The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1863, 1861-06-13
Disastrous Affair Near Fortress
Monroe.
Unsuccessful Attempt to Capture Bat
terry at Great Bethel.
TUO Regiments of Government Troops hire
Upon Each OMer in tile Nyh.
OF GEN. PIERCE.

BALTIMORE, Ju.e ll."-Gencral Butler
having learned that the rebcs were forli.
flying a camp with strong batteries at Great
Bethel, nine miles from Hampton, on the
Yorktown road, deemed it necessary 10
dislodge them.
Accordingly, movements were made
last night from Fortress Monroe and New
port News. About midnight Col Du-
ryes's Zouaves and Col. Townsend's AL
bany Regiment crossed tbs river at Hamp.
ton, by Means of six large batt-aux man
ned by the Naval Brigade, and took up
the lie of march.
The former some two miles in advance
of the latter At the same time Colonel
Beedix's regiment and d-tachmrnts of the
Velmanl and Massachusetts regiments and
regtfts,s Il Newport moved forward to
form junction with tha regulars from
Fortress Monroe, at Little Bethel, about
half way between Hampton and Great
Bethsi. Ine Auayes Passed Li5Ehe bethel
about 4 a. M.
Col. Bendixs regiment arrived fnd
took up a position al the intersection Of
the roads. No understanding the signal.
the German regiment. in the darkness Of
the night, fred upon Col. Towusend's
column, marching in close order, led by
Lieut.. Buffers son and ld.de-camp o Gen.
Butler, with two pieces of artillery.
Other accounts say that Col Town.
sends regiment fred first. At all events
The fire Of the Albany regiment was harm
less, while that Of the Germ ms was fatal,
killing one man and wounding severely
two others, with several other slight cas-.
uaIties. The Alabany regiment being
back oflEe 6 rmans, discovered rom the
arcoutrements left on the f-ld, that the
supposed enemy was friend.
They had in the meantims nine rounds
with small field pieces.
Tho Zouaves hearing the firing turned
and also fred upon the Albany boys.
AT daybrrak Col. Allen aud Col. Car.
ey's right moved from the rear Of the
fortress 10 support the main hody.
Tie mistake at Little Bethel having
been ascrrtalned. the buildings were burn
ed and a Major with two prominent Sc
cessionists taken prisoners.
The troops then advanced upon Great
Bethel. but our three sm,ll pieces Of al.
tillery were unab 10 cope with the heavy
riflrd cannon Of the enemy.
The rebel battery was completely mask
ed. No men could be seep, only the
flashes of the guns. There were prob
bahly less than 900 men behind the bat
teries of the rebels. J..
A well concerted movement might have
secured the position, but Brlgaditr
General Pierce, who commanded the ex
petition appears to have lost his presence
of mind. aud the Troy regiment stool lo
: an hour exposed TO CALLING Gre, wheI
. an order o retreat was at Iast given.
Lieut.. CREDIBLE of the U, s. Army, ant
in command of the artillery, was struct
by cannon ball and ins anly killed Ii
had spiked his gun, and was gaIlantly ell
deavoring 10 Withdraw his commend
9 Capt Geo. W Wilson Of th- Troy reg
iment, after the order to retreat was givrI
took POSSESSION Of the gun aud hrough
y it off tte field. with the corpse Of tn
5 Lieutenant. Both were brought to For
9 tress Monroe this evening.
There are probably about 25 killed an
100 OF the Federal troops wound-d Gen
= Butler deserves the greatest credit 10
!. bringing off the killed and wounded.
Several of the latter are now 10 til
:, hospital here. Great indignation is man
y ifested against. Brigadier General Pierce
e IL is not known how many we killed O
Is wounded IN the uniiorma.ion collision G
Federal troops, previous 10 marching o
Great, Bethel The loss was, however
nconsiderable. The FIRE Of our troops o
the masked battery did apparently liri
/. execution, being compjs~d Of small fsl
). pieces and howitzprs, against the rifle
st cannon vf the rebels. The attack lasle
but hall an hour. when the retreat WI
y sounded and exe' uted 10 good order. Th
rs troops. throughout this trying atf'ir, b'
l. haved we'll.
l. The estimated number killed was abot
s. 80, and 100 wounded. Major Wiuthro
70 aid Of Gen. Butler, and Lieut.. Col. Grit
o. nell. Of the New York First Regim n
SO are missing, Amongst the killed are Lieu
,e Grebbes, Of the U. s. Artillery. He W.
N struck on ths right side Of the forehead b
q rife cannon ball, which tore away Il
90 unner rart NJ tho head