Hillsborough (NC) Recorder

June 26, 1861

Page 2

BATTLE OF BEHEL CHURCH

LETTER OF CAPT. R. J. ASHE

Yorktown, June 13, 1861

MY DEAR MARY—I wrote to you on Thursday, the 6^th, stating that we were just starting, that we had just been suddenly ordered off on an expedition, the purpose of which I did not know, but did not think it was perilous. Thanks to God, and none other, that prediction has proved true, as the sequel will show.

On Commencement day, we took up the line of march and moved fifteen miles, and camped at a church called Bethel. We came off with one day’s provisions, and only a blanket, so that we had the camp for a bed and the sky for a canopy. Just as we began to feel the comforting influence of a large campfire, the Lieut. Colonel came round and called out, “Captain Ashe, you are on guard to-day. I wish you to detail twenty-five men and come with me to guard a ford.” In a few minutes the detail was in line, and we marched a mile to the ford, where the Colonel told me that there was a fast way, but where it was, he did not know, and that when I struck a light I could find it. After looking a half hour, I could not find it, for it was covered by the water, for it was high tide. I waded through the water, waist deep—fine preparation for sleep, with nothing but a blanket and no fire. I posted the guard and laid down and slept one of many naps, and spent the rest of the night in marking time and double quicking—fine preparation for breakfast, which consisted of fat bacon fried on the coals, and ship biscuit stale enough to have been made for the war of 1812. Friday we spent in throwing up entrenchments. On Saturday some scouts came in at a full gallop and reported that the enemy was within three miles, foraging. Whereupon, Major Lane, with thirty of Starr’s Fayetteville company and one howitzer from Richmond, under Major Randolph, hurried off to disperse them. They came upon them at their dirty work, plundering and destroying the furniture. Just as soon as the command made its appearance, they broke and ran like turkeys. The howitzer made them flee, and four horsemen took after them, but all but one poor devil was too fleet of foot and brought in as a prisoner. After that detachment had been gone a short time, here came a one-arm little fellow named Fidget, saying that they were pilfering at another point, when the Buncombe company was called out, and with another howitzer, took the road. They marched down and took a route that brought them between Hampton and the party of marauders. Our advanced guard, commanded by Lieut. Gregory, came upon them. At first they beat retreat and Gregory pursued them. After a while they came to a halt, and a parley commenced, Gregory thinking they might be Starr’s men, and they thinking our men came from Hampton. “What Regiment do you belong to?” “The Fifth.” “Which side?” “Americans.” Both parties standing with guns at a ready, about thirty paces apart. Finally the Yankee Sergeant, a big, strong fellow, blurted out, “You damn fools, don’t you see they are our men—come along. I’ll show you. That is right, old fellow, quit fooling and tell me what Regiment you belong to –Second New York Regiment. All right,” at the same time leveling a six shooter. You are my prisoner,” and he commanded his squad to fire, but before the command could be executed, they broke and ran. Our force numbered ten, theirs fifteen. Just at this time, the main body of the Buncombeites came up, and a running fire commenced, in which some two drays and one buggy load of the Yankees were killed and wounded, and without a scratch on our side. Who can fail to recognize an overruling and favouring Providence in this? Our men made good their retreat from within two miles of Hampton, which is right under the guns of Fortress Monroe, and where there were some three thousand men posted. These events raised the ire of our Northern friends. They swore such impudence and presumption should be promptly and severely punished. Sunday, good, pious souls, they gave to getting ready for death, and attending preaching, which we did, and threw up breast works, by way of keeping the powder dry. On Monday morning, the 10^th, just before daylight, the bugle sound called us from slumber to arms. In a few moments we were on the road on an expedition that none but the field officers knew anything about. After marching about three and a half miles, we were met by a woman in great distress, whose husband had just been taken prisoner, who informed the Colonel that a detachment had just a few moments left her, having been frightened by firing on the right, which turned out to be from two parties of the enemy who were advancing, one from Newport News and the other from Hampton, and mistook each other for Secessionists—a strange mistake by the way—and pitched into each other like two enemies of the Lord’s people did over ____ Michmash, as recorded in 1^st Samuel, viz. 4- 20. But for this our regiment, which was within a half mile of four thousand men, might have been hurried into a general engagement. Whereupon the order was given, “about face, double quick march,” which order was obeyed with great alacrity, I assure you. As soon as we arrived at our entrenchments the order was given to fall into the ditches and prepare breakfast there. But before we had time, the scouts and pickets and horsemen all came in at full speed and reported that the enemy, three regiments, were coming at double quick. But a few moments after, our battery opened and in a very short time they replied. For the first time in my life I heard the whistle of bullets and saw the explosion of shells, and for about an hour they came as thick as ____ ____, cutting off limbs and gouging everything in their deadly course, or rather deathless course, for no one, strange to say, was wounded by them. But our howitzer returned the fire with the spiritness and coolness of regulars, going through all the maneuvers, not excepting the dodging drill, just as if they were in a great battle. All this time we had only to lie in the ditches and dodge, having very much the same feeling that I have had when lightning was very close and sharp, and felt that you were perfectly helpless, and had to just lie still and take what came, with no means of averting the danger. About a half hour after the artillery commenced their fire, the musketry and riflemen commenced their fire, and such an infernal whistling as they kept up for an hour more, I never wish to hear again. They seemed to me to come from every point, “around, about, above, below!” Our company was in a position where they were quite exposed, and could see but little, but hear a great deal, and it seemed to me that they had forced this row almost to our entrenchment. Then the North Carolina boys commenced firing. Then they tried to assail us on the right and left flank. I was on the left; they forced their way through a morass and swamp and assailed our entrenchments with great fury, with, I suppose ____ hundred Zouaves. The Hornet’s Nest Rifles, a part of the Charlotte Grays, and the Fayetteville Independents were at the immediate point of attack. I was just above them, and reserved my fire until I could see them fairly, but they did not venture to come out of the caves of the morass and the hills, before their officer, supposed to be Colonel Wardrop was shot. Sam ____ was in the trench by my side, and I let him fire the first gun, at a place I saw the flash from. I then took a chance of the same sort and waited. As I was watching over the ditch, I saw a fellow trying to get me. I pointed him out to Wayne McDade, who took a fair pop at the fellow and I saw no more of him. Whether he killed him or not, I can’t say, but a man was found dead near that place. I have many other incidents to write, but time is pressing. Your old friend Bridgers behaved well, and bore the brunt of the battle with his skirmishers, and after all this, we had only one man killed, and three wounded. The enemy beat retreat. It seemed to be a perfect root. They threw away knapsacks, canteens and haversacks. Who can doubt in all this, the hand of a protecting Providence?

Affectionately yours,

R. J. ASHE