Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-06-25
ANOTHER REPORT FROM COL. HILL.

In accordance with promise made in his former brief
communication to Gov Ellis Col d. II. Hill, Of the First
North Carolina Regiment Of Volunteers, has submitted
more lengthy and detailed report Of the battle at Bethel
Church. which we find in the Raleigh State Journal oil
Saturday last Asst ia the most minute account we have
vet seen, and comes from a entitled to so much
credit we give it. although many Of the facts narrated
have already been laid before our readers.-
Hon. J. W. ELLIS,
| Governor of North Carolina:
SIR: have the honor report that in obedience to
orders from the Colonel commanding marched on the
9Th ipst with my Regiment and four pieces OF Mel Kan
doph's battery from Yorktown, on the Hampton Road
to Bethel Church, miles from Hampton
We reached there ser drk, ON wet night and slept
without tents Early on the morning Of the 7th, made
a reconnaissance of the ground preparatory to fotiy
| ing found branch Of Back River in our front and
encrcling our right Aank.-0n left, was dense
aud almost impossible wood, except about $50 yards
of old field. The breadth of the road, q thick
| wood and narrow cultivated field covered
our rear The nature Of the ground determined me to
make an enclosed work. and had the invaluable aid OF
Lieut. Col Lee OF my regiment in its plan and construc-
ton Our position had the Inherent defect OF being
commanded by immense field Immediately in front OF
it. upon which the masses Of the enemy nigh be readily
deployed. Presumng attempt would be made to carry
the bridge the stream battery made Tor its
especial protection, and Maj Randolph placed his guns
so as sweep all the approaches to IT, The occupation
of two commanding emnences beyond the creek and on
our right would have greatly strengthened position
but our force was too weak admit OF the occupation
of more than one Of them. battery was laid out on
it for ore Of Randolphs Howitzers. We had only %
spades axes and picks, but these were busy pied
all day and night of the 7th and all day the 9Th. On
the afternoon of the Sh learned that maraudng
ty of the enemy was in few miles OF called for
party Of "a men to drive them back. Lieut. Roberts, OF
company of my regiment, promptly responded and IN
five minutes his command was en- route. detached
Msor Randolph with one howitzer to join him, and Lieut.
Col Lee lst r. giment n. c. Volunteers requested and
was granted permission to take command of the whole
After a march OF five miles, they came across the ma
| RAIDERS busy the spoils of pundered house.
A shell soon put the plunderers TO fight, and they
were chased New Market Bridge, where our little
force halted in consequence OF the presence OF q
considerable body stationed the other eide. Lieut.
Col Lee brought in one prisoner How many OF the
enemy were killed and wounded is not known None of
our command was hurt Soon after Lieut. Col Lee LEFT,
a citizen dashng in with the Information that 10
msrauders were on the Back River road. called for
Capt McDowe's Company f. of the lst Regiment North
Carolina Volunteers and il three minutes It was in hot
pursuit Lieut. West of the Howitzer Battalion, with
one piece detached TO join them and Major Lane,
of my regiment volunteered command Of the
whole. After weary march, they encountered, dis
and chased the wretches New Market bridge
this being the second the same day over the
New Market course in both of which the Yankees reach
ed the goal first NJ Or Lane brought in prisoner.
Reliable citizens reported that two cart loads aud
buggy load of wounded were brought into Hampton-
We had not single killed wounded Colonel
Magruder up that evening and UNI ed command
Ga Sunday, the 9;h fresh supply of tools enabled us
to put TO work. and when not engaged IN re-
ligious duties the men worked vigorously the
| trenchments We aroused at o'clock on Monday
morning, for general advance upon the enemy, end
marched 81 miles, when learned that the foe in large
force silhin few hundred yards Of US. We fell
back hastily upon entertainments and awaited the
arrival OF our invaders Lieut. Col Stuart Of the Ord
| Va Regiment having Joined us with some 80 men,
stationed ON the hill the extreme right beyond the
creek and company Of my Regiment was also thrown
over the protect the owi,zer u1der Captain
Brown Capt Brdgers of company A, Is! n. c. Reg-
ment took post in the dense wood beyond aud to the
left Of the bridge Major Montague with three compa-
nies of bis battalion ordered up from the and
took post right beginning at the Church and
tenfing along the entire front on that SIDE This fine
body Of and the gallant command OF Lieut. Colonel
Stuart worked with great rapicy, and IN an hour had
Constructed temporary shelter against the enemys fire.
