The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1861-06-13
Engagement at Great Rethel.

Engagement at Great Bethel.
Too regiments Of Federal Troops Fire
6y Mistake on Another.-Ihe Fire
Returned.-25 killed and 100 soox,s-
ded.
FoRrREss MoxRoE, June 7, VIA BALruoRr.
Gen. Butler having learned that the
rebels were fortifying camp with
strong batteries at Great Bethel, nine
miles from Hampton, on the Yorktown
road, he deemed it necessary to dis
lodge them. Accordingly movements
were made last night from Fortress
Monroe and Newport News. About
midnight Col. Duryea's Zouaves and
Townsend's Albany Regiment, crossed
the river at Hampton by means of six
large batteaux, manned by the Naval
Brigade, and took up the line of march,
the former some two-miles in advance
of the letter.
AT the same time Col. Bendix's reg
iment and detachments of the Vermont
and Massachusetts regiments, and reg
ulars at Newport, moved forward to
form a junction with. the regulars from
Fortress Monroe at Little Bethel, about
half way between Hampton and Great
Bethel. o lr0 5sasosa l'f
The Zouaves passed Little Bethel
about four A. M. Col. Bendix's regi-
ment arrived and took up position at
the intersection of the roads. Not un-
Outstanding the signal, the German
Regiment in the darkness of the night
fired upon Col. Townsend's column
marching in close order and led by
Lieut.. Butler, son and aid-de.camp OF
Gen. Butler, with two pieces Of artil-
lery. Hs sTl .gss
Other accounts say that Col. Town.
sends regiment fired first, at all events
the fire of the Albany regiment was
harmless, while that of the Germans
was fatal, killing one man and wound
ing seriously two others, with several
other slight casualties. ~
The Albany Regiment, being back
of the Germans, discovered from the
accoutrements left on the field, that the
supposed enemy were friends that had
in the meantime fired nine rounds with
small arms and a field piece. 81. ses
The Zouaves, hearing the firing
turned and also fired upon the Albany
boys. At daybreak Col. Allen and
Col. Carry's regiment moved to the
rear of the Fortress to support the
main body. The mistake at South
Bethel having been ascertained, the
buildings were burned, and a Major
with two prominent secessionists taken
prisoners. III fse sf II
The troops then advanced upon
Great Bethel, but our small pieces o.
artillery were unable to cope with the
heavy rifed cannon of the enemy
The rebel battery was completely
masked. No men could be seen, only
the flashes of the guns.
There were probably less than one
thousand men behind the batteries o.
the rebels. A we'll concerted move
ment might have secured the position
but Brigadier Gen. Pierce, who com
handed the expedition, appears to
have lost his presence of mind, and thu
Troy regiment stood for an hour ex
posed to a CALLING fire, when an order
to return was at last given.
Lieut.. CREDIBLE of the United State:
Army, and in command of the artillery
was struck by cannon ball and in
stantly killed. He spiked his gun and
was gallantly endeavoring to withdraw
his command.
Capt. Geo. w. Wilson, of the Troy
Regiment, after the order to retrea
was given, took possession of the gun
and brought it off the field with thu
corpse of the Lieutenant Both were
brought to Fortress Monroe this fore
noon.
There are probably about % killed
and 100 of the Federal troops wounded
Lieut.. Butler deserves the creates
credit for bringing off the killed ant
wounded. Several of the latter art
now in the hospital here.
Great Indignation is manifested
against Brigadier- General Pierce. d3