The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1861-06-20
A Battle at Great Bethel.

the following intelligence, dated at Fort
ress Monroe last evening.
This has been am exciting and sorrow
full day at Old Point Comfort.
Gen. Butler having learned that the
rebels were forming an entrenched camp
with strong batteries at Great Bethel, nine
miles from Hampton on the Yorktown
road, he deemed it necessary to dislodge
them. Accordingly, movements were made
last night from Fortress Monroe and New
! port News.
About midnight, Col Duryea's Zouaves
and Col. Townsend's Albany regiment
crossed the river at Hampton by means
of six large batteaux, manned by the Ma
val Brigade and took up the line OF march.
| The former were some two miles In ad-
vance of the latter.
| At the same time, Col. Benedix's regi-
ment and detachment of the Vermont
and Massachusetts regiments, at Newport
| News, moved forward to form a junction
with the regiments from Fortress Monroe
at Little Bethel, about half way between
Hampton and Great Bethel.
| The Zouaves passed Little Bethel at
about o'clock A NJ Benedix's Regi-
ment arrived next and took position at
| the intersection of the roads. Not under
standing the signal, the Zouaye regiment
in the darkness of the morning fired upon
| Col Townsend's column, marching IN
! close order and led by Lieut.. Butler, son
Of Gen. Butler, and also his aid, with two
pieces Of artillery.
Other accounts say that Col. Town
sends regiment fired first. At all events
| -
| less, while that OF tie Germans was fatal,
killing one man and fatally wounding
two others, with several slight casual
ties.
| The Albany regiment being back, the
| Germans discovered from the accutrements
left on the field that the supposed enemy
was friend. They had in the meantime
fred nine rounds with small arms and u
field piece. The Zouaves hearing the fire
had turned and fired also upon the Albany
boys
At daybreak Col. Aliens and Col. Carr 5
Regiments moved from the rear OF the
fortress TO support the main body. The
mistake at Little Bethel having been as
certained, the buildings were burned, and
Major with two proninent-SecesslonIs
named Livery and Whiting, were made
prisoners.
The troops then advanced upon Great
Bethel, in the following order the Zou-
aves, Col. Bender, Lieut. Col. Washburne,
Col Allen and Col Carr. At that point
our regiments formed and successively en-
deavored to take large masked battery OF
the Secessionsts.
The effort was futile our three small
pieces Of artillery not being able to cope
with the heavy rihed cannon Of the enc
my, according to some accounts thirty IL
number.
The rebel battery was SO completely
masked that no men could be seen, but
the flashes of the guns only. There were
probably less than 1000 men behind the
battery Of the rebels.
4 well concerted movement might have
secured the position, but Brig Gen. PicrcC
who commanded the expedition, seemed
to have lost his presence Of mind, and tho
Troy Regiment stood an hour exposed u
CALLING fire. An order to retreat was
at length given, but at that moment Lieut.
Greble, OF the L. S. Army, and in com
mand of the Artillery, Was s5ruck by /;
cannon ball and instantly killed. HC
had spiked his gun and WAS gallantll
cndeavoring to withdraw his command
Capt George w. Wilson Of the Tro,
. Regiment, after the order of retreat, tool
: possession OF the gun, and with Quarter
3 master Macarthur brought it off tn,
! field, with the corpse of the beloved Lieu
tenant.
Lieut.. Butler deserves the creates
credit for bringing off the killed AM
wounded. Several Of the latter are nov
in the hospital here.
On the wlthdrawalo of the Federal troop
the rebel cavalry and infantry in consid
erable force followed as far as NEWMAN
ket bridge, this side of Little Bethel in
humanity charging, in one instance, thos
bearing off the dead and wounded H
bridge was burned.
The enemy had in the action six guns
behind the batteries.
One of Lieut.. Grebles command as
: sured our informant that had an advanc
oeen ordered instead Of a retreat, the bal
: terry would have taken in FIVE minute
: more. Lieut.. Grebie had silenced all thei
: guns but one rifled cannon, which was fire
with great rapidity, and concentrated Ell
> tirely on his command.
Lieut.. Greble spiked his gun at til
: moment he received the orders to retrea
: it is supposed, on account of his surpris
= at the orders, presuming Gen. Pierce ha
! discovered attempts to cut him off, an
Al, l.. L