St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1861-07-25
STATE OF IOWA
THE GREAT BETHEL FIGHT.
THRILLING INCIDENT.

The following interesting account
is taken from a letter written by Ad-
jutant Stevens, of the First Vermont
Regiment, and published in the Saint
Adams Messenger. The incidents
narrated took place on the march of
the troops to Bethel, when they were
nine miles from Fortress Monroe:
inst as we halted to start to the
rear on hearing firing, rebel scound-
rel came out of house and dclibcr-
ately fired his gun at us. The ball
passed so close to me that heard it
whiz--on its way going through the
coat and pants, and just grazing the
skin of Orderly-Sergeant Sweet, Of the
Woodstock company. The rascal was
secured and is a prisoner, and what
was done by way Of stern entertain
ment to this one of the L. +. VS. you
will hear if lever live to return. !
then, as the firing to the rear had
ceased, with revolver in hand, accom-
panied by fifer, approached the fcl-
lows house, having some expectation
of an ounce of lead being deposited in
my tall body without asking my per-
mission. BY this time all our troops
were out of sight in the woods, 10y u
turn in the road, and | was alone
with Fifer, when some negroes came
from the house, having less fear of
two men than of two thousand. On
inquiry, the slaves told me that Adiu-
tant Whiting, whom we had just
taken prisoner, was the owner, that
he belonged to the Secession army,
and that no white folks were in the
house, all having left. Without the
ceremony of ringing, l entered and
surveyed the premises, and found a
most elegantly furnished house. |
took hasty survey in search of arms,
but finding none, left the house, and
and started to overtake our column.
On reaching the bend in the road, |
took survey Of the rear, to "see
what | could see,' and discovered a
single soldier coming toward me, and
waited for him to come up. found
it was Dwight G. Clark, of the Brad
ford company. Before he reached me,
| observed a horseman coming at full
speed towards me. On reaching the
house he turned, in which induced me
to think him a seccssionist. order
ed Clark to cover him with his rifle,
and, revolver in hand, ordered him to
dismount and surrender. He cried
out, "Who are You ?" answer, over.
mont |" "Then raise your piece, Yer
mont l am Col. Duryee, OF the Zou-
avcs :" and so it was. His gay
looking red boys just appeared turn
ing the corner Of the road, coming
towards us. He asked me the cause
of the firing in the rear, and whose
premises we were on. | told him he
knew the first as we'll as l did, but as
to the last, could give full informa-
ton that the house belonged to one
Adintant Whiting, who, just before,
had sent bullet whizzing by me, and
shot one of my boys, and that my
greatest pleasure would be to burn
the rascars house in payment. "Your
wish will be gratiiied at once" said
the Colonel. II am ordered by Cen
eral Butler to burn every house whose
occupant or owner fires upon our
troops. Burn it," He leaped from
his horse, and upon the steps, and
by that time three Zouayes were with
me. ! ordered them to try the door
with the butts of their guns ; down
went the door, and in went we. A
well-packed traveling-bag lay upon a
mahogany table. l tore it open with
the hope of finding a revolver, but
did not The first thing took out
was a white linen coat l laid it on
the table, and Col Duryee put light
cd match to it. Other clothing was