against the enemy's fire. Just at 9 o'clock, A. M., the 
 heavy column.s of the enemy were seen approaching rapidly and 
 
 PR'^^S? 
 
4 State ConvI'^tion. [June, 
 
 in good order, but Avhen Randolph ojicncd upon tlicni at 9.J, 
 tlieir organization was completely brokt '^ up. The enemy 
 promptly replied with his Artillery, firing .briskly and Avildly. 
 He made an attempt at deployment on our i\'^ht of the road, 
 under cover of some houses and a paling. TheJ were, howev- 
 er, promptly driven back by our Artillery, a Virgii.'ia company, 
 (the Life Guards,) and companies B, C, and G, of my Regiment. 
 The enemy made no deploy^nent ivitMn musketry ran^e during 
 the day, except under cover of woods, fences or palings. Under 
 cover of the trees, he moved a strong column to an old /ord 
 some f of a mile below where I had placed a picket of some 4v^ 
 men. Col. Magruder pent Capt. Worth's company, of Monta- 
 gue's command, with one howitzer under Sergeant Crane, to 
 drive brack this column, which was done by a single shot from 
 the howitzer. Before thii^, a priming wire had been broken in 
 the vent of the howitzer commanded i;)y Capt. Brown, and ren- 
 dered it useless. A force estimated at 1500 was now attempt- 
 ing to outflank us and get in the rear of Lieut. Col. Stewart's 
 small command. He was accordingly directed to fall back, and 
 the Avhole of our advanced troops were withdrawn. At this 
 critical moment, I directed Lieut. Col. Lee to call Capt. Brid- 
 gers out of the swamp and order him to re-occupy the nearest ad- 
 vanced Avork, and I ordered Capt. Ross' company, 1st Regi- 
 ment N. C. Volunteers, to the support of Lieut. Col. Stewart. 
 These two Captains, with their companies, crossed over to Ran- 
 dolph's battery under a most heavy fire, in the most gallant 
 manner. As Lieut. Col. Stewart had withdrawn, Capt. Ross was 
 detained at the Church near Randolph's battery. Capt. Brid- 
 gers, hoAvever, crossed over and drove the Zouaves out of the 
 advanced Howitzer Battery and re-occupied it. It is impossi- 
 ble to over-estimate this service. It decided the action in 
 our favor. In obedience to orders from Col. Magruder, 
 Lieut. Col. Stewart rushed back, and spite of the presence 
 of a foe ten times his superior in numbers, resumed, iu the 
 most heroic manner, possession of his entrenchments. A 
 fresh howitzer was carried agross and placed in the Battery. 
 
1861.] State Convention. 5 
 
 and Capt. Avery, of Company G, was directed to detoud it 
 at all hazards. We were now as secure as at the besinnins: 
 of the fight, and as yet had no man killed. The enemy, 
 finding himself foiled on our right flank, next made his 
 final demonstration on our left. A strong column, supposed 
 to consist of volunteers from ditferent regiments, and under 
 command of Capt. Wintlirop, Aid-de-camp to Gen. Butler, 
 crossed over the creek and appeared at the angle on our left. 
 Those in advance had put on our distinctive badge of a 
 white band around the cap, and they cried out repeatedly, 
 '' don't fire." This ruse was practised to enable the whole 
 column to get over the creek and form in good order. They 
 now began to cheer most lustily, thinking that our work was 
 open at the gorge and that they could get in by a sudden 
 rush. Companies B and C, however, soon dispelled the il- 
 lusion by a cool, deliberate and well directed fire. Col. Ma- 
 gruder sent over portions of G, C and H companies of my 
 regiment to our support. And now began as cool firing on 
 our side as ever was witnessed. 
 
