The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-06-12

THE SITUATION OF AFFAIRS.
The shifting scenes of outpost collisions and
hasty s1rmishes which for some weeks past have
been taking place all along the lines from Har-
pers Ferry to Fort Monroe, was changed yester-
day morning, in the direction of the latter post, by
a general engagement between large bodies Of
troops on both sides. The action took place at
point called Big Bethel, situated about nine miles
from Hampton, on the Yorktown road, on the PENN
ulalying between the James and York rivers above
1he encampment of General Buffers army. It
appears that General Butler had intelligence that
The rebels-who hold Yorktown with force of
5000 men-had constructed an intrenched camp,
comprising six batteries of rihed cannon and
sixty eight underground howitzers He deter.
mined to disodge them, and accordingly he
ordered a force Of about four thousand men,
under Brgadier General Pierce, to advance upon
Big Bethel yesterday morning early. Gene
1al Pierces force consisted of the First, Second
and Third New York regiments, commanded re
spectively by Colonies Duryee, Tompkins and
Townsend; detachments from the Fourth Massa
chusetts, First Vermont, and Seventh and Ninth
New York volunteer regiments, together with two
light field pieces, under command Of Lieutenant
Greble of the United States Army. After
driving in the pickets Of the enemy, hot
ferries, which proved to be masked, not
man being visible. The gallant fellows stood
the fire bravey, returning it with small
arms and the light field pieces. General Pierce
ordered the First Zouaves and the Third (Albany)
regiment to storm the battery, and they went at
it on a run, under terrific fire, until they were
arrested by deep and wide trench, over
which they had no means to pass. After en-.
during heavy FIRE for two hours, and the
ammunition being exhausted, retreat was
ordered, and the troops withdrew in good order,
carrying the dead and wounded with them,
ihe former amounting to Is, and the lat
ter to about 100. Unfortunately Lieutenant
Greble was shot dead by a riaed cannon
ball in the forehead, which carried away
the upper portion of the skull. He fought his
guns maniully throughout the conflict, and had
Just spiked one, and was about retiring, when the
liant West Point officer. We give a sketch of his
brief career in another column.
An unhappy mistake occurred while the troops
were on the march, but it is one not unu
sual under the circumstances. They started
from their different quarters about midnight,
and were carried across Hampton creek on bat
teaux manned by the Naval Brigade The march
was thus conducted in the dark, and it unfortu
natey happened that before daylight the Seventh
New York German regiment, of Colonel Bendix,
came upon the Albany regiment at Little Bethel, a
place halfway between Great Bethel and Hamp-
ton, and installing them for the enemy, fred upon
them, killing one, and wounding ten seriously.
The Albany men returned the Gre, but without
effect. The zouaves, who came up at the
same time, hearing the fire, o volley on the
Albany men, and dischged a howtzer, the
shot from which passed over their heads. The
of things, and the whole force pushed on to the
batteries at Great Bethel, with the result above
stated 1t is due to the troops engaged to say that
both officers and soldiers conducted themselves
splendidly in the alton, and proved that our men
are made of the right stuff.
A special messenger arrived at Washington
from Fortress Monroe at twelve O'Clock last nigh
announcing that General Butler had marched on
Great Bethel yesterday morning and captured
ahat place, taking the batteries, one Of which
proved to be mounted with seven guns, and
another with fourteen guns. He also took prison.
ers 1000 of the rebels. Butler is evidently the
right man in the right place.
The news from Harpers Ferry is important,
and indicates speedy evacuation of that place
by the rebels. Their force at Point of Rocks has
certainly been withdrawn, and portion of the