The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-06-17

tar can be ascertaued, saw MIN iall va
ri0us COnlectures now account Tor ms ao-
senCe-Sone think he was killed. some that ne
WIS taken prisoner, and others that ne 10 MD
ing in the woods. near the scene OF their de
feat.
1t stated positively ut Hampton that Col.
J Il. MagruCer was in command OF the Con-
isd"rat" forces, W hich consisted OF one artii-
ltry corps, with one hundred men and six
pieces, cavalry corps of one hundred, and
three hundred rifemcn and in'an tTy-n'e
hundred in all. An save The cavalry, were
an advance force from Yorktown, and were
engaged in erecting battery where the en-
gageTnnnt took place, TO intercept the advance
Of Butler on Yorktown. About two miles
from Great Bethel the forces OF Pierce discov-
cred two of the cavalry, which was from
Hampton, doing duty as pickets.
They succeeded in capturing one CT them,
who proved to b. Captain Whiting, and who
is said to have allowed himself 10 be taken, in
order to enable his cCmTade to escape, To reach
the camp, and report the approach OF the enc
my TO Colonel Magruder. His comrade start
cd II full speed to give the alarm, when the
pursueTs fired several shots ut him, and al
though supposed to be wounded, rs he fell
upon the neck OF his horse, he succeeded in
reaching the Confederate camp ana enabled
Col. MagrudeT 20 hastily prepare tor battle
before his enemy came up
He had previously burned the bridge, and
his men were engaged III digging Il trench
ana throwing up breastWOrks, when the
wounded picket announced the rapid APP
proaCh OF the foe. Col IL. then planted his
six pieces near the bank Of the Stream--tou-
in the front rank and tue other two short
distance in the rear, on the hill side with his
rlhemen amt infantry in the unfinished
trench, and his cavalry thrown back, as a Re
serve.
The Federal troops moved UP TO the oppo-
site side of the stream, with three pieces in
the front OF the column, commanded bv
Lieutenant GTeble, apparently unaware OF
the position of the Confederate forces, un.i
they had opened on them with their artillery
rife and nusketry. The shock was great
that the advance column fell back in great
confusion, leaving their dead and wounded
where luey tell.
Lieut.. Greble then planted his battery in Z
piece of woods on one side OF the road, by
which they had approached, and the pilncl-
pal portion OF Pierce command rushed into
this wood, where they We're formed for bat
tie. Col Duryea's ZouayeS took position
in and behind Il barn Oh tn" opposite side Of
the road where the land was cleared, but
Col. MaXruders artillery soon dislodged them,
and drove them out.
The rapid and effective fire Of the Confeder
atts INTO the woods soon threw the Federal
troops again into confusion, and silenced the
battery OF Lieut.. Grebie. Col. Magruder
having moved two OF his four front rank guns
farther ny lhe hill, so that he was enabled 10
rake the Federa!!ets, from three points, with
Il cross ire.
The Confederate loss as reported. was three
men billed, and ten or twelve wounded
while the loss OF General Pierce is nearly or
quite J0ur huAdTed, III killed, wounded and
missing.
Colonel Duryea, and Captain Fitzpatrick, OF
his regiment, are said 10 have bore themselves
with marked bravery, and IN vain fittenp pied
to induce their Zouaye Regiment 10 man tain
| their position. Captain fitzpatrick was
wounded IL the leg by cannon ball the same
ball having torn off one of Col To- hsend' )
apauIettes before striking Captain h, His
wounds considered dangerous. The loss
OF the ZOuayes was seven Killed, fOrty-two
| wounded, and fifteen missing.
,t.lF syIr - =
driven to desperation by the disgraC. attached
| TO his command from their ''brush'' with Col.
! Benedlx Germans, is said to kaVa exhibited a
! reckless daring, in trying 10 regain the good
| name they bore ttfJrt Meyhad BEEN tried, and
| it was deemed wonderful that Col. TOWNSEND
| escaped unhurt. The Federal troops charge
that the greater portion OF their officers &C ted
| very badly, saving themselves by hiding be-
| hind the larger trees in the woods.
