The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1861-06-13
THE WAR FOR THE UNION,
Capture of the Rebel
Batteries at Great Be-
thel by Gen. Butler.
One Thousand Rebel
Prisoners Taken.

Prisoners Taken.
Baltimore, June 1.-THE steamer
from Old Point Comfort has arrived with
the following Intelligence, dated at Fort
ress Monroe last evening.
This has been an exciting and sorrow
ful day at Old Point Confort.
Gen. Butler having learned that the
rebels were forming an eDtrencbed camp
with strong bstteries, at Great Bethel,
nine miles from Hampton, on the York
town road, he deemed it necessary to dis
lodge them. Accordingly movements
were made, Last night. from Fortress
Monroe and Newport News.
About midnight Col. Duryea's Zou-
aves aud Col Townsend's Albany regi-
meDt crossed the river at Hampton by
means Of six large batteaux, manned by
the Naval Brig ade, and took up the line
of march. The former we're some two
miles in advance of the latter.
At the same time. Col Bcnedx's Reg
imcnt and a detaehnent Of the Vermont
and NJ assachu-etts resimeDts, at Newport
News, moved forward to form junction
xith the regiments from Fortress Monroe,
at Little Bethel. about half way between
Hau pton and Great Bethel
The Zousves passed Little Bethel at
about o'clock P NJ. Benedixs rigi-
uent arrived next and took a position at
I.k of d. Not
derstanding the signal, the Zouave regi
ment in the darkness of the morning fir
ed upon Col. Townsends column, march
ipg in close order and led by Lieut. But
ler. SOP of Gen. Butler, AMI also bis aid,
with two pieces of artillery.
Other accounts sag tha. Col. Town
send. regiment fired first. At all eTents.
the fire of the Albany regiment wa
harmless, while that of the Germ ans wa,
fatal, killing one man and fatally wound
ing two others, with several slight casu
alties
The Albany regiment being back of
the Germans discovered FROM the accou
trements left on the field that the suppo-,
ed enemy vas q freud. They bad 10
the meantime fired moe rounds With sm all
arms and field piece. The Zouaves
hearing the fire had turned aud fred also
upon the Albany boys.
At daybreak Col. Aliens and Col.
Cars Regiments moved from the rear
Of the fortress to support the main body
The mistake at Little Bethel having been
asoertained, the buildings were burned,
aud Major ~ith .wo prominent Seces
sionists. named Livery and Whiting, were
made prisoners.
The troops then advanced upon Great
Bethel in the following order-the Zou
ayes Colonel Bendca, Lieut. Col. Wash
burnc, Col. Allen and Col. Carr. AT
that point our regimets formed and sue,
cessively eBdeavorcd to take large mas
ked battery of the sccessioDists.
The effort was futile. our three snail
pieces OF artillery not being able to cope
With the heavy rifled cannon of the enemy,
according to some accounts thirty in mum
Der.
The rebel battery was so completely
masked that not a man could be seen,
hut the flashes of the guns only. There
were probably less than 1000 men behind
the battery of the rebels.
A we'll concerted moremeDt might
have secured the position, but Brigader
Gep. Pierce, who commanded the expe
ditiou, seemed to have lost his presence
of mind. and the Troy RI. iment stood an
hour exposed to Calling FIRE. An or
der to retreat was at length given. bat at
that moment Lieut. Greb,l, of the U S.
Army, aud in command of the Artillery.
was struck by cannon ball and infant
y killed. He bad spiked bis gun and
was galloutly endearorins to withdraw
bis command.
Capt George w. Wilson, of the Troy
Regiment after the order to retreat. took
possession Of the gun. aud, with Quarter
master Macarthur, brought it of the field
with the corpse of the beloved Leuten.
ant
They brought them to the fortress this
evening. Thore are probably 25 killed
and 100 wounded.
Lieut. Butler deserves the grestest cred.
it for bringing off the killed and wound
ed. Several Of the latter are now in the
hospital here.
1t should have been stated that Col
McChesneys regiment formed a reserve
and that Col. Hawkin's regimen; mosed
from Newport News during the day. The
armed vessels went up to Newport News,
excepting the Cumberland. All tbor,g
imeuts are now probably at their former
quarters.
Much indignation is manifested against
Brigadier General Pierce General But
ler has been ubiquitous. doing all 10 bis
to save our men and the honor of our
cause.
Washington, June i2-l A. NJ.
? A special messenger arrived an hour
since from Fortress Monroe. bringing the
Intelligence that General Butler this % or
ming proceeded. with large reinforce
m emf m Graak Rafhal orJ ofsor