 The three field ofiicers of the regiment wore present, and 
 hnt ?i>w shots were fired without their permission, the men 
 repeatedly saying, " may I fire, I think I can bring him." 
 They were aU iu high[glee, and seemed to enjoy it as much 
 as boys do rabt'it shooting. Capt. Wintlirop, Avhile most 
 gallantly urging o;.i his men, was shot through the heart, 
 when all rushed back with the utmost precipitation. So 
 far as my observation extended, he was the only one of the 
 enemy wlio exhibited eveii an approximation to courage du- 
 ring the day. The fight nt the angle lasted but twenty 
 minutes ; it comjiletely disconvagedthe enemy, and he made 
 no further eftbrt at assault. The house, in front, which had 
 served as a hiding place for the enciuy, was now fired by a 
 shell from a Howitzer, and the outhouses and palings were 
 soon in a blaze. As all shelter was now taken from him, 
 the enemy called in his troops and started back for Hampton. 
 As he had left sharp shooters behind him in ti^e woods on 
 our left, the dragoons could not advance until Ca^)t, Hoke, 
 
6 vState Convention. 1861.] 
 
 of Company K, 1st Regiment North Carolina Volunteers, 
 had thoroughly explored them. When he gave the assur- 
 ance of the wood being clear, Capt. Douthatt, with some 100 
 Dragoons, pursued. The enemy, in his haste, threw away 
 hundreds of canteens, haversaclcs, overcoats, &c. ; even the 
 dead were thrown out of the wagons. Tlie pursuit soon 
 became a chase, and for the tliird time the enemy won the race 
 over the New Market course. The bridge Avas torn up be- 
 hind him, and our dragoons returned to camp. 
 
 There were not quite 800 of my regiment engaged iu the 
 fight, and not one-half of these drew a trigger during the fight. 
 All remained manfully at the post assigned, and not a man in 
 the regiment behaved badly. The companies not engaged were 
 as much exposed and rendered equal services with those partici- 
 pating in the fight- Tliey deserve equally the thanks of the 
 country. In fact it is the most trying ordeal to which soldiers 
 can be subjected to receive a fire which their orders forbid them 
 to return. Had a single company left its post, our works would 
 have been exposed. And the constancy and discipline of the 
 unengaged companies cannot be too highly commended. 
 
 A detachment of fifteen cadets of the N. C. Military Insti- 
 tute defended the Howitzer under Lt. Hudnell, and ^.cted with 
 great coolness and determination. 
 
 I cannot speak in too high terms of my two field ofiicers, Lt. 
 Col. Lee and Maj. Lane. Their services have been of the high- 
 est importance since taking the field to the present moment. — 
 My thanks are due in an especial manner to Lieut. J. M. Poteat, 
 Adjutant, and Lieut. J. W. Ratchford, Aid, both of them Cadets 
 of the N. C. Military Institute, at Charlotte. The latter re- 
 ceived a contusion in the foreboad from a grape-shot, which 
 nearly cost him his life. 
 
 Capt. Bridgers, Company A; Lieut. Owens, commanding 
 company B ; Capt. Ross, company C ; Capt. Ashe, company, D; 
 Capt. ■McDowell, company E ; Capt. Starr, company F ; Capt. 
 Avery, company G ; Capt. Iluske, company H ; Lieut. Whita- 
 ker, commanding company I ; and Capt. Hoke, company K ; 
 displayed great coolness, judgment and efficiency. Lieut. Greg. 
 
1861.] State Conventiox. 7 
 
 ory is highly spoken of by Maj. Lane for soldierly bearing on 
 the 8th. Lieuts. Cook and IMcKethan, company H, crossed over 
 under a heavy fire to the assistance of the troops attached on 
 the left, so also did Lieut. Cohen, company C. Lieut. Hoke 
 has shown great zeal, energy and judgment as an engineer 
 officer on various occasions. 
 
 Corporal Geo. Williams, company A : privates Henry L. 
 Wyatt, Thomas Fallan, John Thorpe, company A, volunteered 
 to burn the house which concealed the enemy. They behaved 
 with great gallantry. Wyatt Avas killed, nnd the other three 
 were recalled. 
 
