The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-06-12
SECOND ACCOUNT.

FosTRrss Morsor, via Bait more June IL 1861
The tss been sn exciting and scuosiul day az Old
Point Comfort Senerl Batter having learned mat sGe
re chs were foraing in,encred camp, with strerg
hatte'cr, s. srez. ee;se zine niles from Hampton en-
Vie Yorktown road deemed IL necessary 20 oislo3ge
sLem. Accordingly movements were made lac, nignt
from Fortress Monroe end Newport News
About midnight Colonel Duryee's zooaves and Coione
Townseds Abany) regimen, crossed the river az Hamp
ton ny Ct Elk large bsstearx manned by he Ma
val Brigade, and took up the line Of maych the former
some iao meS in advance Of the latter. AT the fsme
time Colonel BendiS's regiment and detachments Of the
Vermont and Massachusetts regulars AT Newport moved
forward to form junction with the regulars from For.
iJess Monroe ct Little Bethel about half way
between Hampton and Great Bethel The Zouavee passed
Little Bethel about four A. NJ Colonel Bendixs regiment
arrived next and took position At the intersection OF
the roads Not understanding the signal, the German
regiment IN the darkness Of the morning fred upon Co
lionel rCwnsends column, marching in close order and
led by Lieutenant Butler and aid OF General Butler
with two pieces Of artillery. Other accounts say that
COL Townsend regiment fred first. A. all events the
fire Of the Albany regiment harmless while that Of
the Gesmaps was fatal killing aud wounding
rousy two Others with other slight casualties rhe
Albany regiment being back Of the Germans discovered
from the Announcements left the field that the supposed
enemy was friend. They had In the meantime cred
zine rounds with small arms and Geld piece The
Zouaves hearing the fire. turned and also fired upon the
Albany boys.
At daybreak COL Aliens and COL Carr's regiments
moved from the Of the fortress support the main
body. The mistake at Little Bethel having been ascer
tanned, the buildings wers burned, and Major, with
two prominent secessionlss named Livery and Whiting
were made prisoners The troops then advanced upon
Great Bethel IN the following erder namely-he Zouaves
m
Allen and Colonel Carr At that point regiments
formed, and successfully endeavored to take a large
masked secession battery. The effort was futile, our
three small pieces Of artillery no: being able to
cope with the heavy rifed cannon OF the enemy
according to some accounts being thirty in number The
rebel battery was completely Masked 90 that no men
could be seem but only the flashes Of the guns There
were probably less than thousand behind the bat
teries Of the rebels.
well concerted movement might have secured
the position; but Brigadier General Pierce,
WHO commanded the expedition, appears to have
lost his presence Of mnd and the Troy regiment stood
FOR hour exposed to CALLING fire, when order to
treat at lest given; but at that moment Lieutenant
Grebe of the United States Army and in command Of
the artillery, was struck by q cannon ball and
instantly killed. He had spiked his gun, and was
CALAMITY endeavoring TO withdraw his command.
Captain George W. Wilson, of the Troy regiment after
the order TO retreat given, took possession Of the
gum and, with Quarermaster Macarthur, brought ii off
the field with the corpse Of the beloved Lieutenant.
Both were brought to Fortress Monroe this evening
There are probably twenty-five killed and one hun.
bred Of the federal troops wounded.
Lieutenant Butler deserves the greatest credit for
bringing off the killed and wounded. Several Of the
latter are now in the hospital here
should have stated that Colonel McChesney's re0-
ment formed the reserve.
Colonel Hawkins regiment moved from Newport
News during the day, and an umed vessel vent up 10
Newport News expecting the Cumberland.
Great indignation is manifested against Brgadier Gene
raj Pierce
General Butler has been ubiquitous, doing all in his
power to save our men and the honor Of our cause