The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1861-06-21
Tho Battle ut Bethel Church,

headquarters IHginn Life Gp7ri,
JCrEio,ru. Junp llth. 1861.

alarm given, caused by cannon tringdow
towards Hampton. We afterwards learn
ed that one Of tho county companies had
encountered Federal troops, and had a
iight--nothing more than scrimmagc.--
At t2o'clocli we were startled by the buclc
sounding the "assembly CALI In two
minutes every soldier in the cncampment
was in arms and ready for duty, having
been previously instructed to sleep with
accoutrements and arms by the side.
THE MARCH.
In half an hour the NorthCarolina Rcgi-
ment, under command of Col. Hill,
brave, cool. commander, and competent
leader, were ordered with three guns of
Major Randolph's Battery, TO march to-
ward Hampton, while the Virginia Life
Guard, Ilenrico Southern Guard, and
Young Guard, under Lieut.. Col. Stewart,
were ordered to move lower down the en-
campmcnt and take position vacated by
the North Carolina Regiment, which was
promptly done. 1t was n noble sight as
we stood near the outer limits of our en-
campment, in the grey of the morning to
see the lIowitzors and the North Carolina
Regiment, those worthy sons of noble
States, under the command of our gal
liant Col. Magrudcr. detile past us and adj
vance TO meet the merccnnry legions of
bcsottcd government. They werc soon
lost to sight in the woods, and all was
still, except the occasional challenge Of a
sentinel or an outpost; all the mon were
expecting some great event.
C.I ,r,o.r,,lann, "i'' ~. ,,,,,,,,,,, H.,
,,,i,. 80 - ,i'rao Villa. do,r,, ti,o III i,,
uhS uhS, 7,hnv Io,rnod thot tho $50, an tio,' I'oa
orr i, ,;,rs,it orbad ro,roJ 70 ~
WI ;''iI,,'Ja,i ,s,,,i.;,,,, att,aI,
,''oi .i',o o 4i, va " i"
~ aI'o.' '''i ~, ,s
'i. nJ o"'i'' '''''l' ""' I" '''''s'" ''' VIC us
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POSITION OF orr TROOPS.
Inc encampment was parable! lorna
:'ot,, ''io ~ Wy " ~
i ,'' vi 'li "ii'
" -, o'iio,'',N
,I'nT, ii,I, ,,a wy W, ,i'o ao,,nt siI ~
mr.U, wa, tt r2' wv I,"I "''Ii' i
G5ii i.i, ,,t;a,' "'." ''io
" r,o',, IIo,,,to, ,,.o I'M, ,,,a,, ic'sS c
,iHnIs ~ .hn dafanon of ,h;, ,s;t; "t ~,
,..;t,o bo,'c,,' of tlroo ,,,r - 'a
non,,,,o,,I or N,;or C,or,,So w pa,1da1,,i,
,,,h cn''n on,,,io,,;a, oI ,I,o Pi;
,,,,t w." .|u ~, ,ho nnrthrost siIo. ,i,o re
dnr nr tio r. Por;n,o,t v,oro rls nt;nnnd
cn,,, rnst 10 WI ~, 10 so,,,, s;,o ,,.a
ua.,;ro , % coot Joo, o'd ya,,,, ,,ans''
Th,s nosition wos dciondnd hv botfeTv
af ',r n,,n ph,C; ho,y;tzor ,,,r nnIor co,,,,oni of
Capt. S. Thompson Brown on the left,
and an carthworll and trench made by
the companies OF Lieut.. Col. Stewards
command, consisting OF the Virginia Life
Guard, Capt. Walker; Honmco southern
Guard, Capt. Chi'drey' and Young Guard.
Capt. Chartcrs-the reni'in"er OF the
troops, ot infantry and cavalry, were sta
toned ln,iue the enclosure; ana compile
TED the defence OF the entire parallel -
MI was now Ill readiness and with calm,
determined couhtcnanccS, the men await
ed their coming.
THE APPROACH
In few minutes our scouts and Vi
dcttcs commenced firing and coming in.
nrouEcing the advance. The cannonicrs
and infantry in the line of Qualifications
were notified and stood ready, amnuni-
ton in hand. Our men (Col. Stcwarts)
were ordered in the trenches, when they
were compelled to knecl, in order to cs.
cape observation, it being our object to
conceal our position until the enemy ad-
vanccd to- the middle OF the field, and
then open fire. The approach to the for
llllcdtlOnS Il
field GOO wards wide, and by the bridge
spanning the creek running along the
line southeast of our position.
rrr ,-r,cr
oc.,-,
G"r ooiohei s,oon W''h Giass IN naho
anu soon olScoIcreu inc s'tstehlhG OF Day,
oiie's coming rom cover oi thG "0oas ohu
up tie roau' AS S1oi' as thcy hau "rrlVed
apou' one 'housaha y'rus rom U.s. thoy
p'''i'eo t"o cannon III 'hH Foho' one IN
tie "0ouS ana several IN the iieid, 10 our
,eit' "ii oi them oeiilS guns oil hcaVy ca
i!ore' As soon aS they were seen IN posi-,
tloli' MAJ hahooipl gave the command
ana their spienoid farrot gun oeiched
iorth siot Wh'ch tooh enect on the col
umh III tne road ana ana considerable
damage; tlis was feplled TO by the enemy
from their gun III the. road, and replied
TO by capt. browns Battery IN the held.
The action then became general, and the
dealening roar OF the guns was all that
couid~be heard ior an hour-our shot
taking good eilect, that OF the other side
not having Int single man or gun, all
being aimed too hlgh, doing great dam
age among the boughs OF the trees. a Col
Stuarts command were placed fiity Yards
ON the right OF Capt. Browns Battery, to
serve as protection to them, and we
soon saw tho approach OF company OF
Zouaves OF New York kegiment' ad,
vancinS under cover oi some houses, and
a large. orchard to the right OF the held.
| The Virginia Lie Guard were ordered to
rise and shoot them, as our position had
not been discovered; the men OF .he first
platoon rose, and taking deliberate aim,
fired; the shots had good effect, OF the
Zouaves falling, two Killed and remainde"
wounded, as we ascertained afterwards by
finding the bodies OF the dead: We inn
mediately drew upon us the lire OF the