Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1861-08-16
GEN. PIERCE on THE BATTLE OF
RIG BETHEL.

1t will be remembered that Brigadier Gen.
Z. W Pierce, Of the Massachusetts, Militia,
commanded the detachment which made the
night attack on Great Bethel, in June last.
The failure to capture the place was attrib-
uted at first pretty generally to the inexperi
ence and ineficiency of Gen. Pierce. There
were many however, who, from the first
reports of the transaction, believed the expe-
dition badly planned, and that
General Butler should bear good
share OF the discredt, which at first
was thrown exclusively on Gen. Pierce.
Gen. Pierce having fulfilled the term Of
service for which he was sent, and returned
to civil life, has published in the Boston
papers, statement intended to free himself
from the blame, unjustly, as he thinks,
imputed to him. The main part of that
statement is the following:
On the 9th of June received orders from Gen.
Butler, and accompanying them plan for an
expedition to rout force of the enemy stationed
at Big Bethel. The particular regiment to pro-
coed from Hampton to make the attack was desig-
mated in the order. Upon inquiring to what
rebel force there there, l was told by the
commanding General that he had ordered the
proper reconnaissance to be made, and had ascer-
tained that there at that point about 500 of
the enemy. Relying upon this, and in obedience
to the order of the commanding General l pro-
ceedod on the night of June 9th, TO the attack on
Big Bethel. 1t was by his order that took new
recruits, who had never been under fire, and who
bad bar Ix- hoe in q m n
all the established rules Of warfare, to march al
midnight l. miles into the country. without one
moments rest, and with only 20 rounds Of cart
ridge, to make an attack upon enemy Of un
known numbers, and as found, strongly en-
trenched in masked batteries.
1t was by the order of the commanding General
that provided with only two small howitzeri
and one six-pounder, with only Il rounds Of car
| tridges-hardly sufficient for minutes fre-tc
attack a masked battery % at least six we'll
| mounted cannon.
1t was by the direction of the commanding
! General that every man in the detachment which
! went from Camp Hamilton wore on his left aru
! a white badge; that, as the attack was to b,
made in the night, or the grey of the morning
| and by detachments from two different camps, n,
| accident might occur; and it was to the neglec
! on The part of him who ordered tho expedition
aSd arranged the plan 10 notify the detachmen
| from Newport News of that badge, that attrib
|
the collision of friends in the morning. Indee,
I have since learned that the white badges wer
seen on our arms by those who first fired upon US
but alas for them they had no significance.
The orders given me in regard to the attacl
we're explicit, yet they betray a want of know
ledge Of the euemy's position and numbers. Ha'
the opportunity been afforded me to have made
reconnaissance myself l am confident that th
defeat, at least, would not have our. And yet
with all these inadequate preparations, think
had the enemy's right and centre been as vigor
oasly assaulted by the New York troops as wa
their lett by the Massachusetts and Vermont, W
might, at least, have entered the battery, thoug
perhaps only to have been driven out; for
must be recolected that Big Bethel is muc
easier of access from Yorktown, the rendezvous a
that time of $4,000 secession troops, than fror
Fortress Monroe.
1t was not until the Third and Fifth New Yor
regiments had been completely demoralized, an
utterly incompetent from exhaustion to coutinu