Skirmish at New Market Bridge December 1861- II

 

NEWS FROM FORTRESS MONROE.

Full Account of the Newmarket Bridge Affair.

GALLANTRY OF OUR GERMAN TROOPS.

Plan of the battle field.

Money and Clothing Sent to Our Soldiers with the Rebels,

&

Fortress Monroe, Dec. 26
Via Baltimore, Dec, 28, 1861

A flag truce took an immense quantity of clothes to Norfolk this afternoon, destined for the Union prisoners at Richmond, New Orleans and elsewhere.

The gunboat Keystone State arrived hero this afternoon from Bermuda. She has two cases of smallpox on board. She will remain at Quarantine.

The Keystone State has been in pursuit of the privateer Sumter, but has not seen her. She brings no news.

The brig Empire, from Boston, via Newport, arrived here this afternoon. She has, an assorted cargo of apples, preserved meats and such articles, destined for Port Royal.

 

           OUR FORTRESS MONROE CORRESPONDENCE.

                                                          Fortress Monroe, Va, Dec 23, 1861

 

Brilliant Skirmish of a Battalion of the Twentieth Regiment New York Volunteers, Colonel Max Weber, with the Rebels- Graphic Description of the Engagement- The Rebels have an Entire Company of Infantry Composed of Negroes- The Enemy Driven Dark- Ten Rebels Killed and upwards of Twenty Wounded-  Gallant Behavior of Our Troops- Major Schnoepf Bravely leading His Troops- Reinforcements Arrive after the Enemy had Retreated- Two Rebels Shot, and, Falling into the Back River are Floated Off with the Tide- One of them Proves to be John Hawkins, Adjutant of the Alabama Minute Men- Released Rebels Sent to Norfolk, &.,&,

The monotony of camp life here and at Camp Hamilton* was broken yesterday by the intelligence that an action of some magnitude had taken place between a detachment of 150 men of  the Twentieth Regiment New York Volunteers, in command of Major Engelbert Schnoepf, and about hundred rebel soldiers. The particulars of the affair are as follows:- Major Schnoepf having lost a man from his command the day before, left Newport News on Sunday morning at eleven o'clock at the head of one hundred and fifty men, and wended his, way towards Newmarket Bridge in search of him. Arriving near the bridge, the Major detailed some of his men to cross the creek, and charged them to search closely in the woods, as the man may have hidden himself from the enemy, who was soon about the place for several days previous. The reserve was placed behind the Newmarket Bridge (that is, where the crossing normally was), and another detachment at Sinclair's farm. The position of our men had scarcely been taken up, when the skirmishers of the Twentieth regiment discovered the enemy, consisting of three companies of infantry, among them one company of negroes, who approached in the front, and made an attack. The left flank was attacked at the same time by two squadrons of cavalry, who came dashing along at a terrible gate and deafening yells. Our men stood their ground manfully, and, as soon as the proper moment came to fire, the cavalry being near enough (about 100 yards), the order to fire was given, and obeyed with alacrity. The reserve drove the cavalry back, killing several of them while retreating.

The skirmishers on the other side or the bridge were recalled by the Major, and owing to the bridge having been destroyed, they were compelled to swim across hotly pursued by the enemy.

The pursuit of the rebels was so determined that a hand to hand engagement occurred. The pursuing party was joined by the negro soldiers, and Captain Stumpf, of the Twentieth regiment, was struck upon the back with the butt end of a musket, but not seriously hurt.

Major Schnoepf hereupon took a position. deploying his entire force along the river banks as skirmishers, and a terrible fight ensued. The enemy fired by companies, whereas the fire of our men on the pursuers was by files, and so rapid that one rebel officer and a private that stood on the opposite shore were killed and tumbled into the river on their faces. The enemy thereupon withdrew as fast as possible, firing as they ran, leaving their dead and wounded behind. Six men of the Twentieth regiment were slightly wounded. The enemy's loss, as far as ascertained, was ten killed (three were picked up yesterday and seven to-day) and probably twenty or more wounded One of the letter was brought off the field and treated by Assistant Surgeon Heiland, of the Twentieth regiment. Several horses of the cavalry were also killed. The corpses of the two mon who fell into the crook floated off with the tide, and Acting Brigadier General Weber sent a detachment off to pick them up, if possible, in order to have them decently interred.

