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Civil War Letters from Pvt. Lyman Powell
One of the recruits from Tioga County volunteering to serve in New York's Third Regiment, Company H, was Lyman Powell. According to the National Park Service on-line records, this unit was organized at Albany, N. Y., and mustered in May 14, 1861, for two years' service. Briefly, this unit left the State for Fortress Monroe, Va., May 31, 1861, and served there till July 30. This unit moved to Fort McHenry in Baltimore, Md., July 30, and served there until June 6, 1862. Attached to Fort Monroe and Camp Hamilton, Va., Dept. of Virginia. to July, 1861. Dix's Command, Baltimore, Md., to June, 1862. Mansfield's Division, Newport News, Va., Dept. of Virginia, to July, 1862. Weber's Brigade, Division at Suffolk, 7th Army Corps, Dept. of Virginia, to September, 1862. Fortress Monroe, Va., Dept. of Virginia, to April, 1863. Suffolk, Va., 1st Division, 7th Army Corps, Dept of Virginia, to July, 1863.
The Third New York participated in the Battle of Big Bethel on June 10, 1861, the first land battle on Virginia soil. It was a disaster for the Federal army. The following account of the battle comes from the Historical Times Illustrated Encyclopedia of the Civil War.
This early engagement in southeastern Virginia was one of 3 during June 1861 in which the Union army cautiously felt out Confederate positions. Big Bethel caused some embarrassment for the North, ended the life of Union Maj. Theodore Winthrop-a brilliant young author-and brought Confederate Maj. George W. Randolph, commanding an artillery battalion, to the attention of his superiors, who marked him for advancement; Randolph became a brigadier general and Confederate secretary of war.
Union Col. Joseph B. Carr, later a major general, called it "the disastrous fight at Big Bethel-battle we scarce may term it." The Federals proved too green, especially against the Confederate earthworks toward which they blundered during the night, even dragging one cannon by hand. Some of the Northern regiments had gray uniforms; thus the 3d New York drew fire from the 7th New York, whose commander, Col. John Bendix, had not been given the watchword. The attacked Federals continually shouted the watchword "Boston," but Bendix, unaware of its significance, assaulted. After a short retreat the error was discovered, but meanwhile the 2 Federal regiments in the vanguard, hearing the firing, concluded that the Confederates had reached their rear and immediately retired. Now, with hopes of any surprise gone, the Northern commanders regrouped piecemeal.
One Union colonel recalled that "for at least one mile from the scene of the action the men and officers were scattered singly and in groups, without form or organization, looking far more like men enjoying a huge picnic than soldiers awaiting battle." The Confederates fired at first inaccurately but soon found the range. After an hour's hesitant and confused attack, the Union troops retired, having engaged over 2,500 men arid lost 18 killed, 53 wounded, 5 missing. The Confederates had engaged 1,200 with only I killed and 7 wounded. Elated and encouraged, Southerners displayed trophies of the fight in Richmond store windows.
Two letters [that have survived] that were presumably sent to the Goodrich family are shown here [see links above]. The letters are not addressed to anyone specifically but it is assumed they were intended for Stephen Goodrich (brother of Augusta), in whose home they were later found, and who was approximately the same age as Lyman Powell and the other "boys of Tioga County" who enlisted.