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Namesake
Big Bethel - A former Confederate outpost on the James River, 60 miles southeast of Richmond, Virginia. One column from Fort Hamilton and one from Newport News were to meet and attack
both Little and Big Bethel, a total force of about 3,500 men. General Butler had taken the precaution against errors when by giving the watchword "Boston" to be shouted if unrecognized soldiers
should approach. Colonel Bendix of the New York 7th Regiment never received this information. Several detachments were approaching the point designated as the meeting place, when Townsend's
3rd New York Regiment and Bendix's troops approached each other, in a dense wooded area. Bendix, supposing them to be the enemy, opened fire with musketry and artillery. The watchword was
shouted, but Bendix, being ignorant of its significance, continued to fire. When engagement with the alerted Confederate troops did take place, Union soldiers were sent scattering for cover
by accurate cannon fire from Confederate positions.
Image - Confederate Earth-Works at Big Bethel, Robert Underwood Johnson and Clarence Clough Buel (book authors) via Wikimedia Commons
Map- Engagement at Big Bethel Church, June_10, 1861, North Carolina Museum of History, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons |
Tommy Trampp
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