Aftermath

For the Federals, the Big Bethel expedition ended in complete failure. Casualties totaled 76: 18 killed, 53 wounded, and 5 missing. The Northern press blamed Gen. Benjamin F Butler for ordering his troops into battle with poor preparation and for remaining at Fort Monroe during the battle. Gen. Ebenezer W. Pierce, however, received most of the blame for losing "his presence of mind" during the engagement and failing to coordinate the attacks. Federal officers Theodore Winthrop and John Greble were lionized for their valor and sacrifice.
Southerners rejoiced. Confederate casualties were only 1 killed (Pvt. Henry L. Wyatt), 7 wounded, and 3 missing. Confederate President Jefferson Davis pronounced the battle to be a "glorious victory." Although Col. Daniel H. Hill directed most of the action on the battlefield, Col. John B. Magruder received most of the acclaim and was promoted to brigadier general a week later.
The Confederates, of course, had the advantage of secure earthworks, while the Federal commanders maneuvered green troops experiencing their first combat of the war. Ineptness and inexperience combined to produce an embarrassing Union defeat. Compared with the scale of future battles, Big Bethel was a small affair. However, the war had just begun, and few anticipated the slaughter to come.
(captions)
Staged
hospital scene, Duryée's Zouaves Courtesy Library of Congress
Gen. Ebenezer W. Pierce, from A History of the Town of Freetwon (1902)
Despite the Confederate victory at Big Bethel, the Federal domination of Hampton Roads was illustrated in this engraving published two weeks later. Union ships ply the water off Fort Monroe, and the vast Federal camps appear on the left near Hampton. Harper's Weekly, June 22, 1861.
Battle of Big Bethel, Harper's Weekly, June 19, 1861

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Battle of Big Bethel
Battle of Big Bethel
Battle of Big Bethel
Battle of Big Bethel
Battle of Big Bethel
Battle of Big Bethel
Battle of Big Bethel Union Monument
Battle of Big Bethel
Henry Lawson Wyatt
Battle of Big Bethel

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