The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1861-06-20
The Battle at Great BetheI...A Detailed
Narrative.
BALTIMORE, Tuesday, June IL.

6DeeTLcUTI returned from II OfLreSS Mon
roe this morning, with a full report of
the battle at Great Bethel. For seve-
raj days past Gen. Butler has been ad
vised of movements of a considerable
body of Confederate troops in the vi
einity of village called Great Bethel,
which is about l2 miles from the Fort
ress, and near the road conducting to
Yorktown Believing from reliable re-
ports that they had thrown up entrench-
nents, and were generally extending
their outer line of pickets, he deter
mined, after consultation with other
officers, to whip them away, and ace
cordingly gave orders to several regi-
ments to hold themselves in. readiness
march at a moments warning. At the
same time, the Chief of the Ordinance
Department received orders to send a
battery of howitzers, which was soon
under line of march, comprising four
12-pounders and detachment of U. S.
Artillery, under Lieut.. Greble and 9TH
er officers. A party of the Naval Bri-
gade was also quickly mustered, for
the purpose of conveying troops across
Hampton Greek, which was done by
means Of fishing boats sent down, on
Saturday, from the Susquehanna River.
The detailed force OF the Y Volunteers
consisted of three regiments, the Alba
ny Regiment, Col. Townsend the
New York Zouaves. Col. Duryea, and
the Seventh Regiment, Col. Bendix,
with companies from other regiments,
comprising a force of nearly 5000
men. r
The command moved at 12d O'Clock
on Sunday night with the Zouaves
nearly one hour ahead, and owing to a
most unfortunate mistake in relation to
signals, two of. the regiments got into
a collision, when the regiment of Col.
Bendix, mistaking that OF Col. Town
send for that of the enemy, fired into
them, and did not discover their mis-
take until the dawn of day., when their
supposed enemy left them masters of
the field. 1t is not known exactly how
many were killed or wounded, but the
number will not be considerable. =
After an explanation and a mutual
understanding between the two regi-
ment, it was then agreed to move on
to Great Bethel, and the entire force
took up the line of march, which is
three miles from the place where the
error was committed. eIi ,-or.,.,s
AS soon as the right of the column
got near the place they were apprised
of the presence of the foe, who were
very strongly entrenched and who
opened fire upon them with battery
of ri1ed cannon. The Federal troops
promptly responded, but the volleys of
the infantry, and the small park of
howitzers were unavailing against such
formidable battery, and in the course
of half an hour retreat was sounded,
and executed in good ORDER III, ~
| The regiment moved well, and the
men is acknowledged on all sides, act.
: ed with spirit of determination. The
most melancholy feature of the battle
was the killing of Lieut.. Greble.
1t was almost impossible to tell the
number of killed and wounded on the
side of the Federal troops, but l was
told by Gen. Butler that his estimate
: was about 80 killed and 100 wounded
1t was feared that Major Winthrop
Aid to Gen. Butler, had been killed
: as he could not be found. -.
When the news of the action reached
the Fortress the utmost sadness pre-
4 vailed, and there was mournful as
e pect visible throughout. The frs
wounded man that reached the Fortres
was private James Garbet. He cam,
in an ambulance, which was very care
fully driven. ..-''
AS soon as Gen. Butler heard of tn,
e affair, which was about 2 o'clock, h,
It mounted his horse aud rode at the to-
e of its speed to Newport News Poin,
e for the purpose of ascertaining all th
II facts in the case. i' s. aa'
e. Col Dimick also rode around tn
d ramparts, and inspecting the side nea
n the land approach, ordered the howl
d zers and mortars to be gotten ready.
II About o'clock p. M. the steame
e] Cdtdline reached the wharf, with som
d of the dead and wounded. In th
leI meantime nearly all the armed flee
d, proceeded up the James River to New
n. port News Point. s
S, The hospital for the regular fore
in and the regiments of volunteers VIII
I'll Eare stationed in the Fortress, is in fir.
ne rate order, and the under directionshi
to of DR.. Cuyler, will continue So.
at 1t is officially announced that ii
ID health Of the garrison is excellent, an
= but few are on the sick list. aoii..i'-a.
III g have endeavored to get full ii.
III of the killed and wounded in the alta
ce at Great Bethel, but succeeded onl
US partially, as but few of them ha
reached the place up to the time OF tn
departure of the boat, which usual
!. leaves at 4 o'clock, but was detaine
-. for your correspondent until p. nj.
90 Amongst the killed was Lieut.. CIR
BILE, of the u. S. Artillery. He W:
~ struck upon the .rifed cannon, the ba
~ ~ of which tore away the upper part
= the head.
=. ~ He was an efficient officer, and grea
80 80 ly beloved by his brother officers, wh
IS, as may be expected, are keenly grieye
ed by the sad bereavement. His funer
eu will take place on Wednesday, and b
)rC ,,or,o;po will ha 1o,oc;fad -, a -, ~ ol