Delaware State journal and statesman., 1861-06-14
BATTLE AT GREAT BETHEL.
REPULsE OF THE FEDERAL TROOPS.
Fifteen KiIled-Forly Wounded.
FULL PARTICULARS.
AN OFFICIAL ACCOUNT.


AN OFFICIAL ACCOUNT.
General Butler has revised and corrected the
following account Of the repulse for the CORES
pondent OF the Associated Press
FoRTREss MONROE, June l0.-Ths has been
an exciting and sorrowful day at Old Point Com
fort General Butler having learned that Con.
federatts were forming an entrenched camp with
strong batteries at Great Bethel nine miles from
Hampton, on the Yorktown Road, he deemUd it
necessary to dislodge them.
Accordingly movements were made last night
from Fortress Monroe and Newport NeWe.-
About midHighi Colonel Duryea's q nayeB and
Colonel Towusend's Albany Regimen, crossed
the river at Hampton by means of six lrge
batteaux, manned by the Naval Brigade, aud
took up the line of march, The former some
two miles in advance Of the latter
At the same time Col. Benedix's Regiment and
detachment Of the Vermont aud Massaou usetts
regiment at Newport NOws, moved 70 ward 10
form junction with the regiment from Fortress
Monroe at LATHE Bethel, ut about q. M
Col. BenediX's Regiment arrived uext aud
took position at the intereeciiOn OF the roads
Not understanding the signal. the German Regi-
ment IN the darkness Of the marning fired upon
Col Townsend's column, marching 10 close or
der, and led by Lieut.. Barker with two pieces Of
artillery.
Other accounts say that Colonel ToUnsends
Regiment fired fret AT all events the fire OF
the Albany Regiment was harmless, while that
OF the Germans was fatal, killing ont man fatally
woundng two others, with several slight casual.
ties.
The Albany regiment having fallen back the
Germans discovered from the Announcements lett
on the field that the supposed enemy was a
friend. They had in the meantime fired nine
rounds with small arms and u field piece
lac AouaYes hearing the Gre had returned and
fired also upon the Albany boys.
At daybreak Col. Aliens and Col earns re-
giment moved from the rear of the Fortress to
support the main body. The mistake ut Littlu
Bethel having been ascertained, the buildings
were burned, and Major, with two promineat
secessioniats, named Liyey and Whitney, made
prisoners.
The troops then advanced upon Great Bethel
10 the following order, viz: The Zouaves, Col
Benedix, Lieut.. Col. Washburn. Col. ALLEN and
Col. Carr. AT that point the lruops found and
successfully endeayored tn take n large masked
secession battery. The effort was futile, their
three small pieces Of artillery not being able to
cope with the heavy rited cannon, according to
some accounts numbering thirty.
The Confederate battery was so completely
masked that no men could he seen--only the
flashing Of the guns. There Eus probably not
ies7 than one Thousand men behind their sand
batteries A well concentrated movement might
hNfN oNNAhNh Nup Hu9uluht uul BflIhQer ltuBrHl
FIERCE WHO "as In command Of the expedition,
seemed 10 have lost his presence of mind. and
the Troy Regiment stood an hour exposed to q
calling fire.
An order to retreat was at last given, but at
that moment Lieutenant Grebe OF the L. \
Amy, and in command of the artillery, WINS
struck by cannon ball, and Instantly killed
he had spiked lis gun, and was gallGntly en-
deavoripg to Withdraw his command
CAPTAIN Gpurun " William oF tta 1t,o,, ID
gmenl, after the order to retreat took possession
Of the gun, mud with Quart rmastrr VIM Arthur.
brought off the field with the body of Lieutenant
Greb'e. They brought them to the Fortress
this evening
should hive stated that Col. MeChesneys
regiment formed reserve Col Hawkins regi-
ment marched from Newport News during the
day.
There are nineteen killed and fifty wounded
and missing. Lieut.. Col Butler deserves the
greatest credit for bringing off tho killed aud
wounded, several of the latter are now in tho
hospital ut the Fortress.
The armed vessels went up to Newport News
point, excepting the Cumberland. All the Re-
giments are now probably at their former quar-
tsrs.
fURTuEn PARTICULARS
From the Baltimore Patriot we Obtain anna
additional particulars IN regard to the battle al
Great Bethel. The Patriot says:
Inc steamer Ueorgianaa from Old Point mr.
rived at her wharf al o'clock this morning. and
brings some Interesting particulars of the engage
ment at Great Bethel on Monday night last.
Captain Butler, nephew of General Butler
came up in the Gsorgiaana as bearer Of de-
spatches' and proceeded on to Washing tom
Several other officers came up as pass myers,
and a private of Duryea's zouaves, ON come
business connected with the fort
Our reporter had d conversation with Ca .ptAin
Butler and some Of the officers of the boni and
from them was enabled to CLEAN the folls wing
particulars
The number of killed on the Federal side will
not, it is said, exceed fifteen or SIXTEEN and the
wounded nifty or sixty. AL the killed and ,Vonnd-
cd wore brought back TO Fortress Monroe in
boats, under the charge Of the Naval u, ,iRade.
who are said to have acted in the bragest nnuuer
in going on to the field aud bringing the bodies
of during the thickest Of the fight thus OK posing
themselves to the greatest danger from he FIRE
Of the enemy. 1t was the opinion Of a II who
Witnessed their conduct, that if they ha been
provided with arms, they could have silenc ed the
battery in a short time.
The entire blame Of the unfortunate result of
the affair Is lail on the shoulders of Gen. Pierce
who is e1ecrated by every one Tor bis total want
of efficiency This sentiment was shared alike
by both Union men and SEQ ssonists-the lattsr
especially openly expressing their contempt for !
him.
General Butler was perfectly enraeed aeniust
him, and when Pierce was brought before him
he cursed him, called hun fool and coward |
told him he Ind failed in The performance of hi,
duty. declaring that he had no coufi lvnce in him
aud that he would not hereafter trust him, 10
matter how small or uuimportsnt the affair
Ii was the general Impression that the battery
could have been taken in half an hour. had
General Pierce, when be FIRST discovered it. with
drawn his forces aud went two miles below.
where he could have crossed the river in boats,
and attacked it in such u way as to hive captur.
ed 1t almost without resistance.
Tue bridge winch divided the river WINS a
wooden one, three fourths of a mile long, and
had bean burnt by the Confederates the night
before. There had been good daal Of akirmish
ing between the opposing forces the day before
the battle, but the result was unimportant.
when the first Of the Federal troops arrived In
tho vicinity OF the river, and before the com.
meneement Of the hattie tbe., c.n,n.sI 49,