AUGUST 7,
1861.--The burning of Hampton, Va.
Reports of
Brig. Gen. John B. Magruder, C. S. Army.
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HEADQUARTERS, Bethel, August 9, 1861. On the 6th instant, in the afternoon, I took post with my whole force at Whitney's farm, within a mile of New Market Bridge, which I had rebuilt, the enemy having destroyed it. My force was then placed between the troops at and around Fort Monroe and those in garrison at Newport News. In order to gain exact information of the force and movements of the enemy at Newport News, I had ordered Capt. Jefferson C. Phillips, of the Old Dominion Dragoons, to make a close reconnaissance of the place, which was done by him in his usual gallant and skillful manner. He succeeded in reaching a point far within the inmost pickets of the enemy, and at a distance of about 300 yards from the works, where he remained until daybreak, an hour before which time troops were embarked in a steamer which came to the fort during the same night, but a large number remained behind. He could not ascertain whether this steamer brought troops or not. He, however, induced one of our farmers to visit the fort next day on business, and learned the departure of a Vermont regiment and the arrival of another, Colonel Phelps, of the Vermont regiment, late of the Regular Army, remaining behind in command. Sent also Private Joseph Phillips to reconnoiter the shipping and another part of the work, which he successfully did. He represented two war steamers and a ship so disposed as to take the approaches to the works, which were extremely strong, and garrisoned with twenty-five guns. The next morning I displayed my force within a mile and a half of (Newport News) the work, with the hope of drawing the enemy out, but he remained close within his intrenchments. Disappointed in my expectations that the enemy would give me battle, I moved the left flank to within a mile of Hampton, and there a late copy of a Northern paper, the Tribune, containing an official report of General Butler, commanding at Old Point, to the Federal Secretary of War, was placed in my hands. I have not the report with me, but will forward it by the next mail. In it General Butler announces what his intentions are with respect to Hampton, about one-third of which, however, had been burned by the enemy when they evacuated it. He states in substance that this evacuation was the consequence of the withdrawal of 4,000 of his best troops to go to Washington; that he intended to fortify and make it so strong as to be easily defended by a small number of troops; that he did not know what to do with the many negroes in his possession unless he possessed Hampton; that they were still coming in rapidly; that as their masters had deserted their homes and slaves, he should consider the latter free, and would colonize them at Hampton, the home of most of their owners, where the women could support themselves by attending to the clothes of the soldiers, and the men by working on the fortifications of the town. Having known for some time past that Hampton was the harbor of runaway slaves and traitors, and being under the guns of Fort Monroe, it could not be held by us even if taken, I was decidedly under the impression that it should have been destroyed before; and when I found from the above report its extreme importance to the enemy, and that the town itself would lend great strength to whatever fortifications they might erect around it, I determined to burn it at once. The gentlemen at Hampton, many of whom are in the army under my command, seemed to concur with me as to the propriety of this course. I also hoped that the sight of the conflagration might draw the troops from Newport News at night, and made dispositions accordingly. The Old Dominion Dragoons, under Captain Phillips, one company of cavalry, under Captain Goode, and one company from York and one from Warwick, were selected to burn the town. The former and the two latter of these companies were composed of persons from this portion of the country and many of them from Hampton. To support this party the Fourteenth Regiment, under Colonel Hodges, was detailed, and ordered to take post near Hampton, to defend the party in the town from an attack from an unexpected quarter. New Market Bridge, between Hampton and Newport News, was again taken possession of, and the remainder of the force so disposed as to feel, while-advancing upon, any troops coming from Newport News to the relief of Hampton. Several thousand of the enemy's troops were encamped between Hampton and Fort Monroe, and had a strong picket guard on the bridge, connecting their positions with Hampton. On arriving in town a portion of the two companies of dragoons and the York and Warwick foot proceeded at once to the bridge, and a sharp skirmish ensued between them and the picket, the latter giving way and retreating at the end of half an hour, with some loss on their side; only one man wounded on ours. Notice was then given to the few remaining inhabitants of the place, and those who were aged or infirm were kindly cared for and taken to their friends, who occupied detached houses. The town was then fired in many places and burned to the ground. This detailed operation, carried on within easy range of the guns of Fort Monroe and in the immediate presence of an enemy outside of the work five or six times as strong as the party engaged in it, was executed most skillfully by Captain Phillips, of the Old Dominion