New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-06-16
TIE BATTLE AT BETHEL.
Letter from one Of the for The NJ u
Tribune.
CAMP BUTLER, June II, 1861.

Won have beard of our engagement. will describe it
from fret to last. We were on parade Sunday even
ing az usual After being dismissed we were called
together again. and each man given 20 cartridges
in addition to what he might already have; all was
hustle and activity; we knew we were gong some
where but as to the direction we were in the dark
The taps were sounded usual and we were ordered
to our tents few minutes after, man might be seen
goingto each tent, whispering the words, AT haH'
past 10 every man will be called he will Immediately
and without noise light, arise, equip himself, ana
fall into line in front Of the tente he Will De supplied
with one days raions he will also lie MS tnrpani
(which is white around his left arm twice, as Hs''
gushing mark" Several stout men were oeeaiieu W
assist the surgeon. Now we were sure tnat sone.ing
in earnest was TO be done. About an hour beioIe tn
time was outside my tent, when saw "A D9dy OF
men going by. They made 80 httie Iolse 1n III IL
seemed to me mysterious where they had come from.
learnt that they were two OF our companies, under
command of Captains Fitzpatrick and Bartlett, VINO
were 10 90 ahead 40 skirmishers. L now understood
that we were to surprise u camp about 10 miles from
ma II seems that negro who had worke at the
place helping to build batteries ran away ana gave us
information of it, which led Gen. Butler to determine
10 attack it, There several Sece slonists tna'
came down to Hampton for the purpose OF Sho'''ne
this negro. -,
We were TO act in conjunction with regiment from
Newport News, and others were to follow MS we
were finally on the march. No one wouiu nave
from the stiffness that prevailed. we crossed tue
river at Hampton in boats which delayed somewhat,
and then resumed the march. After we had got some
five or Fix miles We were ordered TO nait. looked
through the woods, and saw bright light; 1t could
not be mistaken it was Secession signal 1t was In
house and pointed directly IN the lDe OF their camp
Further on we in sight OF another; soon after
we came TO a shght hat and heard Solley OF murkel-
nv and were ordered on AZ double-quisk time. Our
company being on the right IL always ahead OF the
lne-so that have a chance TO see everything. On
hating found that we had come upon The enemies
extreme post; there was campfire burning we
had taken al officer prisoner. lie was weimounted,
armed with fMe revolver and sword whose edge
WINS sharpened to the handle. He was hne-looking
man. over Elk feet high. Soon alter, we heard gen
eral engagement in our rear and supposed that the
Newport Regiment had come IN contact win we
enemy We right-abouted, and, after reaching them,
found out that most lamentable mistake had been
made A German regiment mistook the Troy troops
for foes and engaged item; the resu was, eleven OF
| the Troy bows were wounded. saw them lying on
the sioop house. with our surgeon attending them;
| IL looked melancholy enough, but our men .eemed
Indifferent TO IL and thing, Tor little while amer
| they were all singing songs. ,
2ur Colonel soon determined to go back and attack
| the camp 90 we started, but not until we had burned
| down n very handsome, well-fumished house, from
which we understand one Of our army had been shot
| dead. We alec burned down low wooden building,
distant from any other known as the " Little Bethel,
a noted place OF meeting for scout orders &C. Finally
| we came on 70 the enemy, tired and exhausted. We
learned from negroes that they were very strong, and
| had more men than We bad. Capt. kilfatrick threw
ont Lis skirmishea and found that there was strong
battery commanding the road. A few minutes after,
our regiment ordered 70 form on the right OF the
road; il powed ground, Just outside OF q thick
wood The Colonel said that they, the cavalry, were
coming 10 charge on us. lie mistaken; they had
no idea of coming outside of their battery on which
were posted least ~ guns some OF them rifed IL
was strange sensation we experienced rs we stood
there for the rst time in the face OF the foe waiting
his approach and expecting every moment TO receive
| ollevi n m clOeeQ
To be sure appeared shade paler; but there was
| but one look-to do or die.
Now came the sound of a heavy cannon. Our Captain
said, 1.-THE ball has commenced" lnstantaneOusy
another report heard, and shell came whzzing
through the air. Now they came thick and fast. We
| were ordered to charge through the wood On we
rushed through the bushes, which were raked by grape
| and canister, bombs and ried cannon. The companies
mixed up into squads and every man was soon his own
officer 1t now became hot that were obliged to
| yet behind trees and stumps. Some OF the boys-l
| was among them-crept close to fence nearest the
enemy on the outskirts of the wood, and took every
opportIuity to fire und pick of man. One of our
bows after firing four shots at officer on horseback
| succeeded In tumbing him over The fire was now
| appalling, and on getting TO the woods again, found
our Colonel and Capt Fitzpatrick and some Of our men,
and that young man belonging to our mess, ana the
only one hurt in our company, although we were
| every where was struck through the thigh. was
| right by him. Capt. Fitzpatrick was struck at the
same time and ordered the men TO keep covered and
|
brush was so thick that 1t almost impossible 10 find
| our officers companies.
Some few Of us rushed ont Of the wood across the
road headed by IIeut. Duryee and Capt. Fitzpatrick,
who is one Of the most daring officers IN the regiment
| and charged across q plowed field with nothing TO
cover us except slight tree here and there and two old
sheds ga wsevers fall and not get up we laid down
| often to escape the shot. The New-York Troy Reg-
ment charged also, the Colonel Of which mounted
and sat his horse at the head of his men, without
finching. We were wi hin 800 feet of the battery and
kept up fire for some little time, but il was madness
to stay there org so We returned to about midway.
One of our poor fellows shot through the chest
three of carried him few PAGES, when he asked to
be put down. aud wished some winter; It was given to
him. he desired to be left II was no time TO stay, as
he probably mortaly wounded, and the shot were
fyDg thick and fast and our men retreaiing, go we
left him. You can imagine how hot IL was, ns when
we left not an officer 10 be in the field except
| three we there ore retreated
| Gen. Pierce expressed the opinion that the place
could not be taken by sorm without sacrificing all our
men. -
We need plenty Of artillery to take batteries with,
outside OF them. We fear there is no other way shapo
| or manner.
could relate hundred incidents il had time and
space. We arrived in camp yesterday evening, hav-
ing marched about forty miles. All the men are stiif
and sore. Ny feet are 80 tender can hardly walk.
We are free from drill to-day, and permitted to lie in
tent this morning as late US we wish. This evening
| we shall bury some Of our men.
Some men who were in the Mexican and Crimean
war; say that the fire as heavy as anything they
ever raw, and that should have had large supply
| Of cavalry to attack such place with. The
hardest post held by the regulars, and they de-
serve great credit and glory for holding their position
in the road during the rsking fire. Capt. Fitzpatrick g
Company also deserve great credit for their skirnsh
| ing services. Three Of them were killed. /
hear this morning. whether true or not cannot any,
that our Chaplain hoisted white flag for the purpose
OF getting ell killed, but that the Secessionists
hoisted black one, as indication OF no quarter