Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-06-21

hve hundred Federal forces were engaged. they
were repulsed and being reinforced by eight hun
dred more troops.en Thursday night, renewed the
charge. The second engagement took place on Fri
day morning at six o'clock, about four miles from
Independence. The State troops again defeated them,
capturing many stand of arms some four or six
pieces of cannon, camp equipage forty horses,
and killing some two hundred men, besides taking
number of prisoners. The loss on the part of the
State troops was about twenty killed. The number
of the State forces engaged was about two thou
sand. Col Holloway, Commander of the State
forces, was killed by stray shot. The command
of the State forces now deYove on COL Crlttenden.
The Battle at Bethel Church-StiIl Fur-
Their Accounts.
1t appears that the officials at Fortress Monroe
are making effort to conceal the amour. of their
loss from the public eye at the North, ftsing,
doubtless that the truth would havea discouraging
effect The official dispatches forwarded to WASH
ngton, according to the statement Of the Northern
Associated Press state the loss of the Federals
fourteen killed. eight Of whom fell by the hands Of
their friends and the number of wounded at forty
FIVE. The Richmond Enquirer says this is an srrsnt
falsehoed; for more than that number were buried
by the Confederates after the battle.
The Baltimore Sun, of the 18th, has the fellow
ing:
THE LATE BATTLE AT BETHEL CHURCH.
Such was the condition of affairs at Fortress Mon
roe that bat few additional particulars could be OBJ
tanned of the battle of Monday morning at Great
Bethel 1t was learned, however, that in the mis-
taken assault by Colonel Benedix's regiment on the
Albany regiment five of the latter were killed snd
quite number wounded.
The whole of The Federal force, it is said did not
exceed four thousand men, while that Of the Con-
federates was about eighteen hundred, with six
pieces of artillery in two batteries, two or three
companies of rifemen, and fine cavalry corps.
The cavalry, it IS said by one of those who par
ticpated on the Federal side, attempted to charge
upon the Federal troops, bat the fire from the lat.
ter drove them back, It'll the loss of one man kill
ed or wounded Ee was seen to fall from his horse.
The number Of killed and wounded is not definite
" ascertsined bat it admitted at Fortress Mon
roe to have been an unusual large per centsge Of
the force. The troops are said to have exhibited
great bravery. but were compelled to beat hssty
retreat from the we'll directed and devastating FIRE
of the Copfederates.
As an instance OF the precision of their aim, a
cannon ball from the Confederate battery struck
the barrel of the musket of of the Federal troops
about it's center, bending it that the ends came
nearly together. and the following ball took off the
head Of the soldier who had lest his muskst.
After the retreat of the Federal troops began, the
cavalry of the Confederates followed them nearly
into Hampton village, and then retired
There was no intention expressed at the Fortress
to send out smother force to the of bsttle,
it was thout the Confederates would remove their po-
siton and if it should be captured it would require
fo-ce of 2 500 to hold il, with Eve hundred addi-
tionsl to keep open the communicated between
that aud Hampton.
A large number Of wounded had been brought in
to the hospital at Fortress Monroe, many of whom
we're fatally injured. On Tuesday two of the
wounded died. A passenger by the Georgeanna
stated that twenty Zouaves, besides those known
to have been killed and wounded, were still mics
ing Two who had separated themselves from the
regiment in the retreat, came into the Fortress on
Tuesday afternoon, but could give no account of
their missing conn AIDES.
good deal of depression is said to be exhibited
among the Federal troops because of the defeat,
but they do not lack the courage to renew the
test as soon as they receive the word of command
to march.
Maj winthrop, one Of the aids TO Gen. Pierce.
who was reported missing, is said to have reached
Newport News point in safety. He gave the order
to charge the battery, when the fearful havoc of
his troops took place.
Correspondence Of the Baltimore Sun.
