Gazette and sentinel., 1861-06-22

.eitFion The Evening Delta.
TRu 1AgExH or BETHEL. =
DETAILED ACCOUNTS

YOrktonn, June Ilh, 1861.
An engagement, lasting four hours.
took place yesterday, Monday be-
tween FIVE regiments of the troops from
Old Point, fand HOO Confederates
troops, consisting Of Virginians and
North Carolinians, under Gen. Magru-
der. at Bethel Church, York county.
Before telling you of the battle, | will
give You some circumstances preceding
it About two weeks ago, a party Of
300 Yankees came up from Hampton
and occupied Bethel Church, which DO
sition they held a day or two, and then
retired, leaving written on the walls
several inscriptions, such as 'Dcath to
the Traitors P2'I'own with the Rebels!"
etc. To these excursions into the in.
terror, of which this was the boldest,
Gen. Magruder determined to put a
stop TO, and accordingly sent a few
companies OF his own troops into Beth
el.s In addition to this, he determined
to carry the wal into the enemy's u
try, and on Wednesday last, Stauard's
battery of the ihowitzer battalion was
ordered to the Church, where it was
soon Joined by a portion Of Browns
battery, of the same corps. The North
Carolina regiment under Col. Hill, was
also there. making in all about HOO
men and seven howitzer guns.
On Saturday last the first excursion
of considerable Importance was made.
A..detachmcnt of 200. infantry and a
howitzer, under Major Lane, of the n.
Caregiment, started different routes to
cut off a party which had left Hampton.
The patty was seen and fired at by Maj.
Randolph's, detachment, but made such
fast time that they escaped. The troops
under Major Lame passed within sight
of Hampton, and as they turned up the
road to return to Bethel, encountered
the Yankees, numbering 80, who were
e~ntrepched behind a fence in the field,
protected by q high bank. Our ad-
vance guard fired on them, and in an
mother moment the North Carolinians
were dashing over the fence in regular
French Zouave style. 3" The Yankees
fled for their lives, leaving behind them
three dead and a prisoner. The fellow
was a stout. ugly fellow from Troy, n.
Y. He said thatiie had nothing against
the South, but somebody must be sol
diers. None Of our men were hurt.
bOn Monday morning, about 600 infan.
try and two guns, under Gen. Magru-
der, left. the camp and proceeded to-
wards Hampton; but after advancing
a mile or two, received information that
the Yankees were coming in large force.
We then retired, and after reaching
camp, the guns were placed in battery,
and the infantry took their places be-
lindiheir breastwork
yAbout 9o'clock the glittering bayon-
cts of the enemy appeared Oh the hill
E Opposite, and above them waved the
Star Spangled Banner. The moment
the head Of the column advanced far
enough to show one or two companies,
the Parrot gun of the Howitzer Battery
opened on them, throwing a shell right
into their midst, Their ranks broke in
confusion, and the column, or as much
of it as we could see, retreated behind
two small farm houses. From their po-
s~ition.a fire was opened upon us, which
was replied to by our battery, which
commanded their route of approach.
Our firing was excellent, and the shells
scattered in all directions when they
burst. They could hardly approach the
guns which they were firing for the
shells which came from our battery
Within our encampment fell a perfect
shower of canister shot, bullets and
balls. Remarkable to say, not one of
our men was killed inside of our en-
campment. Several horses were slain.
Finding that bombardment would not
answer. the enemy tried to carry the
position by assault, but met a terrible
repulse at the hands of the infantry as
he tried to scale the breastworks. The
men disregarded sometimes the defen
ces erected for them, and leaping on
the e~mbankment, stood and fired at the
Yankees, cutting them down as they
oames up. One company. of the New
York Seventh regiment, under Capt.
Wardrop. or Winthrop, attempted 70
take the redoubt on the left The marsh
they. crossed was strewn with /. their
bodies. Their Captain a ~fine-looking
man. reached the fence, and leaping on
aslog, saying "Come on, boys (; one
charge, and the day is Ours" The words
were his last, for a Carolina rife ended
his life the next moment, and his men
fled m terror. AT the redoubt on the
rightta company of about 300 New
York Zouaves charged one of our guns,
but cOnld not stand the fire of the infan-
try and retreated preeipitately.
During these charges the main body !