Author and historian Rick Britton discussed Civil War history.
The Battle of Big Bethel
Rick Britton
Regular listeners of our podcast or our live streaming feed might know Rick Britton. He’s a historian and cartographer and a frequent guest on WINA’s Charlottesville Right Now with Coy Barefoot. Rick also organizes a Civil War lecture and day-trip series in conjunction with the Charlottesville Senior Center.
On Wednesday May 19th Rick Britton himself delivered a presentation on the Battle of Big Bethel, Virginia’s first Civil War land battle. Fought on June 10th, 1861, 41 days before the First Battle of Manassas, Big Bethel pitted Confederates "Prince John" Magruder and D. H. Hill, along with approximately 1,400 men, against Union Gen. Benjamin Butler’s force of 4,400 from Fortress Monroe and Newport News. Prior to the fight, D. H. Hill had ordered his North Carolinians to dig in, and it was these earthworks that helped the Southern troops hold the field and prevail against superior numbers.
On Wednesday, May 26th, Rick Britton will lead a tour down to the Virginia Peninsula where this early battle took place. The tour will tour historic Fortress Monroe — a must see since it’s scheduled for closing this year — as well as the Mariner’s Museum featuring the turret of the original U.S.S. Monitor and a full-scale reproduction of that revolutionary vessel that the tour will actually board. Bus tour departs from the Charlottesville Senior Center at 8:00 AM. There is a fee for the tour. Call 974-6538 for more info.
This is the first in a six part series for 2010.
Charlottesville Right Now: 5-19-10 Hank Albarelli
Author Hank Albarelli joined Coy to discuss his book A Terrible Mistake: The Murder of Frank Olson and the CIA’s Secret Cold War Experiments .
Charlottesville Right Now: 5-19-10 Rick Britton
Charlottesville Right Now: 5-11-10 Brian Balogh
Brian Balogh joined Coy to discuss his podcast The Good Mother: A History of American Motherhood.
Charlottesville Right Now: 5-11-10 Anna Berkes
Anna Berkes, Research Librarian at Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello to discuss Jefferson’s purchase of a mourning ring.
Charlottesville Right Now: 4-30-10 Rick Britton
Charlottesville Right Now: 4-21-10 Dr. John Wilsey part II
Dr. John Wilsey of the First Baptist Church on Park Street continued his conversation with Jay about whether America is a Christian nation.
Charlottesville Right Now: 4-21-10 Dr. John Wilsey
Dr. John Wilsey of the First Baptist Church on Park Street talked with Jay about the question of whether or not America is a Christian nation.
Charlottesville Right Now: 4-13-10 Jimmy Hollins
Jimmy Hollins of The Burley Varsity Club discussed their latest events.
Charlottesville Right Now: 4-13-10 John Whitehead
John Whitehead of The Rutherford Institute discuss Thomas Jefferson’s legacy and Thomas Jefferson on religion.
Charlottesville Right Now: 4-12-10 Bob Holsworth
Bob Holsworth of Virginia Tomorrow joined Coy to discuss the fallout from Governor Bob McDonnell’s proclamation that April is Confederate History Month in the Commonwealth of Virginia.