OLD POINT CcMf OFT, June 1.-THE first battle
between the contending forces Of the United States
and the Confederate States have taken place. result
ing in the defeat of the former. At midnight on
Sunday about 500 men advanced from Newport
News point and 5000 from Old Point Comfort. with
an arrangement to meet near Newmarket Bridge,
where they would conjoin under the command of
Brig. Gea. Pierce, Of Mass, for the purpose of
checking the ncursions of corps of Virginia dra-
goons who had arranged their pickets in the vicRi
ty Of Hampton.
A part of the troops from Newport News point,
mistaking the Federal troops for the Southern for
ces ct about three o'clock in the morning, opened
fire on them. and killed several, besides wounding
quite number. This revealed their approach to
1oio bryfb
resulting from the mistake, enabled the Confeder-
ates to thoroughly prepare for them. While ON the
march, Capt. A. Whiting, of Hampton who was on
picket duty was captured. He is represented to be
a splendid specimen of manhood, and his bearing
and courage elected the admiration of the Federal
officers. Another picket was discovered and fired
on, but he escaped.
After order was restored ameng the Federal,
troops, they advanced rapidly towards Great Bethel
unconscious of any formidable opposing force Up
on approaching the brink of the narrow creek
which separated them from these lying IN wait for
them, CALLING fire from two batteries-one of 2
and one of guns-opened on them, while they
were protected by lsfge baby of expert rifemen.
For want of able generalship the Federal force,
after several bold assaults compelled to retire
which they did in tolerably fair order, their
harrassed by a troop of Confederate cavalry. The
loss to the Federal troops was very considerable,
but l cannot state the number.
Col. Duryea's New York Zouaves had seven kill
ep forty-two wounded, and four missing. The four
other regiments, Albany, Col. Townsen6 Steuben
Volunteers. Massachusetts, Col Benedlx; Troy, Col
Carr, and First New York, COL Allen all suffered
severely. About twenty arillerists of the regular
army, under Lieut.. Greble, acted gallanty and
Lieut.. G. was shot dead willie working one of his
guns. He had three l2-pounder howitzers. He is
said to have relations in Baltimore, and highly
esteemed by his fellow-ofhcers.
The force of the ConfederateS in the conflict is
variOusly estimated at from eight hundred to TWEEN
ty-fve hundred, and said to be an advance body
from the forces at Yorktown.
The Federal officers who particularly dstin-
gushed themselves for bravery were Col. Duryea,
Lieut.. Col. Warren, Col. Townsend, Maj Davis,
Lieut.. Greble and Capt Kilpatrick-all of whom,
except Townsend aud Greble, are attached to the
Zouave Regiment, which went through the battle
with remarkable bravery. Captain Fitzpatrick
was among the wounded.
The belief here is that the Confederate forces
were under the command of Col Magruder. and
their guns did fearful execution. The battery was
eVGlntly hastily constructed, and two of its guns
were removed to more favorable positions while
the battle was going on, that the woods in which
he Federal troops were protected were raked in
two direGtcls On one side of the road Is dense
wood, and on the opposite were clear grounds,
while narrow, marshy stream only separated the
contending forces.
a letter found on the person of prisoner stated
hat the force at Yorktown in day or two would |
amount to ten Thousand men. The letter was of
recent date.
While the fight was going Lieut. Yorke lost |
MS sword, which was snatehed from him. To give |
you some idea of the precise aim of the Confede2 !
ties, soldier in the front rank had his hand blown
,f while holding his musket, the barrel of which |
vas completely folded, and the next ball took off |
lis head. The gun barrel was forwarded to your |
ty to be sent to his relatives in New York. Lieut.
5rebles remains are now en- route for Philadelphia |
where his friends reside.
The puidpE Of fha Federal forceg were npOropa.
MAoRUDERs MEN.-1t is said that Col Magruder |
lad with him at the Bethel Church his old force Of
egulars who were under him in the United States
rmy they having deserted in order to join their
Id leader. This may account in part for the terri
lie effect with which the guns were managed in