One of the bodies only was found, and in the centre of the forehead was a hole from a bullet, which evidently was the cause of the death of this poor man. In his pockets ware found a number of letters, and by that we ascertained that his name was John Hawkins, Adjutant of the Alabama Minute Men. On his coat the buttons bore the letters A.M.M. About thirty dollars in shinplasters was found on his body, and a small bag, slung about his neck, contained nineteen dollars in gold. The bills were on the banks of North Carolina and Virginia, and as low as ten cents in value. The enemy had retreated about three hundred paces, and having again taken up a position, commenced to pour a terrible fire upon Major Schnoepf's command, without however doing any execution. The shower of bullets was so terrible that the houses, trees and fences in the vicinity were completely riddled. The Turners† . however, being greatly inferior in strength, kept a safe distance and did not reply to this fire.

Immediately after the fight commenced Major Schnoepf, seeing that he had to cope with a force three to one, Sent off an orderly to Newport News, and also a messenger to Acting Brigadier General Max Weber, for reinforcements, Col. Max Weber instantly dispatched the six companies of the Twentieth regiment, in command of Lieutenant Colonel Francis Weiss stationed at Camp Hamilton and in company with Captain H. M. Burleigh, Provost Marshal of the camp proceeded to the scene of action. Brigadier General Joseph R.T. Mansfield also hastened to the battle field leading the remainder of the Twentieth regiment battalion at Newport News and the Second regiment New York Volunteers.

I herewith send a 

 TOPOGRAPHICAL MAP SHOWING THE SCENE OF THE ACTION

 

 

The Union Coast Guard, in the command of Colonel D.W. Wardrop, being anxious to participate in the affair, were in marching order in the shortest possible time, and reached to Hampton Bridge, where they were kept in reserve. Such was the anxiety of the Coast Guard to be in the fight that a number of them smuggled themselves into the ranks of the Twentieth regiment, and were only discovered after having crossed the bridge. The other regiments of General Weber's brigade were very much disappointed in not being able to march forward and mingle in the impending bottle as they thought.

When General Weber arrived at the scene of action the fight was over, and the enemy was still visible in the distance, on the retreat. General Weber, however, received information that several of the men belonging to Major Schnoepf's battalion were missing. He thereupon sent Lieut. Colonel Weiss in command of one company across Newmarket Bridge to follow the enemy in quest of the missing Turners. Colonel Weiss found three men who had been sent ahead as skirmishers, before the action and had(?????) the enemy the entire action between them end the Twentieth regiment, but had remained undiscovered by the rebels, lying in the woods.

Shortly after the arrival of the reinforcement, headed by General Weber, from Camp Hamilton, Brigadier General Mansfield and staff, an accompanied by the Second regiment N.Y. Vols. Colonel J.B. Carr came to the scene of action.

The enemy, however, had by this nine probably reached a distance of five miles, and the bridge being taken up our men could not march in pursuit.

Numerous trophies were captured by the gallant Twentieth. One beautiful saddle, belonging evidently to the horse of an officer that had been shot, wag brought back to Newport News, as also numerous muskets, sabres and pistols. 

The engagement commenced about one o'clock, and lasted until after three. Acting Brigadier General Weber and General Mansfield complimented General Shnoepf highly on his bravery and the steadiness of his men.

The Twentieth regiment acted with the precision of regulars, and not the first man was found to waver or fall back.

Dr. Heiland, Assistant Surgeon of the Twentieth regiment, accompanied the battalion, and proved himself not only a very efficient surgeon, but also a brave and courageous soldier. His ambulances and instruments were in readiness as soon as the first volley was fired, and to his care and skill it is owing that the few men wounded are in such good condition. None of our men who were hit by the enemy's shots are fatally injured. Julius Kumerie, of Company G, was shot In the arm; Christian Teubner, Company K, shot in the elbow and below the wrist; Orderly Sergeant Ruhr, of Company K, of Williamsburg, was wounded in the neck, but not fatally. The names of the other three I could not ascertain, they being at Newport News.

The rebels, although retreating before the steady fire of our men, behaved bravely fired their smooth bore muskets, notwithstanding well handled, were no match against the sharp arid deadly fire, handled with murderous aim by the gallant Twentieth regiment.

The main fight began at Sinclair's farm; but the enemy's line extending to Newmarket bridge, and the Twentieth regiment men being in a body there, the rebels concentrated their entire force at that point.

