Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-06-19
From the New YORK Herald.
TIIE BTG BETHEL AFFAIR.
Ir''F'''ins D ssi,ss li 2Saass. Sergeant =
CAMP HAMILTON, Va june IT. Ie0.

regiment we're under orders 70 mhroh IN l
half an hour to meet the enemy Promptly {
at the ~appeinted time the men ofour com
pany assembled, and numbered hfty-seven,
rank and file. Company / with about the
same number OF men, act omPanied US.
The combined commando crossed . river, n
and, after a march in quick time, reached
New Market Bridge, about ak miles from
the regimentai camp. We acted as the
vanguard Of the regiment We had in
struetions TO remain 1t the place before
menlioned, to await the arrival Of the re
naming eight companies. On their arrt-
val, which took place at two o'clock A. NJ,
The two companies continuing as the ad-
vauoe guard, proceeded forward, being ad-
yised previously that the rebels had rebuilt
a bridge over which We were TO pass.
was in a quandary to know what their OBJ
ject was in doing this, unless It was 70 pass
over it to stack as. On 3 close examine
ton l was confirmed in this belief for l
saw distinctly on the opposite side a dis
Jurbed condition Of the ground, where ar
Enllery, infantry and cavalry had biVou-
lacked, After crossing the bridge We threw
out scouts ct from 100 to 800 yards in ad.
vance. After marching three miles further,
making nine miles from the camp, . picket
fire OF the enemy was observed still fur
Their on. We approached il nesr enough TO
hear the rebel sentry challenge some one
passing him. Oar captain, who was with
the scouts, Immediately gave the command
10 elie down. and subsequently, 10 fire.
and then close in upon the rebel picket
guard-for such il proved to be. We took
one prisoner, which proved 10 be Captain
Whiting, of the Confederate States Army.
At frst be denied he was an officer but IS
he rode q fine charger, worth $500, and
carried q costly sabre, his official identity
was established. We secured our prisoner
and treated him with all the i~enienoy the
nature of his case would permit. On further
observation We discovered a light in the win
dow of a house about half a mile distant. ]
proceeded witha detail of three men towards
d. il and took a course across a field. Or
reaching the house l knocked at the door, but
no response came Without waiting for fur
ther ceremony, | burst the door in with a
{ well-directed- blow from my mnsket@IWas
2 Immediately CONFRONTED by D cadaFerous
. looking, half scared to desth woman she
L said: "Gentleman, I have a sick child and
cannot let you in" Thought l to myself,
there must be a great many sick children in
old Virginia. / replied, q am very sorry,
madam for your affection, but we must go
/ in;'' and in ! went without further cere-
mony. ! Immediately Instituted 3 search OF
u the premises, and seized a double=barreled
shot gun and a long knife, with a twenty
e inch blade. These two articles comprised all
the contraband goods in the house, excepting
an old negro. Ny little squad %reioined the
advance guard, which subsequently, marched
E. three quarters of a mile further, which
er brought u to Coventry Bridge. Reaching
ID this point we heard firing in onr rear and at
lie once started back in "double-quick' time,
ID And after trotting four miles, at the break OF
sr day, we reached the main body Of our troops
y and ieaI ned that the firing was owing to the
rs unfortunate mistake of the Seventh regiment
m Col. Bendix, firing upon Col ToWnsends
regiment. After the killed and wounded
J. were properly cared for, Companies d and l
N proceeded IN the direction of where we then
lie supposed the enemy TO be, at a village called
Big Bethel The advance guard kept up the
x march until within one-tOurth Of a mile OF
or the rebels works. Company H-my COM
pany-formed the first platoon scross the
main road to resist cavalry, a1d the second
; platoon deployed as skirmishers. Que Of our
a members went ahead OF the others until
within fifty yards of the enemy's line. He
kneeled down, and taking deliberate aim at
u IGQel Scullucl1 DIOukubN OW aAs hANA ~
le aoolly brought his musket to his shoulder,
and walked back and rejoined our company.
The enemy Immediately opened a masked
battery upon us, whereupon we deployed
|, into q thicket and operated as skirmishers,
. deployed in open order. The missiles from
the enemy's battery few thick and fast Our
men, nothing daunted ct the unweleome re-
! eeptioa, advanced TO the enemy2s work, and
, would have entered it had we been properly
: supported. During this memorable period
the grape and canister shot from the enemy
few thick and fast around US. Col. Daryee
; posted himself behind a tree, from which
DO Mt he directed our movements, but in his
zeal to urge his men on often exposed him
p elf unnecessarily 10 the enemy's fire. On one
occasion o canister shot grazed his shoulder
as be was n the act of STOPPING; the same
d ball struck our Captain in the leg, and also
broke the leg of one of IA comrades. 1t was
= & new and hazardous experience to me to
stand in the midst offs storm of cannon balls,
bullets and rife slugs, and witness their effect
in dimantling trees, tearing up the ground
and making havoc among our men. After
we had been in action for a short time
we were relieved by other troops, and
n permitted to rest. The resting spell
n was very short and we subsequently,
4 received orders to charge the enemy
across an open field. The Capt. was under
# the care of the Surgeon, and Of course
d could not lead the company, and our Lieu
tenant was non est l called en- Company
e q to Join u.s. but fifteen Of them responded,
and they, consolidating with my company,
Y proceeded to charge the enemy. We had
not proceeded over twenty-five yards when
[ hear the Captain urging on his men
Notwithstanding his wound in the leg he
y managed to rejoin us. Now the grape and
canister from the enemy's guns fell thick
and fast. Il seemed as if the whole FIRE
a was directed on us. In this charge three
Of my comrades fell wounded through their
body; another had his arm shot Of, and
for myself escaped unburt. / reached an
elevation, within two hundred yards Of the
n enemy's work, from which 1 could distinct
!, ly see the rebel aItillerists work their guns.
1 got under cover Of alog, and awaited a
; opportunity to try my marksmanship upon
one Of the rebel gunners. My object was
soon accomplished, and 1 brought down my
man. Out Of five shots | missed twice. The
q rebels paid attention to g shed where l
was posted, and grape from their guns
d made the s~plinters fly. On looking around
10 see where my eomrade were, I discover
II ed that they had Withdrawn, having re-
g ceived orders to that effect. Considering
my Isolated condition anything but agree
able, l started from my cover, and on be-
ing discovered by the enemy their skirm.
e isbers paid their respects to me, but with
c out any sen. ible effect. After retreatiDR
two hundred yards l came up to my Cap
tain, who, although suffering from q wound
e himself, was administering to the wants
4 / Of n number Of wounded men. These moor
fellows were crying aloud for water. 1
brought them water, and assisted my Cap
q tain to stauReh the flow Of blood from his
5 wound. Our gallant Captain showed the
most determined courage throughout the