Newbern weekly progress. [volume] (Newbern, N.C.) 1858-1863, 1861-07-02
THURSDAY MoRSING, JUNE 81. 1861.
Esrom Esaseiei,.


We learn from gentlemen down from Rsl
cigh tEat it was thought the Convention could
hardly adjourn Yesterday, and that it might
continue in session week or two.
We also heard that President Davis he's giy
en- notice that he will receive no more Volun-
tccrs for 12 months, and that al our volunteers
will probably be disbanded in few days; un
less they will go for the war The Legislature
eyidenty committed an error at first in not
calling for the whole 80, 600 for tie aoay. They
would have been raised just as easy
BATTLE OF BETHEL CHURCH-OFFtCIAL
REPORT
Hon j. W ELLIS, Gocernor Of
North Caro3tno
SIR have the honor to report that in obe-
dence to orders Fl on the Colonel command
ing | marched on the 9th inst, with my Regi-
ment and four pieces of Maj. Randoph's bat
ter5. from Yorktown, on the Hampton Road
to Bethel Church, miles from Hampton
We reached there after dark wet night
and slept without tents. Early the morn
ing Of the 7th, made reconnaissance Of the
ground preparatory to fortifying ! found 4
branch Of Back River in our front and encir-
cling our right flank. On our left, dense
and almost impossible wood except about 80
wards of old field. The breadth Of the road, a
thick wood, and narrow cultivated field Gov
cred our rear The nature of the ground de
tcrmned me to make enclosed work, and
had the invaluable aid of Lieut.. Col Lee of my
regiment in its plan and construction. OuI
position had the inherent defect of being cons
1,aQn5ez by al immense field Immediately in
front of it, upon which the masses of the enc
NV might be readily dcployed. presumng an
attempt would be made to carry the bridge
across the stream, battery was made for its
especial protection and Maj. Randolph placed
his guns as to sweep all the approaches to
it, The occupation of two commanding emn-
ences beyond the creek and on our right, would
have greatly strengthened our position, but
our force was too weak TO admit of the occr:-
/ patton of more than one of them. A battery
was laid cut on it for one OF Randolpl's HoWit-
zers. We had only . spades, axes, and )
picks but these were busily piled all day and
! tiott Of the 7th aud all day on the 8th. On
lie afternoon Of the Sth, | learned that ma
rau,lin1 party of the enemy was in few miles
of;< lc4lleti fol Il party of54 men to drive them
back Lieut.. Roberts, of company OF my
regiment promptly responded, and IN five m1i-
/ utcs his command en- route, | detached
Moi Randolph with one kowitZer to Join him,
aud Lieut.. Col. lee, lst Regiment \. G. Vol
unteelS requested and was granted permission
to tal,. command OF the whole. After a march
| OF five miles, they came across the maraudcrS
busy over the spoils of plundered house
! \ shell soon put the piundercrs TO flight and
/ they were chased over New Market Bridge,
/ where our little force was halted in Conse-
! qucnce of the presence Of Il considerable body
! Stationed on the other side. Lieut.. Col. Lee
! brought in one prisoner How many of the
! enemy were killed and wounded is not known.
| None Of our command WAS hurt. Soon after
Lieut.. Col. Lee left, Il citizen came dashlng IN
with the information that 73 maranders were
on the Back River road | called for Capt.
! McDowvlTs Company of the LIST Regiment
| n c. Volunteers and in three minutes, 1T was
! in hot pursuit. Lieut.. West Of the Ilowitzcr
t battalion with one piece was detached to join
| them, and Mai. Lane Of my reg gimcnt voiun-
tcercd to assume command of the whole. AT
! ter a weary march, they encountered, dis
perscd and chased the wretches over New
! Market bridgc--this being the second race on
the same day over the New Market course, in
! both of which the Yankees reached the goal
| first Major Lane brought in one prisoner
Reliable citizens reported that two cart loads
and one buggy load of wounded were brought
| into Halnp on. We had not a single man
killed or wounded. Col. Magruder came vi
that evening and assumed command.
On Sunday the ninth, a fresh supply of ;oola
enabled Us 10 put more men to work, and when
not engaged in religious duties, the men
worked vigorously on the cntrenchnents.-
We were aroused at 3 o'clock on Monday
morning, for general advance upon the enc
my, and marched 81 miles, when we reached
that the foe in large force was within fe"
hundred yards OF us. We fell back hastily
upon OR entertainments and awaited the arm
val OF our invaders. Lieut.. Col. Stewart OF
the Sd Va, Reei1nellt, having joined us with
some $50 men. was stationed on the bill on the
extreme right beyond the creek, and company
C OF NV regiment IVES also thrown over the
stream to project the How ter Under Capt.
Brown. Capt. E1dglrs of company \, lst n
C. regiment, took post in the dense wood be
vond and to the left Of the bridge. NAL Mon
taguc, with three companies ot his battalnon,
was ordered up from the rear and took post On
our right beginning at the Church and eNtcn-
ding along tie entire front on that side. This
fine body Of men, and the gallant command OF
Liet Col Stewart, work cd with great rapldity,
and in an hour had constructed temporary
shelters against the encmys tire Just at !
O'Clock, \. NJ, the heavy columns OF the enemy
were seen approaching rapidly and in gooo
order but when Randolph opened upon them
their organization was completely broken up
The enemy promptly replied with his Art1lle
ry, firing briskly and wildly, and made an at
, tempt at dcployment on our right OF the road
+ under cover of some houses and paliing--
They were however, promptly driven back byy
our Artillery, Virginia company (the Lii'
Guardl and companies. B, c, and q, OF my
mithin musAetry 2unge turing tic day ercep
uader core, et srooos, fences or Foiling. IN
der cover of the trees, he moved strong col
umn to an old ford some of mile belo"
where [ had placed picket of some forty men
Col Magrudcr sent Capt. Worth's company
Montague's command, with one howitzer un
der sergent Crane, to drive back this column
. which was done by q single shot from the how
itzer Before this, printing wire had beer
, broken in the vent of the howitzer commande'
by Capt Brown and rendered it useless.
force estimated at 1900 was now attempting t
ou flank Us and get In the rear OF Lieut.. Coi
e Stewards small command. He was according
! v directed to fall back and the whole Of on
advanced troops were withdrawn. At thi
! critical moment, directed Lieut.. Col. Lee t
call Cap. Brdgers cut OF the swamp ana ofae
: him to occupy the nearest advanced work, an
, | ordered Capt. Ross, company c., 1st Heg
> ment n c. Volunteers, to the support OF Lieut.
= Col Stewart These two Captains with thei
companies, crossed over to Randolph's batter
q ,ooct in the most 0aIaD