OPERATIONS OF 1861 ABOUT FORT MONROE.
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while far in advance of the troops, and within one hundred yards of the ene-my’s works. General Butler arrived at Hampton Creek in time to meet themen coming in, hut saw no part of the engagement. Among the first officersmet by Butler were a major and lieutenant-colonel from one of the regimentsengaged. Both were seated in a carriage driving leisurely home. Butlernoticed the odd style of retreat, and also that there was crockery in thebottom of the carriage. The effects of this battle have been variously stated.Save as an encouragement to the Confederates, it had no important result.
After the battle of Big Bethel and up to thearrival of General McClellan the events of the warin and around Port Monroe were, with few excep-tions, of minor importance. On July 1st, 1861,
Brigadier-General Peirce, under orders from Gen-eral Butler, occupied Hampton, and at once pro-ceeded to intrench. I 11 this work the volunteerswere assisted by former slaves. When GeneralMagruder sent some cavalry to Hampton withorders to burn the village, a stampede of the Unionsoldiers occurred. Our forces on the east side ofthe bridge were greatly surprised when the disor-ganized troops and the contrabands came dash-ing over. The Confederate cavalrymen sent toburn the beautiful village remained, and at nightwe saw flames issuing from several buildings. Wecould readily discern the incendiaries going aboutthe streets setting fire to the houses. In August, 1861, General John E.Wool was appointed to succeed General Butler in command at Port Monroe.
Early in the fall of 1861 I was ordered, with my regiment, the 2d NewYork , to report to General Stone for duty in operations about Ball’s Bluff,but Colonel E. D. Baker, with his regiment, was sent in my place. It ap-peared, later, that Colonel Baker had desired that he should be substituted,and when objections were made he succeeded in overruling them [see p. 123],
After the battle between the Monitor and Merrimac [see Vol. I., p. 692],General Wool, seeing the advantage of opening the blockade of the JamesRiver, prepared for an attempt to recapture Norfolk .
President Lincoln, wi th Secretaries Stanton and Chase, came to Port Mon-roe, and on May 8th, 1862, the order was given and a movement made. Rear-Admiral Goldsborough, who had been ordered to assist, attacked the Confed-erate batteries at Sewell’s Point, but, the Merrimac coming out, he retired, andfor the hour, at least, the expedition was abandoned. News came to headquar-ters later in the day that General Huger was preparing to retire, and GeneralWool, after a trip to Willoughby’s Point, decided to land his troops at OceanView, thus taking in reverse the Confederate works. The landing of our troopswas easily effected, and had more energy been displayed it is doubtful whetherthe enemy would have had time and opportunity to commit to the flames somuch valuable material of war. While the movement was progressing, a delay