Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1861-07-02
For the Spectator.
The Battle Of Bethel.

Mr.. EDITOR: = Many reports have gone forth
In rcfereuce 70 this celebrated battle; but think
that no writers have properly estimated the loss
# the eUemy Some have spoken Of it as one
battle, sonio taoo, and some as three. The truth
is il was one long conte ted engagement, If con
tested it might be called. where we only lost one
man, young WsatI, and that by bis own rash
ness 1t IS impossible to erGctty ut the loss
LOT the enemy. think il safe, however, to esti-
mate it at about one thousand in the main en-
gagement in killed, wou ded and missing What
missing means is told bs the fat hogs and buzz
zsrds for miles around Bethel; Tor such was the
| haste OF the enemyt to get away from the certain
ldaath OF the battle ground, that they took off
but few of their dead, except those Immediately
on their track to Fortress Monroe. Those who
were killed on their tanks were left to rot, as
4 were the poor creatures who crawled into the
woods to die. We took the bsst care possible of
i those woanded who fell into our hands, but they
carried eff most OF their crippled men. Wagons
and amoulances were seen carrying them from
r Newport News for nearly aoeek 10 their Hos
pitals at Chesapeake College and Fortress Mon
troe. One man saw tWo hundred landed at the
latter place in one day. Hisdescription of their
wounds was sckeniDg. Very many OF them
have siace died, no doubt and nearly all are
, cripple q for life. Yet the veracious B f. But
er talks about loss of fourteen killed, and this
too, in an ofilcial, dispatch to his own govern
, ment. But could we expect truth from one who
, was a year ago leader of the Charleston Sc
cessonists, and is now stealing our negrees2 4
: Before ahd sEcet battle they lost many men.
ii or their scouts but few returned, ard they now
send ont hardly any One HAM has kali
j ed nine with his own hand, and every one WHO
can get ciance al our ''Noriheru friends, give
: them welcome such rs Corwin wished the
, | No ~ hon ed ftaY
II would not be surprisedm the destruction o
the enemy from our STAR .-siooters has been taret
|, hundred dnrinl the last month, not including
e the battle at Great Bethel; 50 that, adding in
the slaughter there their tofn al loss IN killed ait,
crippled, has been about thirteen Aundred On
zen per oeaat, it not more, OF their whole force al
Newport News and For ress Monroe. At Behe
they lost about taoenty per cent. of their force
Such slaughter is unpa' ale!ed in the annals q
r war; =.
t They are still at Newport News, where they
r are strongly entrenched but Mageuder gives
!, them no rest day or night, and they have totEG
i out to their sorrow that their socialist Govern
P ment of Lincoln, Seward & Co, will not be able
e to give them all fdrna>And q negro Gpiece, al
) they expec. ed and this gex pectation s proved
}. by the letters found on the dead bodies ef the
) slain. From an episile in sthe pocket OF one o.
diem, it is certain that the writerMas going tt
: dispose OF two negroes he dad Eangh1s 1t il
supposed they intend to sell they Jh Cu4. Sc
: much for their friendship nr neg oes, which is
: further shown by heir <aviishing/their wives
y and daughters.
e The discharge of Magruder.s Artillery is said
d to have been awful One presentin the battle
: says that he could hear Il e.boAes ssash. crash
crash, as Cal non bsl would ctt row, and
sucb shriebs lie hoped meyer to hear again.
Some OF the roads are said to be almost inn
passable from the stencil OF the dead bodies LETT
J. uncared for by their +, lends. r.