Battle of Big Bethel

As Confederates here tried to burn the Zouaves out of the buildings in front, the last act of the Battle of Big Bethel unfolded across the creek to the left. The New England Battalion, made up of the 1st Vermont, 4th Massachusetts, and 7th New York Infantry, found a ford and crossed the creek to attack the left flank of the main Confederate redoubt at Big Bethel Church. Maj. Theodore Winthrop, Gen. Benjamin F. Butler's military secretary, led the 7th New York forward and rushed the Confederate line. Effective musket fire from the 1st North Carolina Infantry forced the Federals back, and when Winthrop tried to rally the wavering soldiers for another assault, he was killed. The New Yorkers fell back across the creek. At about the same time, Lt. John Greble of the 2nd U.S. Artillery was killed while fighting his guns. Greble was the first Regular Army officer and West Point graduate killed during the war. The battle ended, and the Federals began their march back to Fort Monroe.

Hampton, Virginia · United States