Big Bethel, VA June 10 – Outnumbered Confederate troops smashed an attacking Union force here today in the first field battle of the War Between the States. Entrenched Southern troops, backed by artillery, repulsed all attempts made this morning by a Federal force from Ft. Monroe to dislodge them from their fortifications along the Black River.
Early reports indicated that the Federals suffered more than 100 casualties in assaulting the works, while the Confederates lost only 11.
Big Bethel Church, a crossroads and Baptist house of worship eight miles west of Hampton, VA was the scene of today’s battle. Confederate soldiers under the filed command of Col. Danile H. Hill, occupied and strengthened the entrenchments along the Black River last week. Forage parties tangled several times the past few days with Federal outposts.
Early this morning a column of blue uniformed men moved out of Ft. Monroe toward the Confederate works. Another Union column moved toward Big Bethel from Newport News. Poor planning and coordination cost the Northerners their first casualties.
In the darkness before dawn the two columns mistook the other for the enemy and exchanged volleys. When the melee was over several Union soldiers were dead including Maj. Theodore Winthrop, plans officer of the operation.
The first attack on Confederate positions was made at 10 a.m. The Rebels outposts were driven in and the Union force charged the fortifications. Musket and artillery fire shattered the attacking columns.
Two more attempts were made by the Federals to seize the works, one charge mounting the entrenchments, before the attack was called off.
Col. Hill notified Confederate headquarters in Yorktown and Richmond of the “magnificent victory” as the battered Federal column withdrew to Ft. Monroe this afternoon. Hill’s troops, numbering some 1800, were part of the North Carolina contingent that arrived in the area last week. The Union force included brigades from New York and Vermont assigned to Fen. Ben Butler’s command at Ft. Monroe. They numbered 4400
It’ll Never Sell
Washington, D.C. June 17 – A new and revolutionary method of reconnaissance was introduced into warfare today. It has been received with abounding praise and the same degree of skepticism.
Professor T.S.C. Lowe, operating a gas-filled balloon connected by telegraph to the War Department building. was lifted several hundred feet over Washinton this afternoon.
His first wire reported that his point of observation commanded nearly 50 miles in diameter.
Several officials saw an immediate value for this new but unorthodox way of gaining battlefield information through aerial reconnaissance.
One army skeptic, however, had this to say of the new method: “It will never replace the calvary.”
Rails Have Vital Role
Washington, D. C. June 17 – It is becoming more evident each day that the nations modern transportation systems will play a role in the war now looming before the nation. The seizing of key rail heads in West Virginia by Union forces and the Confederates initial occupation of the railroad center at Harper’s Ferry indicate that both sides realize the importance of those routes and facilities.
Today a Union regiment was moved out of Alexandria on the Leesburg Railroad. The train consisted of one passenger car and four flatcars pushed by a locomotive. Fifteen miles out, near the village of Vienna VA, Rebe artillery opened fire on the train. The regiment, the 1st Ohio Infantry, suffered casualties when the Confederate shells destroyed a section of track and several cars were derailed.
The Union troops were soon reorganized and under their commander, Gen. R.C. Schenk, forced the Rebel battery to retire.
A shell from a Confederate gun disconnected the engine from the train during the skirmish and the engineer immediately retired. He returned later with another train and reinforcements. The Confederate troops, it was discovered, were an advanced, South Carolina Battery, which had taken position near Vienna this morning after moving its guns and caissons from Leesburg by the same railroad.
The Federal dead and wounded were evacuated to Washington tonight by train.
Reports from Richmond tell of the arrival daily of troops from the south by rail. Here in Washington, the words “On to Richmond” are scrawled on nearly every troop train that arrives from the north.