                 -The New York Herald, December 28, 1861

* Named for Lt. Col. Schuyler Hamilton.

† The 20th New York was know as the "Turner Rifles". The "Turner" refers to the turnverein movement, an athletic/gymnastic society originating in Germany and popular among German-Americans. The 20th New York was a heavily German-American regiment.

Skirmish at New Market Bridge December 1861

 A cotemporary article about the first serious engagement of the New Kent Cavalry in the Civil War.

THE FIGHT AT NEW MARKET BRIDGE.

at CAMP NEAR BETHEL, Dec. 23, 1861.

To the Editor of the Whig.-

As you have had No item from the Peninsula of late, I write you a brief account of the fight which came off at New Market Bridge, on yesterday, between two small parcels of our cavalry and infantry, and a body of the enemy, said to be 100 strong.

At an early hour yesterday morning, a detachment of fifty cavalry, (from New Kent, Old Dominion¹ and Black Walnut Companies²,) under the command of Major Phillips³, together with two small companies of the Eighth Alabama Regiment, all under the command of Col. Winston of said Regiment, started on a road in the direction of New Market Bridge, where it had been understood the enemy could be found in some force most every day; and having proceeded down the “Sawyer Swamp road" for about three miles, the commands divided, the infantry scouring the woods to the right of the road, aid the cavalry proceeding slowly forward. When within three miles of the bridge, Major Phillips, with a few men, moved forward as an advanced guard, leaving the remainder of the cavalry under the command of Lieut. Taylor⁴, of the New Kent Company, with Instructions to halt until he bad gotten a mile ahead, when his column proceed, to within a short distance of the bridge, the Major obliquing  to the right to ascertain the position of the infantry.

In a few moments a sharp firing of musketry announced that a skirmish had begun between our men and the enemy, in a field separated from us by a body of woods. The cavalry were immediately put in motion, and galloping through the intervening woods, soon appeared in the field, but only in time to see the Yankees beat a retreat across the creek to a place of security from our horsemen. They were, soon observed running in the direction of New Market Bridge, and spies were seen, evidently endeavoring to ascertain the amount of our force.

The Colonel ordered an advance guard from the cavalry, with which he hastened across to the little field in front of the bridge, the remainder of the cavalry bringing up the rear. In a few moments the firing announced that the enemy were again seen, and this time they happened to be in their favorite haunt, where they seemed for a time willing to make a stand. The body of the enemy were across the bridge, which was barricaded with barrels, and along a fence and ditch; running at right angles to the creek. At these latter the cavalry made a dash, compelling them to seek shelter with their comrades on the other side of the Creek, and out of the reach of our brave horsemen.

In the meantime the infantry charged nearly to the bridge, and regardless of the storm of bullets poured upon them from the concealed foe, they held their ground, advancing step by step, until the enemy were drive from their stronghold, abandoning their flag, which, together with a prisoner, fell into the hands of our men. The cavalry were much exposed during the action (which lasted twenty minutes) while the position of the enemy would not admit of a charge.

Both officers and men received like veterans several volleys from the bridge, and were also fired upon from an ambuscade, as they were led from their exposed position in front of the bridge. It is almost miraculous that one of them were killed. One of the Old Dominion Dragoons received a ball in the foot, while several of the New Kenters narrowly escaped with their lives! One of them had his horse shot under him, a ball grazed the top of his ear, taking off the skin, another had one barrel of his gun penetrated by a minnie(sic) ball, while two others received a ball through, their clothing. Colonel Winston was everywhere in the fight, exposing himself with perfect indifference to danger. Major Phillips acted with his usual coolness and bravery. Of the Infantry one man was killed and two wounded. The loss of the one enemy is ascertained to be thirteen killed and several wounded. After the fight our men returned in good order to camp.           A SPECTATOR

 

                -Richmond Whig, 2 January 1862

¹- Made up of men from Elizabeth City County(present day city of Hampton) it latter became Company B, 3rd Virginia Cavalry

²- Made up of men from Halifax County, it latter became Company B, 3rd Virginia Cavalry

³- Jefferson C. Phillips, formerly Captain of the Old Dominion Dragoons. A uniform coat worn by Phillips here.

⁴- This would be 28 year old Lt. Telemachus Taylor, who was acting commander of the company due to the illness and death of Capt. Melville Vaiden.