Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-06-14
THE FIGHT AT BIG BETHEL.
ADDITIONAL PARTICULARS, WITH GEN
BUTLER'S OFFICIAL REPORT.


The laundering failure Of the attack on the
rebels at Big Bethel, exciies sharp comment
at Washington a dispatch to the New York
Times says 1.-The blame fully rests upon
Gen. Pierce, who, it is established became
confused, and unable to comprehend the situa.
ton, and to give the necessary order, Either
Col. Duryee or Col. Townsend, it is common
ly remarked, would have produced different
result had they been entrusted with the COM
mand." Col. Bendx OF the German regiment
is accused of mismanage ment in firing on Col.
Townsend's men. The following particulars
are added -
"The conduct of Brigadier General Pierce
is again severely commented on. lie retired
to the rear confused and unable to give any
orders that his men could comprehend. lie
cried, Boston, charged! but none could hear
him at any DISTANCE, and one man cried out,
Charge be ID How are we going to charge
that internal fire The boys stood their
ground as long as it was of any use.
The fight at the batteries commenced at II
o'clock in the forenoon of Monday, and lasted
necessarily till about 2 O'Clock. The N. Y.
Zouaves, Col. Hawkins, fell aside from the
road and got in range across one of the batter
les, doing good execution Tor over halt an
hour, but they got out OF ammunition, and
were ordered to fail back with the retreat.
On the water side it was impossible to ap.
proach the battery. After the first voeys
were fired upon the central battery, the coll
umn opened right and left and entered the
woods, with view to turning the flank of the
enemy, while the field pieces served by the
Massachusetts boys held their position in the
center for time. The odds were too great,
however, and the retreat was finally made
good, only one OF the field pieces being saved.
Major Winthrop Of Massachusetts, aid to Gen.
Butler, is missing. He lett his horse with
servant, at the roadside, and entered the woods
to reconnoitre. He has not returned, and it
is feared he is killed, or has Seen taken prs-
oner."
Gen. ssntier's Official Report of the Isnt-
tIes.
WASHINGTON, June 12-The following is
Gen. Buffers official report Of the affair at
Little and Big Bethel -
HEADQUARTERS DEP ARTMENr OF YIRGIYIA,l
Fortress Monroe, June 10, 1861. !
To Lieutenant General .Scoh:---
General-Haying learned that the enemy
had established an outpost of some strength
at a place called Little Bethel small church,
about eight miles from Newport News, and the
same distance from Hampton, from whence
they were accustomed nightly to advance on
both Newport News and the pic'et guards of
Hampton TO annoy them, and also from whence
they had come down i'll small squads of cav
airy and taken number of Union men, some
of whom had the safeguard and protection OF
the troops of the United States, and forced
them into the rebel ranks, and that they were
also gathering up the slaves OF citizens who
had moved away and left their farms in charge
OF their negroes, carrying them to work in in
trCnchments at Williamsburg and Yorktown,
| had determined to send up force to drive
them back and destroy their camp, the head
quarters of which was this small church, l
had also learned that at small place a short
distance further on, on the Hampton side Of Il
place called Big Bethel, a large church, near
the head of the north branch of Back river,
and that here was very considerable rendez-
vous, with works of more or less strength in
process OF erection, and from Ibis point the
whole country was laid under contribution.
Accordingly | ordered Gen. Pierce, who is
in command OF Camp Hamilton at Hampton,
TO send Duryea's regiment OF Zouaves to be
ferried over Hampton Greek at one O'Clock
this morning, and TO march by the road up to
Newmarket bridge, then crossing the bridge,
to go by by road aud thus put the regiment
in the rear of the enemy, and between Big
Bethel and Little Bethel, in part for the pur-
pose of cutting him off, and lhcn to make an
attack upon Little Bethel. | directed General
Pierce to support him from Hampton with
Col. Townsend's regiment, with Two mounted
howitzers, and to march about an hour later.
AT the same time | directed Col. Phelps com
manding at Newport News, to send out a bat
talon, composed OF such companies OF the
regiments under his command as he thought
best, under command Of Lieut.. Col. Wash
burn in time to make demonstration upon
Little Bethel in front, and to have him sup
ported by Col BendiX's regiment, with two
field pieces. Bendix and Townsends regi-
ments should effect junction at the fork of
the road leading from Hampton to Newport
News, something like mile and a half from
Little Bethel | directed the march TO be 50
timed that the attack should be made at just
daybreak and that after the attack was made
upon Little Bethel Duryee's regiment and Il
regiment from Newport News should follow
Immediately upon the heels OF the fusitlves, it
they were unable to cut them off, and attack
the battery on the road TO Big Bethel, while
covered by the tugitives; or, il II was thought
expedent by Gen. Pierce, failing to surprise
the camp at Little Bethel, they should attempt
10 take the work near Big Bethel. 10 prevent
the possibility of mistake in the darkness, |
directed that no attack shonld be made until
the watchword should be shouted by the at
lacking regiment and, in case that by any
mistake IN the march the regiments that were
TO make the junction should Unexpectedly
meet and be unknown to each other. also di.
rected that the members oil Col. Iownsend's
regiment should be known, it in dayiig by
something white worn OH the arm. The
troops were accordingly put in motion as or
dercd, and tile march was 50 timed that Col.
Duryee had got i'll the position noted upon the
40 ~ IltyS lk4t al
| bum, in command Of the regiment from New
port News, had got into the position indicated
upon the sketch, and Col. Bendix's regiment
had been posted and ordered to hold the fork
OF the road, with two pieces OF artillery, and
Col. Townsend's regiment had got 10 the place
indicated just behind, and were about 10 form
a junction as the day dawned.
Up to this point the plan la been vigorous
ly, accurately, and successfully carried out
but here, by some strange faulty, and as yet
unexplained blunder without any word of no.
tce, While Col. Townsend was in column en-
route, and when the head OF the column was
within 100 yards. Col. Bendx's regiment
opened fire with both artillery and muskelry
upon Col. Townsend's column, which, in tie
hurry and confusion, was irIegularly returned
by some OF Col. Townsend's men, who feared
they had fallen INTO an II buscade. Colonel
Townsend's column Immediately retreated to
the eminence near by, and were not pursued
by Col. Bendx's men. By this almost crinl-
nal blunder two men OF Col Townsends
regiment were killed, and eight more or less
wounded.
Hearing this cannonading and firing in his
rear, Lieutenant Colonel Washburn, not know.
| ing but that his communication might be cut
off, Immediately reversed his march, as did
Colonel Duryee, and marched back TO form
| junction with his reserves.
General Pierce, who was with Colonel
Townsend's regiment, fearing that the enemy
had got notice OF our approach, and had post
ed himself in force on the line OF march, and