Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1861-06-26
1t(istrllantOus,
Ca. Buffers Official Report Of the
Battles.

WAsnrxoroN, June l2.--rhe following
is,ien. Rutler's report OF the affair at Lit
lie and Big Bethel
HrlpQuAsrrRs DEPARTMENT ~ NIHGlNiA,
FusrpEss MoNRor, June 10, lsGl'
RI Lirutcnam Gcnrai Scott
General Having learned that the en-.
en1y had established an outpost OF some
strength at place called Little Bethel, Il
small church about light miles from NeS-
port News, and the same distance from
Hampton, from whence they were accus,
tomed nightly 10 advance both on New
port News and the picket guards OF lamp
Ser 10 annoy them, and also from whence
they had come dom i'll small squads OF
cavalIv and taken n number Oi Union
men, some Ct whom had the safeguard
and protection OF the troops OF the United
States, and forcel them into the rebel
ranks, and that they wer also gathering
up the slaves of citizens who had moved
away and left their farms in Charge OF
their negroes carrying them to work IN
entrcnchmentsa WillamspOrt and ork-
to~n. had determined to send up force
TO drive them back and destroy their camp
the teadouarters of which was this small
church. had also learned thatat pace
n sLoSt distance farther on the road tc
Yorlitown. was an outwork of the rebels
on the Hampton side OF Il place called
Biz Bethel, a large church, near the head
ostae north branch of Back river, and
that here was considerable rendezvous,
with works Of more or less strength III
-,ro,l ess of erection, and from this point
the whole country was laid under cOntrl-
button.
accordingly orderet, Gen. Pierce, who
isin command Of Camp Hamilton, al
Hampton, to send Duryea's regiment o.
Zouaves TO be ferried over Hampton creek
al o'clock this morning, and to marct
by the road up TO Newman ket Ir'dgc, tAci
crossing the bridge to 90 10y u hy-.oad
aud thus put tie regiment III the i"tr o
The enemy, and bctwecu Big Bethel "nI
Little Bethel, in part for the purpose o
rut,inr him oil, and then TO make an at
tack uron title Bethel. directed zen
Pierce to support him from Hampton
with Col. rowusend's regiment, with two
mounted howitzers, and to march aOou'
an hour later. At the same time idlrec
ted Colonel Phelps, commanding at New
e,ort News, to send cat battalion, com
posed of such companies of the regin,ent
under his command 0s he Thought best
under the command o: Lieut. Col. Wash
burn. in time TO make demonstration
upon Little Bethel in front, and TO hav
him supported by Colonel Bendix's regi
ment, with two field pieces. Beadix 5 an
Townsend's regiments should effect
;unction at n fork of tie road leading fror
Hampton to Newport News, somcthin
like a mile and half from Little Bethe
| directed the march 10 be so timed th'
ahe attack should 6e made just at day
hreak. and that after the attack was mad
upon Little Bethel, Duryea's reglmet
and a regiment from Newport News shoul
FOLLOW Immediately upon the heels Of III
fuyitiyes, if they were enabled TO CT
them of, aud attack the battery on t
road to Big Bethel, whllG covered by ii
fNgitves: or, if it was thought expedier
by General Pierc5, failing 70 surprise tn
camp at Little Bethel. they should atteml
to take .ne work pear Big Bethel. l
prevent the possibility of mistake IN Il
Ciarkness, directed that no attack shoul
be RsaSs Intil the watchword should
shouted by the attacking regiment, ant
in case that by any mistake in the marc
the regiments that were TO make th
function should Unexpectedly meet an
be unknown to each other. also drecte
xhat the members ofColonel Townsend
regiment should be kDoWu, i! in dayligl
by something white, worn on the arm.
Vbe troops we're accordingly putt motto
as ordered, and the march was so time
Shat Colonel Duryea had got in the po
Won noted upon the accompanying sket
and Lieut. Col Washburn. in command
xhe regiment from Newport News h
hot ito the position noted upon l
sketch and Colonel Bendix's regime
had been posted and ordered to hold I
fork Of the road, with two pieces OF art
lery, and Colonel Townsend's regime
had got into the place just behind, a.
were about 70 form a junction as the d
Nawned
Up to this point the plan h
been vigorously. accurately and succes
fully carried out; but here, by sol
strange iatuity, aud as yet uuexplain
hlnnIpr vithnnt nny word Oi nOflf