THE GREAT INSURRECTION: A Conflict with the Rebel Forces at Great Bethel; Thirty of the Federal Troops Killed and One Hundred Wounded; Editorial: The Disaster in Virginia (6/12/1861)

New York Times archives – Times Machine ^ | 6/12/1861

[Homer_J_Simpson]

FORTRESS MONROE, Va., Monday, June 10.

Last night about 2 o'clock quite a large force left camp, under command of Brig.-Gen. PIERCE, with the design of breaking up marauding expeditions on the part of the enemy, for the purpose of running off the negroes and white men to work on their batteries. The forces were transported safely over Hampton Creek in barges manned by the Naval Brigade, under supervision of Lieut. CROSBY, of the frigate Cumberland. The force had proceeded about three miles beyond the creek when they were fired upon by the New-York Seventh Regiment, who had marched down from Newport News, for the purpose of joining in the expedition.

The Seventh was established in a copse of wood at an angle of a road, and their fire was quite destructive. Sergeant CAREY, of Company A, Col. TOWNSEND's Regiment, was killed. Lieut. STONE, of the same Regiment, a sergeant and nine privates, were wounded, some seriously. The fire was returned, and the Seventh fired one charge of grape from a howitzer, which passed over the heads of the troops of the Third, doing no harm.

The precise state of matters was then mutually ascertained, and the forces uniting proceeded towards little Bethel church, five miles from Hampton. There they came upon the advanced guard of the enemy, defeated them and drove them back taking thirty prisoners, including one lieutenant.

Advancing towards Big Bethel, in York county, they came upon the enemy in force, and a sharp engagement ensued, in which the artillery played an important part on both sides.

No details have reached us of the action, and I must await them before I can give further accounts.

Gen. BUTLER was busy keeping open communication with the post.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Free Republic University, Department of History presents U.S. History, 1855-1860: Seminar and Discussion Forum
The American Civil War, as seen through news reports of the time and later historical accounts

First session: November 21, 2015. Last date to add: Sometime in the future.
Reading: Self-assigned. Recommendations made and welcomed.

Posting history, in reverse order

https://www.freerepublic.com/tag/by:homerjsimpson/index?tab=articles

To add this class to or drop it from your schedule notify Admissions and Records (Attn: Homer_J_Simpson) by reply or freepmail.

Link to previous New York Times thread

https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/3966957/posts

[Homer_J_Simpson]

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[Homer_J_Simpson]

The Great Insurrection: Startling Intelligence from Fort Monroe – 2-4
Balloon Service – 4
From Cairo: Anxiety for a Forward Movement – 4
Col. Baker’s California Regiment – 4-5
Editorial: The Disaster in Virginia – 5
Editorial: The Campaign on the Mississippi – 5-6
Editorial: The Question of Gun-Boats – 6-8
Editorial: France and England Decline to Sanction Privateering – 8
Appointment of a Quartermaster General – 8
The Coming French Steamers – 8

[outofsalt]

Our local daily did a nice write up on this battle three days ago. 3-4 miles from my house the area is now Air Force housing and a fresh water reservoir.
https://wydaily.com/local-news/2021/06/09/the-forgotten-engagement-of-the-civil-war-the-battle-of-big-bethel/

[Hieronymus]

The only fire more accurate than incoming enemy fire is incoming friendly fire. (Murphy’s Rules of Combat Ops)

[GreenLanternCorps]

Its notable that a battle with around 50 casualties still merits a mention in The New York Times , that will not remain the case.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Its notable that a battle with around 50 casualties still merits a mention in The New York Times , that will not remain the case.

I wonder if they will print casualty lists. I recall that during WWII they limited it to wounded, dead and missing from New York and neighboring states. Even if they do that during the Civil War they will need to add pages.

[BroJoeK]

“Editorial: The Disaster in Virginia – 5”

I seem to remember that “Beast Butler” earned the sobriquet from Confederates.
This editorial all but calls him that, for incompetently murdering his own troops.

