, 1861-06-26
The H1under ut Big Bethe1-A scatI
IUE EInNAuEA nf mllil1EE Ir1h 1hHcfilf,

The H1under ut Big Bethet-A Scath-
Ing hxpoauFe of Military ImbecillsJ.
BIZ. Halsted, one Of the editors of the Gin
cinuah Commercial, Who Is writing war letters
from Washington, thus speaks Of the part
played by our military at the attack On Big
Bethel It Ia very severe, aud no doubt Justly
60. He wrote under date of the 18th:
The expedition which ended In the bloody
repn1se at Big Bethel, has shed beam Of
light straight through the rottenness Of our
military Organization The expedition WAS,
from the beginning, an unbroken series Of
be the very best policy to expose them to the
fullest extent Let the people see what has
been done by the managers Of military affiirs
with the immense offerings TINT have been
made In spirit Of generous loyalty, to secure
the safety and maintain the honor Of the Re
public
a part Of the expedition to Big Bethel Was
aent in boats up Hampton Greek. The boats
we're an hour and huff behind the time ap-
pointed, In leaving, As they entered tie
creek, having been Informed that the senti-
ne1s VI re WarEed Of their approach, they were
t. cir o&rs) when the first sentinel OIL the
shcres sung out at the top Of his voice." Who
goes there:"
Al officer In the foremost boat stood up
and Fald In q low tone-"The expedition; the
expedition; don't make SO much noise" Urn
bringing down Ills rifle, and, firing, missing by
d few inches, shooting the officer through the
head. And the sentinel did but do his duty,
as he had Eot been warned that the boats
would pass. The officer supposed that the
beats would have to be stopped, or run the
creek. He determined to taac the latter
course, ane called ont, Give way, men, give
way let them shoot and be damned The
awkward sors Of bitches can't hit anybody
anyhow" Just os the boats ian hour and q
half bthlnd tne) came up to the second SEN
the sentinels understood the matter, came
alnrg and prevented further firing. The next
blundeT WIS two Of the regiments firing into
each other, which was the work Of parcel Of
idiote. At the time Of this firing the New
York Regiment of Zouaves was three miles
and half in front, aud had already taken Lit
tie Bethel They heard the firing In their
rear, al d, supposing an attack was made in.
force upon the regiments coming up, retraced
their steps, running all the way. They then
marched over the same ground on the ad-
vance.
When the troops went into action at Big
Bethel they had been on the march twelve
hours without food, and the supply Of water
In their canteens was exhausted. The day
was becoming hot, and they were dispirited
By the blp9asIs fthe night, and falnting with
hunger 5 and dtia hagas: .o.,,.,.;.. - .,,.,
AAG 1&sL4IA hao n uup4E8I0U VI ul34A5-
trous foole!X, utterly without excuse or
example. The men wanted to know OF
the captains what to do; the captains
wanted their colonies to tell them Whist to
DO; aud the Conoels asked Gen. Pierce Whist
had better be done, and he said, seWel1, indeed
don't Know" There were the meu, prepas-
l. ed, ready, eager, competent to take the bats
tery.' But the officers did not know how to
| direct the men,, II there had been no ofHcetB
In the field, the battery would have been
/ taken. The men would have done it In fire
minutes, II they had just been turned loose.
But they proposed to obey orders, end there
were no orders. At last two or three compa-
nies did outdank the battezy:b by sort Of indie
pendent movement, and the V{rginiana were
running away from it, when one Of our brill
liant officers seeing the Federal Bayoneta brlst-
ling through the bushes, supposed It was q
reinforcement Of Vlginiaus, aud ordered q
retreat, md the men moved of crying aud
swearing with shame and fury.
f. Nov It is important to inquire how many
|. bloody repu1ses must be suffered In order to
|: dill 8 hole into the head of the Admlnlssza-
tion, National and State, and into the soldiers
thentelves, through which common sense Is
/ to the appointment Or election of officers, can
+ Be injected. And the 5ackass officers might
/ Een begin to Inquire how long it win be oe
fore their men iWill find, = necessary to 4aoos