The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-06-15
The Bio BETHEL AFFAIR.
INTERESTING LETTER FROM A SERGEANT
IN DURYEE's ZOUAvEs TO HIS FRIENDS
IN NEW YORK,


CAMP HAMILTON, Va, June IL, 1851.
In my last letter informed you that nv resip,snt
under orders TO march In half an hour TO meet the
enemy. Promptly at the appointed time the mon
Of our company assembled, and numbered hftv-
seven, rank and hle Company I, with about thu
came lumber OF men, accompanied us ina ann
bined commands crossed . river, and after a
march In quick time, reached New Market Bv,doe.
about Elk miles rom the regmental camp. We
acted as the vanguard Of the regiment We had in.
structions 10 remain at the place before mentioned
10 await the arrival Of The remaining eight companies
On their arrival, which took place at two O'Clock A.
the two companies continuing the advance guard pro-
ceeded being advised previously that the rebels
had rebuilt bridge over VII oh were TO pass Ivas
In quandary to know what their object was in doing
this, unless II as to pass over it to attack u.s. Ga
close examination / was confirmed in this be-
lief, for / distinctly on the opposite
side disturbed condition of the ground where
artillery, infantry and cavalry had bvouacked After
crossing the bridge we threw scouts At from
$50 SEQ yards in advance After marching three miee
further making nine miles from the camp picket fire.
Of the enemy was observed still further on We an
preached enough hear the rebel sentry cbal
erge one passing him. Our captain who was with
the scouts Immediately gave the command to ellie down.
subst quen,y 10 fire. and then close upon the rebel
picket qua, d-fcr such it proved to be We took one
prisoner, which proved to he Captain Whiting Of the
Confederate states Amy AT first ne thai he vas
officer, but as he rode fine charger worth $500 and
carried costly sabre, his official densit, esta5shed
We secured prisoner, aId treated him the le-
nency The nature OF his would permit. On ther
observation we discovered light 10 the window of a
house half a mile distant. proceeded with de-
tail CT three TO Tards a course across q
field On bIg the booze knocket the door but
no respoose cane Without waiting for further ceremo
ny, BURT the door In with well directed blow from my
musvet ! was Immediately confronted by ca
dayerccs looking half s;as cd to death woman. She
ha,-a ooisE uhS
you ia. ihcught 10 myself, there must be q great
many sick children in Old VII gina replied az am very
aid in went without further ceremony. irnmedi.
atey Instituted seach OF tie premises, and seized Q
double tarelied ,hot gun and long knife, with twen
tabuDd goods in the house, excepting old negro Ny
t.e sqGad reoiLed the advance guard, which subse-
brought US to Coventry Bridge. Reaching this point,
ieard frDg Ia our rear, and at once started
ita at the break Of dsy, reached the main body Of
our troops and learned that the firing owing 10 the
urfcItuias mistake Of the seventh rssment Colonel
the killed ana wounded were properly cared for,
Companies and proceeded In tho direction of where
then supposed the enemy 70 be, NJ village called
Big BeIhtL The advance guard kept up march until
xiihir one-fourth Of mile Of the rebels works.
."mpary a-IS ms,e -osa to resi.t csvaPv
the coud platoon depoyed as skrnsneis One Of
members went ahead OF the other until within nifty
yards of the enemy's line He kneeled down, and,
akirp deliberate aim rebel sentinel, brought down
bis man. He cooy brought bis musket to his shoulder
and walked beck and rsoined company. The spemy
,anesiateIy opened masked battery upon US, where
nnop we teploytd into thcket and operated a. skr-
msfers ceIloyed in open order The missiles from the
eDemy'e battery flew thick and fest. Our men,
nothrs daup,ed q, the unwecome reception
ancsa to the enemy's work. and would have entered
II had we been properly supported During hts msno-
rsbe period grape and canister shot from the enemy
few thick ami fast around Ne CcloEei Duryee pistol
himself behind tree from hich point he direced
movements but his zeal 10 urge mis- men often ex
posed himself unnecessarily 70 the my fire. Ga one
occasion canister shot grazed his shoulder he
IN the &C. Of stooping; the ball struck Captain
in the leg ard alec broke the leg Of OF ccsdo
II Was . new and hazardous experioSce 70 ne
10 Atsuc ia tie 1l,tst OF = storm OF cannon oale,
bullets and Tgc s2s aud witness tnaAr effect In dss
pau,pg wees, tearing up the sfocno and making havoc
an ing After had bee N aSoo ior snprt
TIM, we wel retvsd by Ver troO.a, AID perW'sdt 10
Nss ,Utng sI~ vas sery Shot asd we sa'se
Car d9tl;t;o1Sl lVor NsrS see Eth and HgAN
IGlts.