The New York herald., 1861-12-28
OUR FORTRESS MONROE coRREspoNDENCE

T.
@ FoRrRkEs MONROE, Va, Dec. 23. 1881
Brilliant SEtish of Battalion Of The Tontiah Regiment
New Fork Voluneers, Colonel AaS Weber. wih hc
Rebels-Grdphic DESCRIPTION Of he Engogenent-Ihe
Rebels have Entire Company Of lafdmry Composed
Of Negoes-7he Enemy D,iren Bact--7ss Rebels Killed
and upscards of Ttccnty Wounded-Gatan Behaoicr Of
Oar 7roops-Major SchnoeIy B'uuely leading HI
T,oops--Rc,nyo,c ere,S Arviw after the Enemy had
Retreaed-7oo Rebels Shot, and Falling into Ue Back
River are Fioa,oa OF ua, The 7tdesne Of them Proves
TO be John Hawkins, Adiuam Of the Atabama hin'ae
Mer-2eiedsed Rebels Sent to Norfolk, &C., &c.
The monotony Of camp life hero aud ut Camp Hamil
ton broken yesterday by tho intelligence that
ton Of some naepitude had taken place between
detachment OF lt0 81 tho Twentieth Regiment New
York Volunteers, III command OF Major Engelbert
Schnoepf and about ssysn hundred rebel soldiers.
Tho particulars Of tho an4ir are as fcllows:-Maor
Schnoepf having lost from his command the day
before. left Newport News Sunday morning Al eleven
O'Clock at the head Of hundred aud fty men, and
wended his way towards Newmarket Bridge search Of
him. Arriving tho bridge, the Major detailed some
to the creek and charged them to search
closely tho woods as tho man might have hidden him
self from tho enemy, who about the place for
several days previous. Tho reserve WAS placed
behind the Newmarket Bridge Chat is whore
the crossing formerly was) aud another do.
had scarcely been taken up when the skirssrs Of tho
Twentieth regiment discovered the enemy consisting OF
three companies Of Infantry, among thcm Que
pany of negroes, who appeared in the 'front.' aud mado
an attack The left flank attacked at the same
time by two squadrons Of cavalry, who
dasbing along At terrible gate and dcafening
yolls. Our stood their ground maifuily, and,
as soon as tho proper moment to aFe, the
cavalry being enough (about 100 yards the order
to rc was given and obeyel with alacrity Tho
drove cavalry back killing several OF thom while
treating.
The skrmshcrs on the other side OF the bridge were
recalled by tho Major, and owing to the bridge having
destroyed, they were compelled 10 swim across
hotly pursued by the enemy.
The pursuit Of the robes determined that band
20 hand engagement occurred. The pursuing party
joined by the negro soldiers aud Captain Stumpf OF tho
Twentieth regiment struck upon tho back with the
butt end Of musket, but not severely hurt.
Major Schnoepf hcrcrpon took position dcIloying his
entro force along The river banks skirmishcrs and
terrible fight cnsued. The enemy fired by companies,
whereas the fire Of men the pursncrs by es'
and so rapid that rebel officer and private that
on tho opposite shore killed aud umbed into tho
river on their faces The enemy hecupon withdrew as
fast as possbc. firing thoy ran, leaving their dead
and wounded behind. Six Of the Twentieth regi.
ascertained, ten killed throe picked up yesor
day and scvcn today and probably twenty or more
wounded Ono OF the latter brought on the field
and treated by Assistant Surgeon Heand OF the Twen
tioth regiment Several horses of the cavalry were
killed. The corpses of the two men who fell into the
creek oated of with tho tide and Acting Brgadier Gene
raj Weber sent detachment or to pick them up pos
sible in order 20 have them deccntly inferred
Ono Of the bodies only found, and In the centre Of
the forehead hole from bullet, which evidently
tile cause the death Of this poor In his pockets
found number Of letters and by that we ascertained
chat his name John Hawkins, Adu,ant the Ala.
bama Minute Men. On his coat the buttons bore the
letters A. NJ About thirty dollars in shnplasters
soround on hi, body and a small bag sung about his
neck contained nineteen dollars in gold The bills
on tho banks Of North Carolina and Virginia. and low
as ten cents IN value The enemy had retreated
about three hundred PAGES and having again taken
np 4 position, commenced to pour terrible
nro upon Major schnoeprs command without
terrible that the houses trees and fences III the
vicinity completely rddlcd The Turner's however,
being greatly inferior in strength, kept safe distance,
and did reply to this FIRE. saNMg-
Immediately after the fight commenced Major Schnoepf
seeing that he had to cope With force three to onc sent
Off orderly Newport News and also messenger to
Acting Bigader General Max Weber, for reinforcements
General Wober instantly despatched the Six companies OF
the Twentieth regiment IN command OK Lieutenant
Colonel Francis Weiss, stationed at Camp Hamilton, and,
in company with Captain H. NJ Burlcgh, Provost Marshal
camp proceeded to the Of action. Brigadcr
General Joseph r. T. Mansfield also fastened to the battle
fold heading the remainder of the Twentieth regiment
battalion Newport News and the Second regiment New
York Volunteers
herewith send
TYPOGRAPHICAL MAP, SHOWING TIE SCENE or THE
ACTION