The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1861-07-05
VOL. A. NO. q.
THE BATTLE AT GREAT BETHEL.

!
Bethel. Alter describing the OPENING of tba
engagement the writer in the Dispatch SAYS
Finding that bombardment would not answer
I the enemy, about O'Clock, tried to carry the
position by assault, but met terrible repulss at
the hands Of the infantry as he tried 10 scale
the breast works. The men disregarded some
times the defences erected for them, and leaping
on the embankment, stood and fred at the enc
my, cutting them down as they came up. One
company OF the New York Seventh Regiment
under Captain Winthrop, attempted to take the
redoub on the lett. The marsh they crossed
was strewn with heir bodies. Their captain
tne looking man, reached the fence, and Lean
Ing on log, waved his sword, crying, "Come
on boys one charge, and the d ay is ours -
The words were h,s last, for Carolina rife
ended ms lie th- next moment, and he fed IN
terror back. A the redoubt on the rigbt
company of about 300 New York Zouaves
charged on one of our guns, but could nat stand
the fire Of the infantry, and retreated precipi-
lately.
During these charges the main BODY of the
enemy, Oa the hill, we're attempting 10 concen-
trate for general assault, but the she'll from the
howItzer battery prevented them. As one re-
giment would give up the effort, another would
Be marched TO the position, but with M be,tar
success, for she'll would scatter them liks
chat The men did not seem able to stand fire
at all.
About one O'Clock their guns were siIenced.
ana lew moments after their infantry retreat
ed preclpIfately down The road to Hampton
Dor cavalry, numbering three companies, went
IN pursuit, and harrassed them down to ths
edge OF Hampton. As they retreated many of
the wounded fell along the road and died, and
the whole road to Hampton was strewn with
haVeFsacks, oVercoats, muskets, &c., which the
men had thrown off 10 their retreat.
A After the battle visited the position thew
held The houses b-hind which they had been
hid had bsen burnt hv our traer4 ranni 49,
yard were the dead bodies of the men who had
been killed by our cannon, maugled in the most
fFightf1i manner by th4 Shells The uniforms
on the bodies were very different, many of
them are like those OF the Virginia soldiery. A
little further on We came TO the point TO which
they bad carried some of their wounded, who
had since died. The gay looking uniforms of
New York Zouaves conttasied greatly with the
Paled, fixed faces Of their dead owners. Going
to the swamp through which they attempted to
pass to assault our lin"s there was presented an
othsr, bloody scene. Bodies dotted the black NOR
ass from one enc 10 the other. saw one boyish,
delicate looking fellow lying on the mud, with
a bullet hole through his breast. His hand was
pressed on the wound from which his life-blocd
had poured, and the other was cIenched in the
grass that grew near him. Lying on the ground
was Testament which had fallen from his
pocket, dabbed with blood On opening the
cover found the printed inscription, sPresen-
ted to the defenders of their country BY the
New York Bible Society,"" A. u s. aag was
stamped on the title page.
Among The haversacks picked up along the
route were many letters from the Northern
States, asking if they liked the Southern farms,
and if the Southern bar5arians had been whip
ped out yet.
The force uf the enemy brought against US
was 1000 according to the statement of the six
prisoners we took. Ours was LOO Their
loss in killed and wounded must be nearly 900
Our loss is one killed tMr. Wy all, oil CT and
three wounded. The fatal case was that of
Nnrfb Horottpia,, r.
OF the housesi sibehnd which they were stationed.
He started from the breastworK 10 accomplish
1t, bnt was shot in the head The wounded
are Harry Shook Of Richmond, of Browns
Battery, shot in the wrist, John Werth, of
Richmond, of the same Battery, shot in the leg 4;
and Lieut.. Hndnail, Of the same Battery shot
in The foot. None OF the wounds are serious.
The LOUISIANA regiment arrived about one
hour alter the fight was over. As there was
force enough al old Point 10 send up 10 Bethel
and surround us, we took up the line of march
and came up to Yorktown, where we now
are.
During the entire engagement Col. Marru-
der was in every part Of the field, and display
ed consummate generalship and courage, direc-
ting every movement N person, and exposing
himself with recklessness OF danger which
was seen aud admired by all in camp.
D-"Mr Smith you ,aiJ you boarded al
the Columbia Hotel six months: did you foot
your bill!''
''No SIR; but what amounted to the same