Virginia

Virginia has always been a pivotal state in the Union in resources, population, and location.   Because of its proximity to Washington and because Richmond was the capital of the Confederacy, its defense by the South and control by the North would be crucial in the Civil War.   Therefore, it is not surprising that most battles and casualties of the war occurred in this state.   The long frontier of Virginia was exposed to the invasions of four Union armies: one consisting of regulars and volunteers stationed in and around Washington, soon under the command of Maj. Gen. Irvin McDowell, one at Fort Monroe, Virginia, on the Chesapeake Bay, one under Maj. Gen. Robert Patterson along the upper Potomac River, and one gathered chiefly from Ohio, under the command of Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan.

January 21, 1860.   Worried by John Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry and wanting to reduce its dependency on federal arms for its growing militia, Virginia legislators pass a bill to reopen and modernize the old Richmond Virginia Manufactory of Arms, closed since 1822. ^{Hearn 46}

February 13, 1860.   Richmond:   A state convention assembles to consider secession. ^{Long 36}

April 4, 1861.   The Virginia state convention at Richmond rejects a motion to pass an ordinance of secession for submission to the people by a vote of 89 to 45. ^{Long 53}

April 17, 1861.   Virginia secedes from the Union at a state convention at Richmond by a vote of 88 to 55 subject to a referendum to be held on May 23. ^{Bowman 51}

April 20, 1861.

Norfolk:   Fearing capture by Virginia militia, commander Commodore Charles Stewart McCauley burns the Federal Gosport Naval Yard and burns and scuttles several vessels to prevent these military assets from falling to Confederate troops upon the yard's evacuation.   This action increases the difficulty of Union naval blockade actions along the Atlantic coast.   Its capture furnishes the Confederacy with a dry dock, plant, vessels, iron plates, and thousands of guns.

Ft. Monroe, VA:   The 4th Mass. Regiment reinforces Fort Monroe across the James River from Gosport Naval Yard to protect Washington from attack.

Washington:   First Cavalry Col. Robert Edward Lee, a Virginia native, resigns from the Union Army to become Maj. Gen. of Virginia's land and naval forces.   Later, he will become a Brig. Gen. and full General in a Confederate army.

April 22, 1861.   Richmond:   Robert E. Lee is elected commander of Virginia army and navy as a Maj. General. ^{Long 64}

May 2, 1861.   The U. S. Navy blocks the entrances to the James River and Hampton Roads, VA.   It also seizes 2 Confederate vessels, adding them to the several already taken. ^{Long 69}

May 14, 1861.   Hampton Roads, VA:   Union ships seize 4 blockade runners. ^{Long 74}

May 22, 1861.   Fort Monroe, VA:   Maj. Gen. Benjamin Franklin Butler arrives to secure this important coastal port. ^{Long 74}

May 23, 1861.   Richmond:   Virginians vote 96,750 to 32,134 to ratify secession.   However, the vote in the northwestern counties are overwhelmingly against secession. ^{Long 77}

May 24, 1861.   Alexandria, VA:   Federal troops occupy this city across the Potomac River to secure Washington.   A small Confederate detachment withdraws. ^{Long 77}

May 27, 1861.   Newport News:   Union troops from Ft. Monroe under the command of Maj. Gen. Benjamin Butler cross the James River to take this city to enlargen its Federal military staging area. ^{Long 79}

June 10, 1861.   Big Bethel: (Bethel Church)   After Benjamin F. Butler, commander of the Department of Virginia, arrives at Ft. Monroe with Union forces on May 22 and occupies, Hampton on May 23.   Then Virginia Col. John Bankhead Magruder, commander of the Department of the Peninsula, on June 7 sends 1200 N. Carolina and Virginia militia under Virginia Col. Daniel Harvey Hill forward to Little Bethel and Big Bethel, 8 miles from Camp Hamilton near Hampton and Newport News, to reconnoiter the Union positions.   In response, Butler on June 9 sends 2 columns of 4,400 Union troops under Cols. Abram Duryea and Frederick Townsend, all under the overall command of 4th Mass. Infantry (90-day Militia) Brig. Gen. Ebenezer W. Pierce, to clear out the Confederates, the Virginia forces having been transferred to the Confederacy on June 8.   Little Bethel offering poor defensive terrain, the Confederates abandon it and fall back to entrenchments behind Brick Kiln Creek near Big Bethel Church.   The Federals attack in front, but are repulsed.   Crossing downstream, the 5th New York Zouaves attempt to turn the Confederate left flank, but also are repulsed.   The Union forces retreat to Hampton and Newport News, pursued by Confederate cavalry.   Union losses are 18 killed, 53 wounded and 5 missing, many casualies of friendly fire in the confusing movements in morning darkness.   Confederates losses are 1 killed, 7 wounded. ^{Floyd n.p.}   On the way to and from the battle Union troops set fire to several farmhouses.   Although a minor battle, the victory is a morale booster for the South.

Order of Battle:
Union - Maj. Gen. Butler
Fourth Massachusetts (90-day militia, mustered out in Boston on July 22), 5 companies - Brig. Gen. Pierce, commander of Camp Hamilton near Hampton and expedition commander
First New York - Col. William H. Allen
Second New York - Col. Joseph Bradford Carr
Third New York - Col. Frederick Townsend
Fifth New York Zouaves - Col. Abram Duryea
Seventh New York , 3 companies - Col. John E. Bendix
First Vermont (90-day), 5 companies - Lt. Col. Peter T. Washburn (Col. Wolcott Phelps commanded at Newport News)
Second U.S. Artillery - Lt. John T. Greble
Confederate - Col. Magruder
First North Carolina - Col. D. H. Hill
Howitzer Battalion - Maj. George W. Randolph (later, Sec. of War)
Third [Fifteenth] Virginia Infantry - Lt. Col. William D. Stuart
Virginia Battalion of 3 companies - Maj. E. B. Montague

(Return to Main Events or Battles). Newport News:   Union troops from Ft. Monroe under the command of Maj. Gen. Benjamin Butler take this city to enlarge the Federal military staging area. ^{Long 79}

July 3, 1861.

Hoke's Run: (Falling Waters, Hainesville)   Following the battle at Hoke's Run on July 2, Brig. Gen. Robert Patterson occupies Martinsburg on July 3, but makes no further moves until July 15, when he marches to Bunker Hill.   However, instead of moving on Winchester, Maj. Gen. Joseph E. Johnston's headquarters, Patterson turns east to Charles Town and then withdraws to Harpers Ferry.   This retrograde movement takes pressure off Confederate forces in the Shenandoah Valley and allows Johnston's army to march to support Brig. Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard at Manassas.   Patterson's inactivity contributes to the Union defeat at Manassas (Bull Run) on July 21. ^{Houghton n.p.}

October 21, 1861.   Leesburg, VA: (Ball's Bluff)   Confederates under Brig. Gen. Nathan G. Evans defeat Union forces under Brig. Gen. Charles P. Stone that crossed the Potomac from Maryland into Virginia in a reconaissance ordered by Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan.   The battle is of no strategic value, but serves as another morale booster to the South.   Union losses are 49 killed, 158 wounded, 714 missing.   Confederate losses are 33 killed, 115 wounded, 1 missing.   For his defeat and suspected collaboration with the enemy, Gen. Stone is imprisoned without formally being charged, but later released. ^{Long 129,130}