Dragoons, ably seconded by Captain Goode, of the Mecklenburg Cavalry, and supported firmly by six companies of the Fourteenth Virginia Regiment, under Colonel Hodges. At about daybreak these troops returned, and after sleeping in camp for some hours the whole force returned and re-occupied Bethel, there not being sufficient fresh water below this place to supply either infantry or cavalry in such large bodies, the streams in that part of the Peninsula being all salt water. The next day thirty wagons were sent to the houses nearest the enemy, under a strong escort, and returned laden with corn and oats. Since then the troops have been engaged in fortifying the position at Bethel. As soon as that is done they will move to Young's Mill, which is a strong position, and fortify that, after which they will return to their respective posts, with the exception of the Fifth North Carolina Regiment, which will be stationed at Mulberry Island, to cover the works now being erected there. The sickness among the troops in the Peninsula is grave, both in extent and character, all diseases taking more or less a typhoid character, and many deaths occurring-- at Yorktown about two a day. Some idea may be formed of its effects when I state that the Fifth North Carolina Regiment, composed of twelve companies and over 1,000 strong, is now less than 400 for duty. Every precaution has been taken and every arrangement will be made to prevent the disease and alleviate its effects, and the health of the troops now is reported as improving. Large numbers of the troops here have been sent across the York River to Gloucester, private families kindly offering to take charge of many of the patients. One or two regiments in Yorktown have remained healthy. They will be permitted to remain in their present encampments, and the rest should be encamped some miles from the works, but toward the enemy, at places supposed to be more healthy. The sickliest season has not yet arrived, and as this is by far the most unhealthy portion of the seat of war, I cannot too earnestly impress upon the authorities the necessity of attending promptly to the requisitions and suggestions of the medical officers as regards the sanitary condition of the troops in this Peninsula. Two hundred barrels of potatoes have arrived and been issued, and also a very seasonable supply of medicines; but as, in addition to the measles, ague and fever, bilious and typhoid fever, symptoms of scurvy are apparent throughout the command, a continued supply of potatoes and other vegetables, which I understand are abundant and very cheap farther South, is essential. Typhoid has been so prevalent and fatal at Jamestown Island as to make the withdrawal of the men from that post necessary. They will be encamped in the immediate vicinity on one of Mr. William Allen's farms, supposed to be more healthy. I have called out a large force of negroes, at considerable expense to the Government, to complete the fortifications upon which our troops have been go laboriously working. The troops can no longer do this work, and I respectfully request that the Quartermaster-General be directed to furnish to the assistant quartermaster-general of this department, Captain Bloomfield, the funds necessary for the payment of the laborers without delay, as a great many of them are free negroes, who have families, who must starve if they are not paid, and to all I promised prompt payment. There are, perhaps, 1,000 now at work on the Peninsula. It is hardly necessary for me to say that I wish the sanitary condition of the troops to be as little known as possible, for obvious reasons. Notwithstanding this state of things, those men who can take the field are in fine spirits, and so keen for an encounter with the.enemy that I believe Newport News would be carried, though it is excessively strong, and garrisoned by troops and supported by a naval force more than equal to my own in numbers. I do not think it can be done, however, without a loss of one-half of our men in killed and wounded. It could not be held by us for any length of time if it were taken, as the troops from Fort Monroe in much larger force could place themselves in our rear, and the position itself could be shelled by the enemy's ships, both in front and on the left flank. Its temporary possession, therefore, would not compensate for the loss necessary in taking it. One of the principal objects of my present operations has been to force the attention of the authorities at Washington to this Peninsula, to prevent further re-enforcements from being drawn from Fort Monroe and its vicinity for the army at Washington to this part of the State. This, I think, has been accomplished, as re-enforcements have arrived both at Fort Monroe and Newport News. I also caused the enemy's telegraphic communications between Old Point and Newport News to be destroyed. This I delayed until the last moment, with the hope of receiving a field machine from Richmond in time to connect it with the enemy's line, and thus ascertain their communications between Old Point and Newport News. As this field telegraph would be of essential use at Williamsburg on the long lines of defense, consisting of detached works, I beg that Dr. Morris, president of the company, may be ordered to furnish me one at that place without delay, accompanied by a skillful operator by sound. I am, general, very respectfully, &c., J. BANKHEAD MAGRUDER, Brigadier-General, Commanding. Col. GEORGE DEAS, Adjutant-General C. S. Army. |