New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-06-12
A BRIEF AND SHARP CONTEST.
OUR FORCE WAS ABOUT 1900 nEN
One of Our Regiments Fires Upon Another
Our Loss-Hames Of Killed and Wounded.
Special Dispateh to Tbs N. Y. Tribune

known as Little Bethel, about seven miles from
Hampton, on the direct road to York, and that
at point called Big Bethel, five miles further,
they were fortifying the church as base from
which marauding parties were constantly issuing
to force peaceful Union men and negroes into
their service, and also threaten Camp Hampton,
as well as Camp Butler. at Newport News, he
| determined TO make demonstration against
them.
| Last evening, therefore, Gen. Butler ordered
Col. Duryee's Regiment TO cross Hampton Creek,
and march on Little Bethel. This order was
promptly executed, and the regiment moved from
Hampton ct about II O'clock having been fer
ried over the Hampton Greek BY Lieut.. Crosby's
fotis of boats, manned by recruits from the
Naval Brigade.
Col. Duryee was to be supported an hour
after by Col. Townsend's Regiment At the
same time, Col. Phelps, commanding officer at
Newport News was directed to move two regi-
ments along that line to aid Col. Duryee, if the
Rebels should be in force. Brig. Gen. Pierce
was to be in command Of the expedition when
the forces were united.
All tho movements were promptly and properly
executed except that Of Col. Bendixs regiment
| At the moment of effecting the junction he came
| in collision with Col. Townsend's forces, when
shots were exchanged with the loss of one killed,
VIM. Carey of company A, Albany Ten others
we're wounded on the part Of Col. Townsend.
While this mistake was being corrected, Col
Duryee had pressed forward and captured the
little Bethel, and made prisoners of several Off
| GERS and men. He fred the building.
! Meanwhile Col. Bendx captured two rebels in
the act of firing on his men guerilla fashion.
| lie fred the house, and sent the prisoners to
! Gen. Butler at Hampton, where he was receiv-
| ing reports forwarding reenforcements, aud civ.
! ing orders.
At 10 o'clock Col Duryee, Col. Townsend, and
! Col. Bendix, having formed junction, reached
the Big Bethel, where they found the enemy in
force, and engaged then Meanwhile, Gen.
| Butler had sent for re-eniorcements.
| On engaging the enemy, they were found to
be strongly fortified, and in great force, with
| heavy cannon. Our forces maintained the con-
nct with determined courage for more than two
hours, but finding that it would be impossible to
carry the enemys battery. they in good order fell
| back toward Hampton. 1t is impossible to gain
sry thing reliable as to the loss.
SECOND DISPATCH.
81. m.--The enemy numbered between three
and five thousand. Their battery had twenty
euns. Some Of them the Whitworth gun. The
battle ragged three hours. Our men retired only
when il became evident that the enemy's battery
could not be carried unless supported by artl-
/ ery. They retired in good order, and the enemy
was in no condition to pursue.
! The whole number Of casualties does not ex.
coed 30, Of which not over 90 are fatalities. No
prominent officer was killed. Capt. fitzpatrick
/ of the Zouaves received bad flesh wound in the
calf of his leg. Capt. Warner also severely
wounded in the leg. Lieut.. CREDIBLE of the regu.
Iars is reported killed. The battery was located
80 that it could not be carried except through
marsh. charge was attempted repeatedly.
The following are the wounded Of this morn
ing, all of Col. TOwnsend's regiment:
John Connolly, Company A, in the knee in
no danger.
Frederick Bacon, ditto; severely.
Joseph Richards Company c, bayonet in the
thigh; slight.
Philip Sweeney, thigh bone fractured; bad.
w. c. Cody Company +, shot in the abdo-
men; mortal
James Garbette, Company G, fractured thigh
bone by shot; not mortal.
Lieut. L. w. Stone, Company H. bayonet-
wound in the knee; slight.
The following are among the wounded at the
Big Bethel battle:
s. +. Southern, Company ii, ith Massachusetts,
Regiments; seriously in the lung.
John Damn, Company ii, Duyee's Regiment,
shot in the arm.
John Conway, DO, shot in the leg; not bad.
c. Client, Company X, Col. Bendx, shot in
left chest; seriously
THIRD DISPATCH.
WASHINGTON, Tuesday, June IL.
The fire of the yebe batteries was concen-
trated chiefly on our artillery, under the COM
mand Of Lieut.. CREDIBLE.
Our guns silenced all but one gun Of the enc.
my, which was q rined gun. Our ammunition
gave out about the time the order to retreat was
given.
Lieut.. CREDIBLE spiked one Of the guns, and was
about to retreat, when he was struck by can.
non shot, and the back part of his head was
carried away. The gun was rescued by Capt.
G. W. Wilson, Quartermaster Macarthur, and
squad from Col. Carr's regiment. They rushed
rar1 Ln1xy of tauf