FROM OUR WANDERING HOST AND PARTNER

Submitted by GFSJIM@aol.com

Well, I finally stole enough of a day to get out and do some wandering…. LOL! I took off down Mercury Blvd. in Hampton, Virginia in search of Fort Monroe. It was a typical Tidewater Virginia day, hot and humid…. At the end of Mercury Blvd, I came to an Army Guard post that admitted me into the fort itself. Needless to say the forthas expanded out since the original fort was built. I drove slowly down Ingalls Road, which was lined with old brick buildings and residences of the fort inhabitants. The place was absolutely spotless with tall stately trees that were indeed ancient. There were Crepe Myrtle trees that were absolutely covered with red daintly blossoms that just filled the air with their fragrance. At the end of Ingalls Road I came to the Main Sallyport which gave entrance to the "Fortress" itself. The bridge that spanned the moat surrounding the fort and the actual entrance is barely wide enough for just one car at a time.

The "Fortress" itself is the largest moat encircled, masonry fortification in America. Its construction was begun in 1814 and completed in 1834. The designer of the fort was the distinguished military engineer, General Simon Bernard of Dole, France, a former aide to Napoleon Bonaparte.

A historical side note: from 1831 to 1834, the finishing touches to the fort were supervised by a young 1st Lieutenant named Robert E. Lee. His residence during that time period is still standing and is actually the current residence of another young army 1st Lieutenant. Some things just don't change, do they?

The encircled portion of Fort Monroe covers about 63 acres with all sides constructed of masoned stone, which housed the casemates for the guns with more circular mount emplacements along the top. It seven fronts with the junctions of each front having 4 sided bastions constructed such that the field of cannon fire from the bastions would cover each wall with crossfire, leaving no approach to the fort uncovered. Fort Monroe played prominently throughout the Civil War and was in Union hands throughout that period.

As I entered the Sallyport and turned left I drove about 2 blocks and came to the Casemate Museum. The museum has restored a number of the artillery casemates and the cell that Jefferson Davis was imprisoned after Lincoln's death. Davis was kept in the casemate cell from 22 May 1865 to 2 Oct 1865 when he was relocated to Carroll Hall within the fort for his health. He was released in May 1867. On display outside the museum were restorations of 12 pounder Howitzer Guns, 14 pounder James Rifle, Austrian 6 pounder and a Spanish 8-inch Siege Mortar. The parapets on top still have the semicircular tracks where the upper Artillery Guns were mounted. It's a great tour just to walk through these restored casemates with exhibits of 24 pound Carronades and the soldiers manning them. They have examples of living quarters, various Naval Uniforms. A real treat are the complete rosters of the Monitor and the Merrimac. I met and talked with the full-time museum staff, Ann Marie Wyatt Rogers, Mary Kay Mackin and David Johnson. There were full of stories and thoughts about Fort Monroe and especially the Casemate Museum. You will enjoy them.

There are walking tours both inside and outside the fort that are well marked. The inside route can be covered comfortably in about 60 minutes. Including the outside portion will likely run on to two hours. I didn't even come close to making that as I have to stop and smell flowers, read everything, and then just sit down and soak up a place. LOL Highlights on the walking tour inside the fort are the Centurian Chapel, the Lincoln Gun, and Quarters Number One. The Centurian Chapel was dedicated in 1858 and was named after the Roman Centurian Cornelius, the first gentile converted to Christianity. As I wandered through this chapel the stained glass windows were mostly dedicated to "Warriors" who had made their mark in Artillery in the various wars. Three that caught my eye were Brevet Brigadier General C. H. Morgan, 4th Artillery, 1875; Gettysburg, Bristoe Station, Wilderness, Spotsylvania and North Anna; Col. J. McAllister; and finally an eye-catching one called the "Taps Window". This window was dedicated to the origins of TAPS. During the Pennsylvania Campaign in 1862 the Bugle Call "Lights Out" borrowed from the French was modified to the call we now know as TAPS by General Daniel Butterfield while encamped at Harrisons Landing on the James River. It was first used at the funeral of a deceased soldier of the Battery A 2nd Artillery. The two officers in charge of the funeral (Captain Tyndall and Butterfield) decided to use TAPS. They were both were based at Fort Monroe. You have heard me share various stories about the origins of TAPS, but this is the most accepted and documented. The Lincoln Gun is the first 14-inch Rodman Gun ever built in 1860 and later named after Abraham Lincoln. It was used at Fort Monroe to bombard the Confederates over on Sewell's Point across the James River. A picture of it, mounted and trained on the ship channel, may be found in the 5 Jul 1982 publication of Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper. Quarters Number One is still standing. A three story structure with full length covered porches on all three floors is the oldest residence on post. Distinguished visitors to this residence have been Abraham Lincoln and the Marquis de Lafayette.

This is a MUST visit especially for those interested in the Naval history of the Civil War. You'll have a great time visiting with the staff and viewing a one of a kind facility.

Web Site: U.S. Army Center of Military History http://www.army.mil

Editors note: This appears to be a busy site. Occasionally you will need to retry your connection.

{{{{{{{{{{Jimmy}}}}}}}}}} You made me feel like I was back there taking the tour again!!

Hampton, Virginia, June 10, 1861. The first and most significant land battle on the Lower Peninsula during the Civil War was little more than a skirmish compared to later larger and bloodier battles. Its confused circumstances give almost a comic quality, yet the "Battle of Big Bethel" - a resounding Confederate victory - was the first organized land battle of the war. In May B.F. Butler was sent with a division to reinforce the garrison of Fort Monroe. He ordered E.W. Pierce to lead an attack against an outpost at Big Bethel Church, eight miles above Hampton. At 1 a.m. on the 10th of June, the 7th New York moved out to occupy New Market Bridge on the road from Hampton to Big Bethel. An hour later six other union regiments advanced in two different columns to rendezvous at a road junction about a mile and a half south of Little Bethel for a surprise attack on Big Bethel, three miles further in the direction of Yorktown. This resulted in an accidental exchange of fire between the two union columns, with a loss of two killed and 21 wounded.

Meanwhile, the Confederate force - principally Col. D.H. Hill's 1^st North Carolina - were warned of the Federal advance and deployed to meet it. In a poorly managed attack the Federals were repulsed and forced to withdraw in disorder.

Federal troops engaged were 4,400 men of the 1st, 3rd 5th, and 7^th New York, 1st Vermont, 4th Massachusetts, and the 2nd U.S. Artillery. They sustained a loss of 76, including Maj. Theodore Winthrop of Butler's staff, "shot while standing on the fence flourishing his sword" and Lt. J.T. Greble, the artillery commander, both killed. The Confederates lost 11 of there 1,408 engaged.

Although a minor skirmish, it was reported by Col. J.B. Magruder, newly-appointed Confederate commander of the defenses of the Peninsula, as a significant victory.

The area today is located about a block north of the intersection of Big Bethel Road and Saunders Road about 6 or 7 miles north of Hampton, VA. In 1861 this area was largely marshland, which is today under water by what is called Big Bethel Reservoir. The only non-private area is Bethel Park which is Government property and maintained and managed by Langley AFB, VA.

Big Bethel Road crosses the Reservoir and immediately on the left side is a protected cemetery of those killed during the Battle of Big Bethel. That is the only remaining public monument of the battle left today. All the rest is under water or developed private property. If any suspect they have ancestors buried in this cemetery, there is a phone number posted on the protected enclosure to call at Langley AFB for access.

See ya Thursday

Jimmy