 Sergeant Thomas J. Stewart, company A, and private Wm. 
 McDowell, company A, reconnoitercd the position of the enemy, 
 and went far in advance of our troops. Private J. W. Potts, of 
 company B, is especially mentioned by his company commander. 
 So arc C. L. Watt, company C ; W. IL McDadc, company D ; 
 Sergeant J. M. Young, company E ; Corporal John Dingier, 
 company E ; privates G. H. A. Adams, company E ; R, V. 
 Gudger, company E ; G. W. Worlcy, company E ; John C. 
 Weight, company E ; T. T. Little, company E ; J. F. Jenkins, 
 company E ; R. W. Steadman, company F ; M. E. Dye, com- 
 pany F; H. E. Benton, company F ; J. B. Smith, company F ; 
 G. W. Buham, company 11; James C McRao, company H. 
 
 CASUALTIES. 
 
 Private Henry h. Wyatt, company A, mortally wounded; Lt. 
 J. W. Ratchford, contusion ; privates Council Rodgers, and 
 Chas. Williams, company A, Avoundcd severely ; private S. Pat- 
 terson, company D, slightly wounded ; private William White, 
 company K, wounded ; private Peter Potoat, company G, slight* 
 ly wounded. 
 
 I cannot close this too elaborate report without speaking in 
 the highest terms of admiration of the Howitzer Battallion, and 
 its most accomplished commander, Maj. Randolph. He has no 
 superior as an artillerist in any country, and his men displayed 
 the utmost skill and coolness. The left Howitzer, under Lieut. 
 Hudnell, being nearest my works, came under my special notice. 
 
8 State Convention. [June, 1801. 
 
 The names of those at it are as folloAVS : 
 
 Lieut. Hudnell, commanding, -wounded; Sergeant S. 13. Hugh, 
 es, S. II. Tendleton, R. B. Pleasants, W. M. Caldwell, G. 
 AV. Hobson, Wm. McCarthy, II. C. Shook, Avounded ; L. W. Tim- 
 berlake, G. P. Hughes, John AYorth, Avounded ; D. B. Clark. 
 
 Permit me, in conclusion, to paya well deserved compliment to 
 the first Regiment N. C. A^olunteers. Their patience under 
 trial, perseverance under toil, and courage under fire, have sel- 
 dom been surpassed by veteran troops. After \Yorking night 
 and day, sometimes without tents and cooking utensils, a mur- 
 mur has never escaped them to my knowledge. They have done 
 a large portion of the work on the intrenchuients at Yorktown, 
 as well as those at Bethel. Had all the Regiments in the field 
 worked with the same spirit, there would not be an assailable 
 point in Virginia. After the battle they shook hands affection- 
 ately with the spades, calling thera clover follows and good 
 friends. The men are influenced by liigh moral and religious 
 sentiments ; and their conduct has furnished another example 
 of the great truth, ihat he who fears God will ever do his duty 
 to his countr3\ 
 
 The Confederates had in all about 1200 men in the action. — 
 The enemy had the regiments of Col. Duryea (Zouaves) Col. 
 Carr, Col. Allen, Cel. Benedick and Col. Wardrop, (Massachu- 
 sett s) from Old Point Comfort, and five companies of Phelps, 
 Regiment from Newport News. We had never more than 800 
 actively engaged at any one time. The Confederate loss was 11 
 wounded ; of those, one mortally. The enemy must have lost 
 some 300. I could not, without great disparagement of their 
 courage, place their loss at a lower figure. It is inconceivable 
 that 5000 men should make so precipitate a retreat Avithout hav- 
 ing sustained at least this much of a reverse. 
 
 Let us devoutly thank the living God for his wonderful inter- 
 position in our favor, and evince our gratitude by the exempia- 
 riness of our lives. 
 
 D. H. HILL, 
 Col., 1st. Reg. N. C. Vs. 
 
peRmalipe* 
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