Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1861-06-15
HIGHT NEAR HAMPT0N.
aS U. s. Soldiers killed and 100 Wound

fIuhI NEAh HAMPTUN.
aS U. 5. Soldiers killed and 100 wounded.
A bungling and disastrous affair came off on
Monday Right last, near Hampton, which re-
fleets no credit upon the officer in command
Brig. Gen. Pierce, and shows most inexcusa-
BILE waste Of life. Snless subsequent Dispatch
es soften this report, Gen. Pierces reputation
will have been filed up to the full measure, and
the laurels won 10 this transaction will warrant
a retirement, from the service The account is
thus given by telegraph.
Gen. Butler having learned that the reb
els were fortifying their camp at Great
Bethel, with strong batteries, nine miles from
Hampton, on the Yorktown road, he deem
ed it necessary TO dislodgo them. Accord
ingly movements were made on Monday
night last from Fortress Monroe aud New
| port News.
About midnight, Col. Duryea's u uaves
and Colonel TownSend's Albany regiment
crossed the river at Hampton by means of
six large batteauX, manned by the naval
brigade anl took up the line Of march,
the former some two miles in advance of the
latter.
AT the same time Col, Bendix regiment
and detachment of Vermont and Massachu.
setts regulars at Newport, moved forward
to form a junction with the regulars from
! Fortress Monroe at Little Bethel, about
half way between Hampton and Great
! Bethel
The ZOuaves passed Little Bethel at 1 a. NJ.
Col. BendiX's regiment arrived, and took up
a position at the intersection of the Roads
Not understanding the signal, the German
regiment in the darkness Of the night, fired
upon Col TownSends column, marching in
close order and led by Lieut.. Butler son
and aid de camp Of Gen. Butler, with two
pieces Of artillery Other accounts say that
Col. TownsendS regiment fired first At
all events. the fire of the Albany regiment
was harmless, while that Of the Germans
was fatal, killing one man and seriously
wounding others, with several other slight
casualties.
The Albany Regiment being back Of the
Germans discovered from the acourtremcntS
left on the 6eld that the supposed enemy
was friend. They fred in the meantime
uine rounds with small arms aud field
piece. The Zouaves hearing the firing
turned aud also fred upon the Albany
Regiment.
At day-break, Col Allen and Col. Cur
tiS regiment moved from the rear Of the For
tresS to support the main body. The mis-
take at little Bethel having been ascertain.
ed, the buildings were burned, and major
with two prominent secessionists taken pris-
onerS The troops then advanced upon
Iuf nur ,,ll s,f
artillery, were uuabed TO cope with the
heavy raed cannon of the enemy The rcb
ell battery was completely masked No
men could be seen, only the flashes Of the
guns. There we're probably not less than
| 900 men behind the batteries of the
rebels.
A well concentrated movement might
have secured the position, but Brig. Gen.
Pierce, who commanded the expedition,
appeared to have lost his presence of mind
aud the Troy Regiment stood for an hour
exposed to a calling fire, when an order to
retreat was at last given.
Lieut. CREDIBLE Of the U. S. a and in
command Of the artillery, was struck by q
cannon ball and instantly killed.
He had spiked his guns, and was gallant
ly endeavoriug to withdraw bis command
when Capt. Geo. w. Wilson, of the Troy
| Regiment, after The order 10 retreat was
given, took possession of the gun and brought
it off the 6eld, with the corpse of tho Lieu
tenant Both were brought to Fortress
Monroe.
There are probably about 25 killed and
100 of the Federal troops wounded. Lieut..
Butler deserves the greatest credit for bring
ing off the killed aud wounded Several
OF the latter are now in tho hospital. -
Great Indignation is manifested against
| Brig. Gen. Pierce.