Kanawha Valley star. [volume] (Charleston, Va. [W. Va.]) 1856-1861, 1861-06-18
Fight ut Bethel Church.,
EuH. DeEaiIe. m

II E1SnG NJ AteIneH CRuRCh..-
4 Full Details.
4 We, copy the following account Of I'll,
battle Of Great Bethel Church from I'll,
Richmond Enquire.
YoRKTowN, Junes1t, 1861.
An engagement, lasting four hours
took place yesterday, NIondayl be-
tween five regiments Of troops from
lOld Point and HOO confederate
troops, consisting of Eirginians and
North Oarolinians, under General
4 .,Magruder, at Bethel Church, YORK
county. Before telling you Of the
battle, ! will give you some cifcum,
stances preceding it. About two
weeks ago, party ofsome 300 Yam
KEGS came up from Hampton and oc-
cnpied Bethel Church, which position
they held a day or two and then re,
tired, leaving written on the walls OF
1.-THE Church several inscriptions, such
las Death to tile Traitors Down
with the Rebelsp &c. 10 nearly all
Hot these the snames Of the writers
were defantly signed and all of the
fpensrpen signed themselves as from
/ New York except one who was from
Boston, Mass, U. S." To these
excursions into the interior. of which
i this was the boldest, General Magru-
| der determined to put stop, and ac.
leordinglys filled the place after tile
Yankees left, withFa few companies
Of It's own troops. In addition to
this, lie determined TO carry the war
into the tenemy's country, and on
Wednesday last Stanafd's battery,
of the Howitzer Battalion, was order
ed down to the Church, where il was
soon joined by a portion Of Browns
battery, Of the same corps. The
North Carolina Regiment, under
Col. Hill, wasalso there, making in
all about 1 100 men, and seven how.
itzer guns.
On Saturday last the first excuf-
sion ofcnnsiderable importance was
llnade. "A nefachment Of 200 infant.
Il:y andt a howitzer gun under. Major
I Randolph, and one OTTO infantry,
land another howitzer under Major
Lane, of the North Carolina regi-
1inent. started indifferent routes to
cut off o party which had left IIanp
ton. The party was seen and tiredeat
by Maj Randolph's detachment, bnt
made such fast time that they es-
capped. The troops ander Maj Lane;
passed within sight of Hampton, and
as they turned mp the road to return
TO Bethel encountered the Yankees,
numbering about co, who we're en-
trenched behind a fence in the field,
protected b. a high bauk. Our ad
vance guard fired on them, and in am.
other moment the North Oarolinians
were dashing over the fence if regu ]
lar French {not New York; zen.lve
Style, firing at them in real squirrel
hunting style. !. The Yankees fled Tor
THEN lives after firing for about three
minutes without effect, leaving be-
hindthem three dead and a prisoner.
The prisoner was stout, ugly fellow
nom Troy. NJ Y. lie said that he
had nothing against the South but
somebody must be soldiers, and he
thought lie had as well enlist. None
6f our men were hurt. s4F.
This bold excursion, pnder the
very guns ofthe enemy, determined
tie authorities at Old Point 10 put 9
gtop to it and clear us ont from Beth
ii This determination was convey
ed TO us by persons who came from
the neighborhood Of the enemy On
Monday morning. about GOO infantry
and two guns, under Gen. Magruder,
Ilett the camp and proceeded towards
Hampton; but after advancing q mile
Or two. received information that the
Yankees were coming ID large force.
| we then retireds and after1reaching
camp theguns we're placed IN battery,
and the infantry took their places be-
hind their breastwork. Everybody
was cool, and al were anxious TO
rive the Invaders a good reception;
About 8 o'clock the glittefing bay
enets Of the enemy appeaFd On the g
thillopposite, and above them waved &
The Star Spangled Banner, TheIpo-
/ lnent the. head of the column adYan-
ICED far enough to show one Or two
Iconbanies. the Parrot gun Of the
/ Howitzer Battery opened on them
Throwing shell right into theif
flniist. Their ranks broke IN confu,
sion. and the column, 81 .as much q
It as we could see, retreated beninql
two small farm houses. From their
position a fire was opened on ua,
which was replied to bp our battery,
! which commanded the route OF their
appr6ach. Our firing was excellent
and the shells scattered in Eall direcf,
lions when they burst. They could
| hardly approach the guns which they
were firing for the shells which camle
kfrom our battery. Within cur en, en-,
eampment fell d perfect hail-storm q
Ecannister.shot, bullets and balls. re
Il ~ -.una n