The Skirmish at Smith's Farm was a Civil War skirmish fought near Newport News, Virginia on July 5, 1861, as part of the operations on the Virginia Peninsula.[1] Confederate commander Col. Charles Didier Dreux was killed in the skirmish, becoming the first Confederate field officer killed in the Civil War.
| Skirmish at Smith's Farm | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the American Civil War | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 USA |
 CSA | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Capt. William Hammell | Col. Charles Dreux † | ||||||
| Units involved | |||||||
| 9th New York Infantry Regiment | 1st Louisiana Infantry Battalion | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 25+ | 130+ | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| No casualties |
2 killed several wounded | ||||||
Background
editFollowing the Confederate victory at the Battle of Big Bethel, the war on the Virginia Peninsula settled into a stalemate, with both sides building fortifications and preparing for the next campaign. Occasional patrols were sent between the lines to forage for supplies or scout for enemy activity, but neither force was strong enough, or confident enough, to bring on an engagement.[1]
Confederate Brigadier General John B. Magruder, commanding the Hampton Division, assigned the 1st Louisiana Infantry Battalion to guard Young's Mill, supported by a section of artillery from the 3rd Company of the Richmond Howitzers, and cavalry from the Catawba Troop of Halifax Cavalry. Lt. Col. Charles D. Dreux of the 1st Louisiana took command and established the camp at Young's Mill.
On July 4, Col. Dreux hosted a barbecue in camp to celebrate Independence Day. Attending the gathering was Colonel Lafayette McLaws, commander of the Confederate forces at Yorktown. Dreux gave a rousing speech, making it clear he did not intend to wait passively at Young's Mill for the Union army to advance. He stated:
“This is our day, and we will have it”.[1]
That evening, during a council with his officers, Capt. William Collins of the Catawba Troop of Cavalry informed Dreux that Union troops were frequently seen at the home of Nelson Smith, located along the James River, four miles to the south of the Confederate camp. Capt. Robert Stanard of the Richmond Howitzers suggested they take a detachment and ambush the Federals, a plan Dreux wholeheartedly endorsed.[2]
The same day, Capt. William W. Hammell, with 25 men of Company F, 9th New York Infantry, had bivouacked a few miles outside the Union camp at Newport News Point.[3]
Shortly after midnight on July 5, Dreux departed Young's Mill with 100 infantry, 20 cavalry, and one howitzer. At dawn on July 5, Capt. Hammell and his men left their bivouac on a patrol northwards to scout the Confederate positions, both forces converging around the farm of Nelson Smith.
Order of battle
editUnion
edit- Company F, 9th New York Infantry Regiment - Capt. William Hammell (25+ men)
Confederate
edit- 1st Louisiana Infantry Battalion - Col. Charles Didier Dreux (100+ men)
- Catawba Troop of Cavalry - Capt. William Collins (20+ men)
- 3rd Company, Richmond Howitzers - Capt. Robert C. Stanard (1 gun, 10 men)
Skirmish
editAs the Confederates neared a wooded lane running perpendicular to the main Warwick Road, near Smith's Farm, Dreux positioned his artillery facing down the lane, with the cavalry behind it and the Louisiana infantry deployed on either side. Dreux ordered his men not to open fire until the Union troops had passed. However, as sunrise approached with no sign of the enemy, Dreux grew impatient and sent scouts down the Warwick Road to determine their location.[4]
As Hammell and the 9th New York advanced northwards, they were alerted to the Confederate presence when a Louisianan fired prematurely, prompting the Federals to disperse in the woods and return fire from cover.
Capt. Collins reported:[2]
“The first information I received of the approach of the enemy, a gun was fired to our left, on the main road, and was immediately followed by another, and, with a short pause, the firing was again commenced about the same point, which was kept up regularly, the balls cutting around very near myself and men.”
According to Union accounts, as the fire fight began, Col. Dreux stepped into the road and shouted towards his men:
“Stop, stop for God’s sake stop—you’re shooting your own men!”
Dreux mistook Hammell's men for his own scouts, as they were far fewer in number than the large Union force he had expected.[5]
Hammell hesitated briefly, as the Louisianan's grey uniforms resembled those of the 1st Vermont Infantry Regiment, but he then ordered his men to resume firing. During the skirmish, Sgt. Peter Martin of the 9th New York fatally shot Col. Dreux in the side as he attempted to rally his men.[6] Dreux's last words were reportedly:
“Steady, boys, steady!”
Confederates rushed forward and dragged the body of their colonel, as well as that of another confederate officer who was killed, back to their lines in the woods.
The dense woods made visibility poor, and it seemed to the Confederates that Union fire was coming from all directions. In the ensuing chaos after the death of Dreux, Capt. Stanard ordered the howitzer to be limbered up and moved to cover the main road.[2] The Catawba Troop of Cavalry, misinterpreting this as a signal to retreat, surged forward, surprising the horses pulling the gun. The driver lost control of the team, and the artillery retreated to Young's Mill in disorder. The Catawba Troop and 1st Louisiana soon began falling back, until a general retreat occurred and the Confederates returned to their camp.[2]
Aftermath
editThough they had successfully surprised the Confederates and driven them from the field, Capt. Hammell realized he was outnumbered and decided against pursuing the fleeing Confederates. The 9th New York Infantry returned to the Union camp at Newport News later that evening and reported on the skirmish.[7]
Confederate morale was low with the death of Colonel Dreux, and he was mourned across the south.[2]
Though the skirmish was small and indecisive, it resulted in the death of the first Confederate field officer in the Civil War. Further skirmishes would be fought in the vicinity throughout the summer of 1861, including the Skirmish at Cedar Lane.
References
edit- ^ a b c "Skirmish at Smith's Farm". Spirit of ‘61. WordPress.com. 21 April 2023. Retrieved 15 October 2024.
- ^ a b c d e Jones, Terry L. (1987). Lee’s Tigers: the Louisiana Infantry in the Army of Northern Virginia. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press.
- ^ Graham, Matthew John (1900). The Ninth Regiment, New York Volunteers (Hawkins’ Zouaves): Being a History of the Regiment and Veteran Association from 1860 to 1900. New York: E.P. Cody & Co.
- ^ Graham, Matthew John (1900). The Ninth Regiment, New York Volunteers (Hawkins’ Zouaves): Being a History of the Regiment and Veteran Association from 1860 to 1900. New York: E.P. Cody & Co.
- ^ Graham, Matthew John (1900). The Ninth Regiment, New York Volunteers (Hawkins’ Zouaves): Being a History of the Regiment and Veteran Association from 1860 to 1900. New York: E.P. Cody & Co.
- ^ Graham, Matthew John (1900). The Ninth Regiment, New York Volunteers (Hawkins’ Zouaves): Being a History of the Regiment and Veteran Association from 1860 to 1900. New York: E.P. Cody & Co.
- ^ Graham, Matthew John (1900). The Ninth Regiment, New York Volunteers (Hawkins’ Zouaves): Being a History of the Regiment and Veteran Association from 1860 to 1900. New York: E.P. Cody & Co.