Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1861-06-13
II II T. w AR.
A BATTLE NEAR FORT MONROE.
FEDERAL FORCES WORSTED.
25 KILLED, 100 WOUNDED.
SOME ONE HAD BLUNDERED.
TTITrJ' CpEDTE EITTED
LIEUT. GREBLE KILLED.
A Battle at Great Bethel, Va.


Monday was an exciting and sorrowful day at
Old Point Comfort. Gen. Butler having learn
ed that the rebels were forming an entrenched
camp with strong batteries at Great Bethel,
nine miles from Hampton on the Yorktown
road, deemed it necessary to dislodge them.
Accordingly, movements were made Sunday
night from Fort Monroe and Newport News.
About midnight, Col. Duryea's Zouaves and
Col. Townsend's Albany regiment crossed the
river ut Hampton by means of six large barges,
manned by the naval brigade, and took up the
line of march. The Zouaves were some two
miles in advance of the Albany regiment; at
the same time, Col. Bendix's regiment and a
detachment of Vermont and Massachusetts reg
iments at Newport News moved forward to
form junction with the regiments from For
tress Monroe, at Little Bethel, about half way
between Hampton and Great Bethel.
The detachment comprised four ~ Founders
under Lieut.. Grebe; party of the naval brig
adc with fishing boats conveyed the troops
across Hampton Creek. The force of yolun-
teers comprised Col. Townshend's Albany reg
ment, Duryea's Zouaves, Bendix's regiment,
with companies of other regiments, the whole
making nearly 5000 men. They moved at halt
past ~ Sunday night, but owing TO an unfor-
tunate mistake as to signals, one regiment fired
INTO another, and the blunder was not discov-
cred till daybreak. After mutual explanations,
it was agreed to move on Great Bethel, and the
entire force marched on that place, when the
rebels opened fire from q battery of rihed can
non. Our troops responded promptly, but
their musketry voleys and their small park of
howitzers were unavailing, and retreat was
sounded and executed in good order.
The troops advanced upon Great Bethel in
the following order: The Duryea Zouaves, Col.
Bendxs regiment, Lieut.. Col. Washburn, Col.
Allen and Col Carr. At that point our reg-
ments formed and successfully endeavored to
take large masked secession battery. The
effort was futile, our three small pieces of art
lery not being able to cope with the heavy rifled
cannon of the enemy some twenty or more in
number. TIE rebel battery was completely
masked, so that no men could be seen, only
flashes of the guns. There were probably less
than 1000 men behind the sand batteries Of the
rebels. A well concerted movement might have
secured the position, but Brig. Gen. Pierce, who
commanded the expedition, appears to have lost
his presence of mind, and the Troy regiment
stood an hour, exposed to a CALLING fire.
The order to retreat was at last given, but at
that moment, Lieut.. Grebc of the regulars, in
command of our artillery, was struck by a can
non ball and instantly killed. He had spiked
his gun and was CALAMITY endeavoring to with
draw his command. Capt. Geo. Wilson of the
Troy regiment, after the order to retreat, took
possession of the gun, and with Quartermaster
Macarthur, brought it off the field, with the
corpse of Lieut.. Greble. Both were conveyed
to Fortress Monroe Monday evening.
There are nrobably 81 killed and 100 woun1-
ed. Lieut.. Butler deserves the greatest credit
for bringing off the killed and wounded. Sew
eral of the latter are now in the hospital
Military Activity at Washington.
The Rhode Island regiment left Washington
by rail Monday, taking their marine battery
with them-it is suppose for Harper's Ferry
About so cavalry proceeded in an opposite di-
rection, and were last seen in the vicinity of
Georgetown.
Some of the District volunteers left at o.
clock Monday morning, with camp cquipage
bountiful supply of lnoysions and entrenching
implements. Much cheerfulness is exhibited
among the troops, especially when they receive
orders to hold themselves in readiness for for
ward movement. A large number of mechan-
les are employed at the railroad station in put
ting together detached parts of transportation
wagons and ambulances. A large number of
horses recently arrived are being trained by ar
tillery men. Detachments of Massachusetts
and Rhode Island regiments have been engaged
for some time in constructing bridge of boats
and other facilities for crossing streams.
The LIST regiment Of Pennsylvanians left
Washington Monday, probably for the Point of
Rocks or Frederick City. Cars and locomotives
were taken to Alexandria Monday morning.
Major Meyer is in Washington, perfecting ar
engagements for the employment of telegraph
apparatus, signal lights and balloons as auxilia-
ry means to the successful movements OF am ar
my.
Three battalions of District of Columbia vol
uneers passed through Georgetown Monday !;
and at about the same time, two Connecticut,
one New Hampshire, and the New York 9th
regiment broke up their camp, and proceeded
by Rock Creek road The two forces were to
unite at Tennally town, three miles above
Georgetown. Their destination is supposed to
be Edwards Ferry, on the Potomac, about 80
miles from Georgetown, and equi-distant from
Iarper's Ferry and Washington.
Another battalion of District of Columbia
volunteers formed in the LIST ward, at 10 o'clock
Monday morning. Among them were full
company of sappers and miners. with all the
tools pertaining to their service, and portable
bridge. The last battalion was comprised of
portions of the command who were unable to
Join the forward movement sooner in the morn
ing Capt. Owens proceeded with the District
troops and about 40 Of the I'd regular cavalry,
from Texas, went in the same direction. In
addition to camp equiPage and entrenching
tools, they were proyisoned for - days.
A large train of wagons crossed into Virgin
ia at the government ferry at Georgetown,
throughout Monday, indicating, it is supposed,
that one or more regiments on that side have
received orders to march. One Of the Ohio
regiments, it is expected, will soon take up the
line of march to follow Col. Stones column.
Western Virginia
The 18th Indiana Zouovos passed through
Grafton to Cumberland on Sunday, where they
will join Gen. Patterson's command. 1t is re-
ported that the rebels are entrenched at Great
Mountain Pass. few are at Beverly and in
camp at Huttonsyillc, but are demoralized, and
companies of them are disbanding. They re-
port that 10000 abolitionists came down upon
them at Philippi, hut they cut their way through
killing 1000. They admitted at Beverly loss
of 80 men. A prominent secessionist was shot
OH FridaY in Randolph, while warning Union
men to obey Gov. LeIcher's instructions The
! federal trOoDs are very anxious TO march IN