Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-06-19
The sss.le az Great ne1s.eI--souts.ern


The Battle at Great BeIheI--southern
Account.
We copy the following statement Of the en-
gaSement at Great Bethel from the Baltimore
Republican, o. W ednesday, which gives the South
ern account OF Ehat affair,
The Battle at Great Betael-Further Details of
the Fight-Ihe Federal Loss Orer 400 ia KILLED
and Woundef-Ihe Contederates Loss only l2
or l5-COi. j. u. Mayruder in Command Of The
Battery.
BY the arrival this morning of the steamer
Ge0rgeanna, Capt. Pearson. from Fortress Mon
roe, are in possession OF additional particulars
relative TO the late battle, and the further details
show that the defeat OF the Federal troops has
been more compete and disastrous than was at
first reported. The details rs they cuKe 70 hand
from other sources, attest that the victory oil the
Firginians is one of uncommon briancy, and the
repulse of the Federal troops was equally disas
trous and disgraceu a.
Among the regulars at the Fortress great sur
prise and Indignation were expressed that Butter
should have permitted so large force to leave Oh
this expedition, without himself accompanying
them. Both the officers and men of the req
ments engaged, general thing, arc the sub
jects OF very uncomphmentary observations on
the part OF the regulars, who claim that Sll the
fighting that was done was by the few artllerists
who accompanied them 1.-The mistake" as it is
officially termed by Butler. through which Col
Benedix's German regiment defeated Col Town
sends Albany regiment-the latter having in
glorously fed in the widest confusion, upon the
fall OF three OF their men, is subject of universal
ridcule
Butler condemned Pierce as the cause of their
defeat, and Pierce attempts to throw the odium
upon Major Winthrop, who, he charges, gave the
order which exposed the troops to the fatal fire
of the Coniederates-while all, crcept Butler
he hax-a
The fate of Major Winthrop is vet a matter of
doubt. He was ut first supposed to have been
killed, as he was missing when the repulsel Fed
era troops made inquiry into the extent of
their loss, upon arriving at Hampton after a rapid
retreat of over eight miles. However, as no one
far can be ascertained. saw him fall, various
conjectures now account for his absence-some
think he was killed, some that he was taken
prisoner, and others that he is hiding in the woods
near the scene of their defeat.
Ii is stated positively ut Hampton that Col. j.
| b. Magruder was in command of the Confederate
forces, which consisted of one artillery CORPS
with one hundred men and six pieces, II calvary
corps of one hundred. and three hundred rifle
men and infIntry-ire hundred ia all. All. save
the cavalry, were an advanced force from York
town. and were engaged in erecting a battery
where the engagement took place. to intercept the
advance of Butler on Yorktown. About two
miles from Great Bethel the forces of Pierce dis
covered two of the cavalry, which from
Hampton doing duty pickets
They succeeded in capturing one Of them, who
proved to be Captain w hitting, and who is said to
have allowed himself to be taken, in order TO en-
able his ccmrade to escape, to reach the camp
and report the approach of the enemy to Colonel
| Magruder. His comr.lde started at full speed to
give the alarm, when the pursuers fired several
shots at him. and although supposed be
wounded. rs he fell upon the Leck of his horse,
he succeeded in reaching the Confederate camp
and enabled Colonel Magruder to hastily prepare
for battle before the enemy came up.
He had previously burned the bridge. and his
men were engaged in digging Il trench and throw
ing up breastworks, when the wounded picket an
nounced the rapid approach of the foe. Col. NJ
then planted his six pieces near the bank OF the
stream-iour i'm the front rank and he other two
a short distance in the rear, on the hillside. with
his rihemen and infantry in the unfinished trench,
and his cavalry thrown back a reserve.
The Federal troops moved up To the opposite
side OF the stream, with three pieces i'm front o:
the column, commanded by Lieut.. Credible. ap-
parently unaware of the position of the Confede
rate forces. until they had opeusd on them with
their artillery, rifles and musketry. The shock
was SO great that the advance column fell back
in great confusion, leaving their dead and wounded
where they fell
Lieut. Grebbie then planted his battery i'm a
they had approached, and the principal portion OF
Pierres comnirnd rushed into this wood, where
they were formed for battle. Col. Duryea's Zols-
aves took position in and behind barn ON the
opposite side of the road, where the band was
cleared. but Col. Magruder's artillery soon dis
lodged them. and drove them out. M
The rapid and effective fire OF the ConfederaieS
into the woods soon threw the Federal TROOPS
again into confusion, and sIleiced the battery OF
Lieut.. Credible Col. Magruder having novel
two OF his four front rank guns farther up the
hill, so that he enabled to rake the Federal
D lists from three points, with cross fire.
The Confederate loss, reported, was three
men killed and ten or twelve wounded, while the
loss of Gen. Pierce is nearly or quite four hun
dred in killesl, wounded and missing.
Co. Duryea and Capt. Fitzpatrick. of his regi
ment, are said to have bore themselves with mark
ed bravery, and in vain attempted to induce their
Zouave regiment to maintain their position Capt
e fitzpatrick was wounded in the leg by Il cannon
ball the same ball having torn off one of Colone
1 Townsend's epaulettes before striking Capt. h
D His wound is considered dangerous The loss OF
the Zouaves was killed, AZ wounded and Is
missing.
Col Townsend, of the Albany regiment, driver
to desperation by the disgrace attached to has
command from his "brush' with Col Benedix I
Germans, is said to have exhibited a reckless
daring, in irving to regain the good name he bOrs
4 before they had been tried, and il was deemeJ
' wonderful that Col. Townsend escaped unhurt
/ The Federal troops charge that the greater por
ton of their officers acted very badly, by hiding
behind the larger trees in the woods.
G The stream which separated them from the
5 Confederate forces is only some eighteen Oh
v twenty yards in width, yet no effort Whatever
4 was made to cross to charge Col Magru
e ders battery. When the order at length wal
given to retreat, the Federal troops started ii
e wild confusion. and Col. Magruder ordered hi,
, cavalry to pursue them, which they did viii
e deadly effect, and also secured a number of pris
e oners. The cavalry follow ed them several miles
e seriously harrassing the rear of the ret:eatinl
army.
During yesterday no movement took plac,
either at Fortress Monroe, Hampton, or Newpor
News. Buffers command being entirely occupied
: in grieving over their defeat, and each regimen
ende ,vorng to shift the disgrace thereof upon the
) other The question to be settled among then
1 is not which did the most to prevent defeit-bu
who were the greatest towards. All who were
e not OF the party coneede TO the whole force til,
latter claim. Butler himself was much occu
pied with his grief that he even omitted to smear
q he.