Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1861-06-25
Grecu Git. Greenon
MONTPELIER, VT,
Tuesday Morning, June rs, 1861.
The EQgagomen. at Great Bethel


roaders would like to hear some Of the incidents
u The battle al Great Bethel on Tie lO,h inst,
more especially as a part Of The Vermont Reg.
tneut were engaged IN it. FGsoyeral days prior
10 the action, various rumoYs were ailoat rela-
i've to ,ho situation Of q large body Of rch e,
somewhere between Newport News and York
town. Scouting parties were sent out IN all d.
rcctions, but all efforts To discover them proved
unuyaing until early Oh sunday morning last
when reliable information was received that
they were entrcn shed at Great Bethel, some
fourteen miles distant from Camp Butler. Or
ders were Immediately issued from Gen. Butler
to form an attacking party to storm the works,
and capture or drive the enemy from their po-
sition. The troops selected for this duty were
Col Duryea's Iouaycs, Col. Townsends Albany
Regiment from the vicinity Of Fortress Monroe,
Col Bendxs (Stcuben RiAa) Regiment, and
attachments from the 9TH Massachusetts aud LIST
Vermont Regiments, consisting in all Of about
5000 men. The troops were kept IN profound
ignorance OF their destination, and no notice Of
any important movement was given until dress
parade at oc'ock Sunday evening" when the
%, Ith. 9th. 9Th and l0th companies Of the
Vermont Regiment were ordered to hold them.
selves in readiness to march ut midnight. Ac-
cordiugy, at hallpast ii o'clock the dcsigua-
ted companies were formed in line, each man
carefully armed, and thoroughly equipped TT
Marching out Of the camp, obey were soon Join
ed by similar number OF the Massachusetts,
lth. Col BcndiX's Regiment, with TWO small
field pieces, brought up the rear, in this order
we marched in darkness all night long. All
talking in the ranks was strictly iOrbdden.--
Nothing was heard but the steady tramp Of the
advancing columns, the rumblngo of the artile-
w wagons, and the word Of command, as it
passed in II whisper along the line. 1T day
light having gained considerable distance on
the rear guard (Col Bendix's Regimen and
the artilery,) we halted few moments to al
low them to come up, and we also expected here
to DO Joined by Col. Townsend and Duryea, and
Two moro field pieces and detachment OF reg
ulars under Lieut. CREDIBLE While thus wait
ing, our ears were saluted with Iollcy Of
musketry, followed instantly by the report Of
TWO cannon, coming from the woods through
which we had lately passed, and in the direction
Of the rear guard, about one and 0ne-haii mile
distant. The head Of the column was Instant
ly turned tn that direction and the order . For
ward Doube.quick y was given, and at a
run we set out Tor the scene OF action Judge
ground TO find instead Of an enemy one Of
1nr Rogmonts had been iIing into another -
ltscems that in The uncertain light, the advance
guard OF COT. BindiX had discovered the Regi-
inent Of Col. Townsend, and not having any
signal on means Of knowing friend FROM foe,
had mistaken them COZ a body Of Rebel troops,
aud giving the alarm, the Regiment formed in
Inc and fired with deadly effect Two were in
stantly killed. and ten or twelve others wound
ed, some Of them dangerously. As soon as this
dreadful mistake was corrected, the columns
again moved forward towards Great Bethel
some six or seven miles distant. But all hopes
Of surprising the enemy were now abandoned.
The country was aroused, and Rebel scouts
were spreading the alarm in every direction -
1t was evident that if the Rebel batteries were
taken that day. it must be done by dinI OF hard
lighting, not by any strategy.
1t would seem that the true policy then
would have been either TO have retreatod at
once. or to have waited the arrival Of reinforce
ments, which would have been on the ground
shortly; or Mt least, to have allowed the troops
a short time To rest and refresh themselves. -
Instead OF this, We were marched, without a
moment reposo, until we reached the scene OF
action. Daring the forenoon we suffered great
~ from laUgue ana intense tulfsl
We reached the battlefield about halt-past
ten clock, and Immediately formed in line OF
battle The artillery, under Lieut.. Greble,
now opened upon the enemy position, as near
as they could Judge The Rebels replied from
their batteries, and the cannonading soon be-
came hot Our little howitlers and field pieces
did most excellent service but were no match
Tor tho heavy ulod cannon Of the enemy. Their
batteries were completely Masked and their
whereabouts could only be judged by the smoke
and flash Of the guns. After Il few minutes
firing, the order was given t. charge Col
Duryca 5 Xouayes rushed forward in the mos
gallant manner to the assault At the foot O
the entertainment runs u narrow, muddy creek
This, III some places, had been widened into a
ditch, and in other places was so mrey as to be
difficult to cross The Zouayes, however, sue.
cceded in crossing, but the enemy having con
stantly been reinforced, were too strong lor
them, and they were compelled to retire. with
considerable loss, after making the most deeper
ate efforts to carry the works During all this
time, the detachments from the Vermont and
Massachusetts Regiments, and also Col Ben.
dlx's command were endeay0ung to penetrate
through dense wood to enable them take 40.
sitlon on the right. After half an hour OF the
most oxhaustiug labor, we fCnnd a broad, deep
ditch, and following this, in few moments We
came into the open field, just where we ought t,
have been some thirty minutes sooner. Tn,
place where we emerged from the ditch was
within fair musk0t shot of the enemy works
The Rebels had evidently made calculations thai
we would attempt to form in line ut this place
and were ready to receive us. The charge o
the Lluaves in front, however, prevented thcu
from paying us such particular attention as they
had intended aud the most of our detachmen
had taken position somewhat sheltered by inter
vening trees and bushes, before they noticed us
Your correspondent was not of the lucky mum
Der that found shelter, and believing with Fal
staff and many others, that I" discretion is III,
better part Of alor," no ignominiousl,
4" ducked his head, at the foot OF small tree
until the storm should sacken. In fact it would
have been perfect madness to cross that line o.