! The stream which separated them from the
4 Confederate forces il only some eighte er
I twenty yards IL vic IN, yet no effort was made
! TO cross over to charge Col MdgTuder bat
! terry. When the order was at lengt h given K
/ retreat, the Federal troops started In wilt
! confusion, and Colonel M3gruder ordered his
| cavalry 10 pursue them, which they did with
I deadly effect and also secured 4 number o.
| prisoners. The cavalry followed them seVe
raj miles, seriously hurrassing the rear OF the
! retreatILE army.
/ During Yesterday no movement took place
/ either at Fortress Monroe, Hampton, or New
! port News, Butler command being entirely
! occupied IL grieVjng over their defeat, and
each Regiment euGeaVOTIng to SHIFT the DIS
/ grace thereof upon the other. The question
TO he settlet among them l. not winch tiu tnt
most 10 pre- vent GefCnt--but who were tht
greatest CO Ward5 All who were nOt Of TIT
party conctCe TO the whole force this latter
claim Builder himself was 80 much occupied
| with his grief that he even omitted 10 smear
he visitors yesterday,
Major Davis came up in the steamship this
morning, OH his way 10 Washing ton, as q
bearer OF dispatches.
As the GfoCrgeauua went down she rescued q
| negro who vas cliuging 10 4 capsIzed boat, q
! short distance this side Of Old Point. he was
| l4heI. on board, when he told them that he
was a slave OF john Payne, and that he had
| run away 10 avoll fighting
| When the steamer arrived, Butler "contis-
cated' the negro, and retained him.
The repor t. III Hampton show tnat the Con
federate troops are rapidly arriving IL York
togyu, and that there Is now II force OF Owe
! 10 900 there.
The NEW YORK rRIsuSE's ACCENT.
The statements which we copy from tb
New York papers are marvellous specimen
OF mendacity. They viii amuse our readers
We feel assured and in these stirring times
little amusement can do no hLrrn
WASHINGTON, Tuesday, J une II The IRE 0
the rebel batteries was concentrated chiefly OF
our artillery under the command CT Lleul
Greble
our Guns siienced all but one OI the enc
my, which was r.hea gun. Car amUIunl
ton gave cut about The lime the order 10 IL
treat Was gwen.
was about TO retreat, when he WAS struck b.
cannon shot, ana The back part OF his hea
was carried away. The gun Was rescued b.
/ Cayt q. W. Wilson, QuarternaS tel NcAr
thur and Ii SQUAD from Col. Cars regiment
They rushed forward, placed the body oi IL
Greble on the gun and brought u from III
field The body of Lieut.. G4ebie 80
/ brought to the fortress or his gun. lie wa
! 4 gallant young officer.
| The euplny's battery Wfs 80 completed
masked that Us precise locaht} was ulhcul
10 see. Opinions differ as 10 the NUMBER G
| guns At the time the Zouayes made IN
, charge on it the rebels commenced III ING, la
| were rallied.
The casualties are believed by so.Ae 20 i
! some " Tat greater than previously estimated
| There were m2AY TeaJs OF personal DARN
! and extraordinary courage, aud many ntTrO'
escapes Lieut.. j ). York had ms ewOr
bent nearly double in his hand. 1t saved HI
tile. Ano her man had his cap shot OH.
The battle at Great Bethel COMMENCED Il
, lC1 ana las ted III 3 O'Clock. Had not our am
munitiou given out, the enemy's batter
! would have been sileuced.
Not more than one, half Of our force wa
brought into action at any one time. Had
cOucentra ted movement been ordered, III l. bt
iieyed that the result would have been differ
. ent.
and other hospitals.
The four prisoners captured are prominen
rebels Oue Of them is Il MAJOR, aud oAe wa
, recently engaged IN the Fort.
1t il certain that the rebels sua tanned
heavy loss. Our shells burst with excelieI
effect.
our forces, when they were brought int
action, we're much cxhdus ted having Deen u
all night and performed q tedious march
the burning sun.
Col McChesney's Regiment was held IN n
: serve under arms, 20 be ordered forward 4
Q ANY moment.