Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-06-15
Gen. Butler,s official Report OF th'
Bethel Battles. ..-

O.
Gen. Butler,s official Report OF the
Bethel Battles. ,-
wAsHlNeros, June IL, 1861.
The folloWing is Gen. Buffers official report
Of the affair at Little and Big Bethel:
BRAp.ouARrERs DErARrMrNr OF vmoiMA |
foRTREss MONROE. June 10, 1861. } |
To LiEurENANr GENERAL ScorT:
Consolidating learned that the enemy had
established an outpost of some strength at
place called Little Bethel, aemall church, about
eight miles from Newport News, and the same
distance from Hampton, from whence they
we're accustomed nightly to advance both on
Newport News and the picket guards OF Hamp-
ton TO annoy them, and also from whence they
had come down in small squads OF cavalry and
taken number Of Union men, some OF whom
had the safeguard end protection OF the troops
of the United States, and forced them into the
rebel ranks, and that they were also gathering
up the slaves of citizens who had moved away
and left their farms in charge of their negroes,
carving them to work In intrenchments at Viii.
liamsburg and Yorktown had determined to
send up force TO drive them back and destroy
their camp, the headquarters of which was this
small church. had also learned that at o
place q short distance further on, on the road TO
| Yorktown, was an outwork Of the Rebels, on
the Hampton side Of a place called Big Bethel,
large church, near the head Of the north
branch Of Back river, aud that here was o very
considerable rendezvous, with works Of more or
less strength in tho process OF erection, and
| from this point the whole country was laid un'
der contribution. 5 .-sa..s. 50. ef.a..1
Accordingly 1 ordered General Pierce, who is
lin command Of Camp Hamilton, at Hampton,
to send Duryee's regiment Of Zouaves to be
ferried over Hampton Greek, at one o'clock this
morning, and to march by the road up to New
market Bridge, then crossing the bridge, to go
by by.road and thus put the regiment in the
4 rear of the enemy, and between Big Bethel and
Little Bethel, In part for the purpose Of eating
u MIN of, and then to make on attack upon Little
Bethel. directed General Pierce TO support
him from Hampton with Colonel Townsend's
} regiment, and two mounted howitzers, and 10
march about an hour later At the same time
directed Colonel Phelps, commanding at New
port News, to send out battalion, composed
of such companies of the regiments under his
command as be thought, best, under command
!, of Lieutenant Colonel Washburn, 10 time tc
make demonairation upon Little Bethel, IN
front, and 70 have him supported by Colonel
Bepdix's regiment, with two field pieces. Ben
dix's and Towpsend' e regiments should effect q
ljuncsion ats fork Of the road leading from Hamp.
ton TO Newport News, something like mile
and half from Little Bethel. directed
the march to be so timed that the attack should
be made just az duSbreak, and that after the
attack was made upon Little Bethel DuRyee's
regiment and regiment from Newport News
should follow Immediately upon the heels of the
lfugitives, II they were enabled to cut them off,
and attack the battery on the road to Big Bethel,
while covered BY the fugitives; or, If IL was
thought expedient BY General PIERCE, fail
ing to surprise the camp at, Little Bethel, they
should attempt to take the work near Big Bethel.
| To prevent the possibility of mistake In the
darkness, 1 directed that 20 attack should be
made until the watchword should be shouted by
the attacking regiment, and, in case that by any
mistake in the march the regiments that were
to make the junction should unexpectedly meet
and be unknown to each other, also directed that
Ithe members Of Colonel Townsend's regiment
should be known, II In daylight, by something
white worn on the arm. The troops were ac--
| cordingly put in motion as ordered, and the
march was 90 timed that Colonel Duryee had
got In the position noted upon the accompany
| Ing sketch, and Lieutenant Colonel Washburn,
lin command Of the regiment from Newport
News, had got into the position indicated upon
the sketch, and Colonel Bendx'a regiment had
been posted and ordered TO hold the fork of the
road with two pieces Of artillery, and Colonel
Townsend's regiment had got to the place indi
Gated Just behind, and were about to form Q
junction ss the day dawned. .s.-5, ~, .-....,..
II Up to this point, the plan had been vigoroua'
ly, accurately and successfully carried out; bu
here, by some strange faulty, and as yet unex
planned blunder, without any word Of notice
while Col. Townsend was in column en- route
, | and when the head Of the column was within
one hundred yards, Col. Bendix's Regimen
: opened fire with both artillery and musketr,
upon Col. Townsend's column, which, in thi
hurry and confusion, was irregulariy returned
lby some Of Col. Townsend's men, who fearet
that they had fallen into an smbuscade. Col
Tognsend's column Immediately retreated to TIL
eminence near by, and were not pursued by Col
Bendix's men. By this almost criminal blum
der, two Of Col. Townsend's Regiment wer
killed, and eight more or less wounded.
4 Hearing this cannonading and firing In hi
rear, Lieutenant Col. Washburn, not knowing
but that his Communication might be cut Of
Immediately reversed his march, as. did Col
Duryee, and marched back to form q junction
with his reserves. 49,. -, "a,
\ General Pierce, who was with Col, Town
sends Regiment, fearing that the enemy hai
got notice Of our approach, and had posted him
self 10 force on the line Of march. and not get
) ting any communication from Col. Duryee, sen
back to me for reinforcements, and I immedi
q lately ordered Col. Aliens Regiment to bs put 4
motion, and they reached Hampton about seye
g o'clock. In the meantime, the true state 3
: facts having been asceftained by Gen. Pierce
1.-THE Regiment effected a junction, and resume,
, the line Of march. At the moment OF the hr
ing OF Col Bendix, Col. Dnfyee had surprise,
part Of an outlsying guard of the enemy
II consisting Of thirty persons, who have bee
OF eourse by this firing, all hopesof surpris
ahovs the "a at Little Bethel vaA lost. and