Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-06-15
THE FIGHT AT BIG BETHEL.
GRAPHIC LETTER FRCM ONE OF co
DURYEE'S ZOUAVES.
CAMP HAMILTON, Fortress Monro


Monday, June 10, 1861.
Ny Dear Father II write to say that l am
alive and well, with the exception of slight
bruise from splinter, made by a rfed can
non ball. which went through felled tree two
feet thick, and killed man standing by me.
We have had an engagement with the enemy,
and it proved disastrous in more ways than
one.
We were aroused at IL o'clock on Sunday
evening, after having had severe drill at Al
that afternoon, and ordered for a march. AT
ter an alarm by the firing of two detachmants
OF our troops at each other, by mistake, and
a countermarch OF three miles to ascertain the
cause, we set forward agein 10 a place called
Great Bethel, where we were received by the
enemy concealed behind masked battery
We were utterly tired out, and they being in
the battery, had manifest advantage over
us, besides being much more numerous.
We occupied a wood by their right flank,
and laid DOWN to av0iH tne-reTTrnl fire they
kept up for two and half hours. 1t was hor-
rible slaughter; the oldest soldiers were sick
at the sight. Our loss, us shown by the re-
turns, were four of our regiment killed, two
missing, and twelve wounded. ave have es-
capped surprisingly well. cannot say
too much for our Colonel (Duryee) X \
And he is proud of the courage Of his son,
who was with him in the fight. We are proud
of him as he is of us.
l wish l could describe our lieutenant
colonel (Warren, OF the regulars, riding
about on white jackass, for want OF horse,
and afterwards on loot, fours hing crooked
stick instead ola sword, but all the while as I'M
concerned as ii on parade. He is an admira-
BILE man. Our chaplain (Winsow) was in
the brunt of the battle, red breeches and all
He is a noble Old gentleman acted as aid all
day, and was the last to leave the field.
We shall be at it again soon; but for heuUen'S
sake use euery atom Of influence possible to get as
arms our muSkts are comparatively useless.
They do not carry with the least certainty and
what can we do against MIME and Sharpe's
rifles
| DO not trust the reports they send about our
perfect equipment. If we had had good
set Of arms yesterday, the Zouaves alone
would have driven out the thousands from the
battery. 1t is perfect butchery to send us
so armed against rifles that carry 400 yards
with perfect accuracy. We shall be shot down
like sheep, and the hope L had OF getting
home again is narrowed down to a decimal
since the experience Of yesterday. | saw six
killed and wounded, badly, close by me. Our
men are noble set OF boys, praised by every
body. They charged up by the right flank to
the enemy's batteries, and drove them ont of
the lower section, One Of the Massachusetts
men ran up on the top OF the entertainments
and actually seized and brought away a
Sharpe's rifle out of the hands OF one of
them, escaping unframed.
We bury our dead to night. and in this do
better, thank God, than some who leave their
dead on the field. 1t is reported that the enc
my have retired, and l think it is true. \
\ The war is fairly initiated, aud will prob
ably be mainly fought here in Virginia, and
there will be, according to present indications,
Il terrible loss OF life. The loss of the enemy
was undoubtedly greater than ours, yesterday.
X X X X
believe did not talter. l stuck close TO
our captain, and was terribly scarcd-not so
much, however, but that l could do my duty.
/ volunteered to rescue a wounded officer, ex
posed to the enemy's fire, but we were not
wanted, as he escaped without help
Atfectionately yours, OH.