jus, nine O'clock A. ~, the heavy columns of the
envy approaching rapidly and IN good order,
but when .andoph opened upon them at nine and half
O'Clock their organic ltion completely broken up
The enemy replied with his artillery, firing br!sky aud
wildly aud made attempt at depoyment on our right
OF the road under cover OF houles and paling.
| They were however, promptly driven back by
llery, Virginia company, 1.-THE Life Guard and COM
pAniss b. o and Of my regiment The enemy made
go d,ployIaent isihia ,amskstry range during the day
szcrpt under eoper Of ,cood fences, pIling Under
cover of the trees he moved strong column to old
ford some threequarters of mile below where had
placed picket OF some forty Colonel Msgruder
sent Captain Werths company OF hon'ague's command;
with hOHl.zer, under Sergeant Crane to drive back
| the column, which done by single sho. from the
hoWi'zer. Before this printing wire had been broken
! in tie vent OF the hOwiZ.r commanded By Captain
Rrovn which rendered il useless force estimated
| al l 800 nov attempting to ou'flnk US ard get
in the of Lieutenant Colonel Stuarls small COM
mand lie was accordingly directed to fall back ard
the whole Of our advanced troops withdrawn. At
this critical moment directed Lieut. Col Lee to call
Capt Bridger5 GU Of the swamp and order him 10 occu
ry The nearest advanced VOL, and ordered Captain
i,osa, Company G. is Regiment n C. Volunteers, to the
support OF Lieut. Cal Stuart. These Two Captains with
their companies crossed over TO Rardoips battery
dor a most heavy fire. in the most gallant As
Lieut. Col Stuart had Withdrawn, Captain Ross was de-
tanned at the Church near Raudophs Battery. Captain
Brdgsrs however crossed aud drove the I1uave7
out of the advanced Howtzer Battery and recccupied
i. Ii is impossible to Overesmate this se7yiee. At de-
cded the actol IN our favor IN obedience TO orders
from Col Aagruder, Lieutenant Col. Stuart rushed
back and spite OF the presence Of foe ten times bis SUI
peror in numbers resumed in the heroic manner
possession OF his ontreuchments fresh howAes was
carried end rleced ia the battery aud Capt Avery
OF Company w. wss directed defend u at al hazards
We were now as secute at the beginning OF tie fight
| and ga vet had no man killed. The enemy f1dirg
himself foed on our right h,nS mex. made his idal de-
monsi alton on our left strong column supposed to
cons Of volunteers from diftsre-. Tegpents and un
der con nand Of Captain Winthrop aidde-camp Gen.
Butler crossed over the creek and appeared the angle
on our left Those in advance had put on distinctive
badge of white band around tue cap, and they cried
ogt reneatedly don't fire." tbs ruse practsed to
enable the whole column get over the creek and form
in good order. They began to cheer most Justify,
thinking that Work vas open at the gorge ard that
they could get In by sudden rush. Companies and
o, however soon dspeed the illusion by COOL deib-
crate aud well directed fire. Col Magruder sent over
portions OF G. and companies of ny regiment to
support And began cool firing on our side rs was
ever witnessed Toe three field officers Of the i,pent
were present and but few shots vere ired whou their
permission the zen repeatedly s9yOg 'may fire. think
can bring him. They were al! in high glee and seem
ed TO epo il much boys do rabbit shooting. Capt
Winthrop while most CALAMITY urging on his :aen was
shot through the heart wher 81 rushed back with the
utiaoe. precipitation So far as my observation
tended he was the only Of the enemy who exhibited
even Az DroIimlton 20 courage during the whole day
The yht at the angle lasted hut tyentf minutes it
completely dscoprage the enemy, and he mads no fur
ther effort at assault. The house in front which had
elved hiding place for the enemy, now fred by
a shell from howi:zer, and the ouhouses aud pangs
were soon in blaze. As ell shelter taken from
Hampton. As he had left his ahsrpshooters behud HIN
in the woods our left the dragons c0d advance
until Capt. Hoke of Company 3, lst Regiment North
Carolina Volunteers had thoroughly explored them
When he gave the of the wood being clear
| Capt. Douthat with some 100 Dragons pursued. The
enemy in his haste threw away hundreds Of canteens,
hlversacks overcoats, Sc-even the dead thrown
out of the wagons. The pursuit soon became chase,
aud for the third time the enemy the rece over the
| New Market course. The bridge torn I'D behind