Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-06-13
The Fight at Rethel Church.

We published yesterday in our telegraphic
columns, dispatch relative TO an engagement
at Bethel Church in Virginia, between a de.
tachment of Federal aud Southern troops.
The dispatch was made up at Louisville for
the Southern press from the reports of the
associated press received at Louisville for the
papers there. It was a confused and alto.
gelher unintelligible synopsis of the follow.
despatch, which we repnblish from The Courier
Mr.. BARR was sent to Louisville to report for
the Southern press. and was commended as
an intelligent gentleman. So far his reports
have been frequently unintelligible, and an
imposition
From Baltimore.
BALTIMORE June ll.-Grn. Butler having
learned that the rebels we're terrifying with
-trong batteries he camp at CIR al B thel
nine miles from Hampton. on the Yorktown
road. he deemed it Necessary to dislOd ge hem.
Accordingly mo, emrnIs were made last night
from Fortress Monr"e and Newport News.
Alb ut midnight Col. d rrger's Zouaves and
Col Townsrnd's Albany r gimrnt cross
| The river at Hampton by means of six large
IA teaux manned by the naval brigad-, and
fouk no th.. line of march. the former some
two mile in advance of the latter. At the
~aTe time Col. B Ddix's regiment aud d de-
fachmpnt Of The. Vermont and Massachusett Is
r-e ulsrs at Newpor', moved forward TO furm
junction with the regulars from Fortress
Monr,e at Little B-theI, about half way he
we-n Ham t"n aud Great Bethel The ZJu-
ives passed Little Bethel about A NJ.
Col. B.. ndix'- arrived and took up posi-
riOn al the intersection of The roads Not
rudorsfandin,r h.. ciunal hn Garma0 ragi
mrnt, in the dan kness nf the night. fired upon
Col. Townsend's columns maj ching in close
nrdrr, and l. by Lieut.. Butl' T. Sun, and Aid
camp tn GIN Butler, with 'wo pieces "f
artillery. o her accounts say that Col Town
<.-nd's regiment fired first. AT all events the
fire a: The Albany gim' Mt was harmless.
~ bile that of the Germans was fatal, killing
one man and wOunding severely two others,
with several othrr slight casualties.
The Albany Regiment bring back of the
G-rmans, discovered from the Announcements
Jeff on the field that The supposed en- my were
frirnds. They had in the meantime MIN
rounds with small arms and one small piece.
The Zpuaves bearing the firing turned and
also fired upon The Albany boys.
At daybreak Col. Allen aud Col. Harris
regiment moved from the rear of the Fortress
To support the main body.
The mistake at Little Bethel having been
asceriained, the buildings were burned and
majrr with two prominent Secessionists taken
prisoners
The troops then advanced upon Great
Bethel. but our Ihree.small pieces Of artiI
iery were unable to cope with the heavy ri
4 d cannon of the enemy. The rebel bat
terry was completely mas ked.
No men could be seen, and only the Fishes
of the guns. There were probably not less
than 1000 men behind the batteries of the
rebels.
A well concerted movement might have
secured the position, but Brigader General
Pierce, who commanded the expedition, APP
pears 10 have lost bis presence of mind. and
the Troy regiment. stood for an hour exposed
to Calling fire. when an order to Retreat was
at last given.
Lieut.. Greble of the U S. A, and in com
mand OF the artillery, was struck by Can
non ball and instantly killed. He had spiked
his gun and was calamity endeavoring 10
withdraw his command.
Capt. George w. Wilson, of the Troy Regi-
mcnt, after The order TO retreat was given
took possession of the gun and brought it off
the field with the corpse of the Lieutenant
Both were brought 10 Fortress Monroe this
evening.
There were probably about 25 killed and
100 of the Federal troops wounded.
Lieut.. Blu Ter deserves he greatest credit
for bringing off the killed and wounded
Several OF The latter are now il the hospital
Great indignation is manifested against
Brigadier General Pierce.