The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-06-28
The Affair at Great Bethel.
Flu rther and More Reliable Particulars.

CAMP DIX, FORTRESS MONROE. June 10.
INTERESTING ACCOUNT OF THE BATTLE AT BIG
BETHEL, BY A SOLDIER WHO WAS ENGAGED
THEREIN, ETC.
have at last some interesting though
not very good news to communicate to you.
Yesterday morning the camp was called to
arms by beat of drum at o'clock, to march,
where, we knew not. We were supported
by the Second, Third, Fifth and Seventh
regiments but no artillery; Col. Duryee's
Zouaves were sent in advance about two
hours ahead, but the General who had COM
mand of our brigade knew no more about
mis- business than child, and his incompe.
tency caused US to suffer the way we did
without gaining one single point; our re-
pulse was what l would call palpable de-
feat. We marched about ten miles through
q road closed on each side with thickIy set
trees, when suddenly the enemy's batteries
opened upon US. Good God what fire !!
One lieutenant, and the only sergeant, were
killed at the first discharge. They used
rihed cannon, and their riaed balls came
crashing through the trees, scattering the
branches and stumps among US. Our men
never finched they marched steadily on,
under broiling sun.
l can never forget the sight. 1t was
terrific. Here and there we would meet
some of Duryee's men lying, some dead
and some dying. We passed one leg and
one hand, which had been torn to pieces
by those riAed cannon. We marched up a
lane directly opposite the Southern oatte-
ries, and there-shame to our General-he
exposed us to most raking fire of shot and
shell for some time. We halted Immediate
ly in front of picket fence, which we were
ordered to tear down. We did so and
were then ordered to charge the battery.
One single regiment to charge twenty rifled
cannon in line, and an unknown force! If
we had ever charged, there would not be a
man left to tell the tale. Wewere then Or
dered to lay on our faces on the hot sand,
and there for one hour and forty minutes
we were exposed to that awful fire. The
balls sang "DiXie," and plowed up the
ground in front and behind US. The shells
tore up the sand and scattered it in our
mems eyes. To have taken that battery we
ought to have had two batteries of flying
artillery but we had only one single six,
FOUNDER, served by eight regulars and one
lieutenant, who, poor fellow, the last shot
that be fired, was struck by cannon ball,
which carried away the back part of his
head, scattering his brains over our doctors
coat, who was helping to carry wounded
man Oft the field. AS soon as the regulars
saw their lieutenant killed, they deserted
their gun, when one of our companies took
it home. We were obliged to beat re-
treat, which we did in good order, leaving
about forty on the field.
AS our ambulance, without wounded,
was going down the road, party of cav
airy dashed out of the woods and fred on
the wagon, which our men returned, killing
twenty of them and taking four prisoners
If they had come out of the battery, we
would have given them good reception !;
but they kGew too much. 1t is wonder
we were not cut to pieces. We could see
their bayonets cleaning through the bushes
in the sunlight.
PARTICULARS OF THE FIGHT, FROM AN Off
GER IN THE ENGAGEMENT.
The following particulars of the battle
at Big Bethel are from an officer engaged
in it, and who arrived in this city last night:
Our forces had been closing in around the
battery OF the enemy, and had obtained i'm.
portant points with little loss, when the Or
der to retreat was given. AT this time,
Captain Clark, OF the Massachusetts Rifles,
with his two companies, lay on the lett
flank in such position that the enemy s
works and movements were in full view.
The First Vermont Regiment, Colonel
Washburne, had outHanked the rebels, and
gained position in the rear, and poured a
hot fire into the battery and silenced it.
Our troops in front of the enemy thought
they were out of ammunition, when in reali.
ty they could not stand against the well
directed fire of the Vermonters. Just at
this time Gen. Pierce gave the order to
cease fire and retreat. Not a man was
hurt of the Vermont regiment until the
rebels resumed their firing, after which the
Federal troops began to retreat, which
they did in good order.
A member of the Vermont regiment is
missing, and three or four were wounded. 1t
is feared that the missing man was killed,
as nothing was beard of him up to Wednes-
day night.
The Vermonters behaved nobly. They
Hanked the enemy, marched down one OF
their bitches, almost to within five rods of
the breastwork, and opened CALLING fire
upon them. The rebels, taken by surprise,
were perfectly panic struck, and left the
ditch. AS fast as they lett they were picked
of by the Massachusetts, rifles. Before they
attempted to escape, and before the Yer
mont regiment had gained their important
position, Captain Clark s men had done such
good service with their rifles that the rebels
dare not show their heads above their
breastwork, but discharged their rifles at
random. A large number of the enemy
are known to have been shot by Captain
Clarks men. The dead and wounded OF the
enemy were removed in horse carts in the
bitches. When our troops retreated, the
chaplain of the Massachusetts rifles was cut
off from the main body, and narrowly es.
capped being arrested by hiding ID the woods
near the meeting house. That gentleman
states that the meeting house was used as
hospital, that it was filled with the dead and
wounded and estimates their lOss at from