Since shifting focus to the long-neglected Chesapeake region, I came across two additional skirmishes, bringing the total to eight. Both were relatively minor but still deserve to be added to our encyclopedia. They are, as follows:
Action at Carter’s Creek
On June 24, 1861, the USS Monticello was patrolling the Virginia shoreline in the Chesapeake Bay. When it reached the mouth of the Rappahannock River, its pilot informed Lt. D.L. Braine that a man named William Gresham lived nearby who was a Union supporter and might be able to give them some information. Gresham lived 12 miles south of Urbana, Virginia, near the mouth of Carter’s Creek on Virginia’s Northern Neck. They dispatched a landing crew and small boat, but as soon as they came ashore and spoke with Gresham, they came under fire from one or more companies of uniformed men along the shoreline. At least one Union sailor was mortally wounded.
This appeared in the Official Records under the subheading Affair on the Rappahannock River. Two reports, both Confederate, appear in The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. Series I, Vol. II. Union and Confederate reports on the skirmish appear in Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion. Series I, Vol. 5.
The Confederate force is not named in these reports, but I’m reasonably certain, based on newspaper articles, that it was Capt. Isaac Currell’s company of the 92nd Regiment, Virginia Militia. One newspaper article mentioned that the company was under command of “Adjutant H.S. Hathaway” during the skirmish. I found a something online about Henry Straughan Hathaway from Lancaster County, Virginia: “During the Civil War he was Captain of the Home Guard.” This is likely the same man, but further research is needed.
Skirmish at New Market Bridge
The Skirmish at New Market Bridge on June 8th is a little harder to define because it was ultimately overshadowed by the Battle of Big Bethel. Col. Daniel Harvey Hill (1821-1889) mentioned it in his Bethel report as a minor incident that occurred two days before the battle. Two companies from Col. Joseph B. Carr’s 2nd New York Infantry Regiment exchanged fire with Hill’s men in two separate actions, but neither side suffered casualties other than two prisoners taken by the Confederates. Battle of Big Bethel: Crucial Clash in Early Civil War Virginia by J. Michael Cobb, Edward B. Hicks, and Wythe Holt does a good job of explaining what happened from the perspective of both sides, despite few primary sources.
In revisiting the overlooked Chesapeake region, we’ve uncovered two more skirmishes that add depth and detail to our understanding of the Civil War’s broader scope. While the Action at Carter’s Creek and the Skirmish at New Market Bridge may have been minor compared to larger battles, they are no less important in illustrating the local dynamics and complexities of the conflict. Both incidents, though small in scale, showcase the tensions and quick exchanges of violence that defined much of the war along the Chesapeake coastline. By incorporating these lesser-known engagements into our encyclopedia, we ensure a more comprehensive narrative of the war’s many fronts.
As we continue to delve deeper into this region, more discoveries are on the horizon. With each new update, the picture of the Chesapeake’s role in the Civil War becomes clearer, and we’re excited to bring even more forgotten episodes to light. Stay tuned for further updates as we continue to explore this historically rich area and add to the ever-expanding encyclopedia of the Civil War.
Spirit of '61 