But however stupid, the Beast is still a Democrat and Lincoln needs as much Democrat support as he can get.
So the Beast will be promoted to ever higher levels of incompetcy

[sauropod]

Bkmk

[Pikachu_Dad]

This was the first big land battle of the war in Virginia.

So at this point, that number of casualties is significant.

[Pikachu_Dad]

Some more Kansas News...

“ANOTHER BRIGADIER-GENERAL

Ex-Gov. Stanton, of Kansas, has been commisioned as a Brigadier-General in the United States Army, and has been detailed for duty at New Mexico, where he is to raise two regiments. One of these regiments is to be commanded by Sr. VRAIN, and is to be enlisted from the native New Mexicans; the other regiment is to be composed of Americans, and commanded by KIT CARSON.

The Mounted Rifles and the detachment of the First Cavalry, now on duty at Mexico, are to come home. They are to be replaced by the recruits sent out under Capt. GRANGER. Gen.STATON’S headquarters will be at Santa Fe.”

---

“On January 29, 1861, Kansas is admitted to the Union as free state. It was the 34th state to join the Union. The struggle between pro- and anti-slave forces in Kansas was a major factor in the eruption of the Civil War.”

---

“The first Kansas regiment was called on June 3, 1861, and the seventeenth, the last raised during the Civil War, on July 28, 1864. The entire quota assigned to Kansas was 16,654, and the number raised was 20,097, leaving a surplus of 3,443 to the credit of Kansas. About 1,000 Kansans joined Confederate forces, since a number of people from the nation’s south had settled in Kansas. There are no statistics on those serving the Confederacy, since some joined guerrilla units. Statistics indicate that losses of Kansas regiments killed in battle and from disease are greater per thousand than those of any other State.[citation needed] This led to a 19th-century nickname for Kansas: the “Spartan State”.”

---

“JUNE 20, 1861:

Senator Jim Lane of Kansas is appointed the Commander of the State’s pro-Union Volunteer Militia. His “Redlegs” are being raised to repel pro-Confederate “Missouri Border Ruffians” (pro-secessionists), but the Civil War in Kansas continues the legacy of “Bleeding Kansas” of 1854-59. Both sides degenerate into bands of bushwhackers and marauders prone to rape, pillage and atrocity. “

---

“The 5th Kansas Cavalry was organized at Leavenworth, Kansas, from July 12, 1861 through January 22, 1862. Companies L and M were organized April through July 1862. It was mustered in under the command of Colonel Hamilton P. Johnson.

The regiment was attached to Department of Kansas to June 1862. Unattached, Army of Southwest Missouri, Department of Missouri, to July 1862. District of Eastern Arkansas, Department of Missouri, to December 1862. 2nd Brigade, 3rd Cavalry Division, District of Eastern Arkansas, Department of Missouri, to January 1863. 2nd Brigade, 2nd Cavalry Division, XIII Corps, Army of the Tennessee, to April 1863. 2nd Brigade, District of Eastern Arkansas, Department of Tennessee, to June 1863. Clayton’s Independent Brigade, District of Eastern Arkansas, Department of Tennessee, to August 1863. Clayton’s Cavalry Brigade, Arkansas Expedition, to January 1864. Pine Bluff, Arkansas, VII Corps, Department of Arkansas, to September 1864. 1st Brigade, Cavalry Division, VII Corps, to February 1865. Post St. Charles, VII Corps, to August 1865.

Companies A through H of the 5th Kansas Cavalry mustered out of service at Fort Leavenworth August 11 through December 8, 1864. Companies I and K mustered out on June 22, 1865, at Pine Bluff and Little Rock, Arkansas. Companies L and M were consolidated with the 15th Kansas Cavalry.”

[BroJoeK]

“This was the first big land battle of the war in Virginia.”

I’ve started a running talley, will have more on this when I have time next week.