The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-06-12
WAR MOVEMENTS,
FIGHTAT GREAT BETHEL
NEAR FORTRESS MONROE,
DEFEAT OF FEDERAL TROOPS.
Five Regiments U. S. Troops Re-
pulsed by 1000 Confederates.
THE ALBANY REGIMENT Is WHIPPED
BY THE GERMANS, AND RUNS AWAY.
LIEUTENANT CREDIBLE KILLED.


FORTRESS MONROE, June i0.-This has been al
exciting and sorrowfu day at Old Point Comfort
| General Butler, having learned that the Confeder
ates were forming an intrenched camp, with bat
teres, at Great Bethel, nine miles from FL ampton
on the Yorktown road, deemed it necessary tt
disodge them.
Accordingly, movements made last nigh
from Fortress Monroe and Newport News. Abou
m dnight Col. Duryea's Zouaves, and Col Town
sends Albany Regiment crossed the river at Hamp
ton by means of six large batteaux, manned BY
the Naval Brigade, and took up the line of march
| The former some two miles in advance of the lat
| ter.
| At the same time Col Benedix's regiment anG
| detachment of the Vermont and Nj Massachusetts re
giments at Newport News moved forward to form
junction with the regiment from Fortress Mon
roe at Little Bethel, at about A. NJ.
Col. Benedix's regiment arrived next, and took a
position at the intersection of the roads. Not un
| derstanding the signal, the German regiment in
| the darkness of the morning, fired upon Col. Town
sends column, marching in close order, and led by
| Lieutenant Butler with two pieces of artillery.
| Other accounts say that Col. TOwnsends regiment
fired first. At all events the fire of the Albany
| giment was harmless, while that of the Germans
| was fatal, killing man, and fatally wounding
| two others, with several slight casualties.
The Albany regiment having fallen back, the
Germans discovered from the accoutrements left on
the field, that the supposed enemy friend.
They had, in the meantime fired nine rounds with
small arms and ti=ld-piece.
The Iouaves hearing the fire, had returned and
fired also upon the Albany bows.
At davbreak Colonel Aliens and Colonel Carr's
regiments moved from the rear of the Fortress to
support the main body. The mistake at Little
Bethel having been ascertained, the buildings were
burned and major, with two prominent secession
lists. named Livey and Whiting, made prisoners.
The troop then advanced upon Great Bethel in
the following order, viz The Zouaves, Colonel
BenediX, Lieut.. Colonel Washburu, Colonel Allen
and lionel Carr. At that point the troops found
and successively endeavored to take a large mask
ed battery. The effort futile, their three small
pieces of artillery not being able to cope with the
heavy rifed cannon of the enemy, according to
some accounts, numbering thirty.
The Confederate battery was completely ma SIX
ed that could be seen, only the flashes of
the guns. There probably not less than one
thousand men behind their sand batteries. well
concentrated movement ight have secured the
position, but Brigader General Pierce, who
manded the expedition, appears to have lost his
presence OF mind, and the Troy regiment stood
h0ur exposed to CALLING fire.
An order to retreat at last given, but at that
moment Lieut.. CREDIBLE, of the United States
my, and in command of the artillery, was struck
by cannon ball, and instantly killed. He had
spiked his gun, and was gallantly endeavoring to
withdraw his command.
Captain George W. Wilson, of the Troy regi-
ment, after the order to retreat, took possession
of the gun, and, with Quarter Master Macarthur,
brought it off the field with the body of Lieutenant
CREDIBLE. They brought them to the fortress this
evening.
hundred wounded. Lieutenant Colonel Butler de-
serves the greatest credit for bringing off the kill
ed and wounded. Several of the latter are now in
the hospital at the Fortress.
rb, hat Fn1O ha(fh fhn.,, ,a,5,
regiment formed a reserve. Colonel Hawkins
regiment moved from Newport-News during the
day.
The armed vessels went up to Newport News, ex-
cepting the Cumberland. All the regiments are
now probably at their former quarters.
Considerable indignation is manifested against
Brig. Gen. Pierce.
General Butler has been ubiquitous. doing all
in his power to save the men, and for tie honor of
the cause.
The above is the despatch received by the Asso-
ciated Press, reported as officially corrected by Cen
eral Butler. Another account brought up by
passenger the steamer Adelaide, Capt. Cannon,
who detained five hours by General Butler,
and did not leave Old Point till O'Clock Monday
mig Int, sivss tho E.lleuyi.sz itsr-.s
For several days past General Butler, command-
ing the Military Department of Virginia, had been
advised of the movements of a considerable body OF
Confederate troops in the vicinity of village called
Great Bethel, which is about twelve miles distant
from thief ortress, ana near the road conducting to
YORKTOWN. Believing, from report, that they had
thrown up entrenchment at the place, and were
gradually extending their outer line OF pickets,
gave orders to several regiments to hold themselves
in readiness to march at a moments warning. At
the same time the chief of the Ordnance Depart
ment received orders to send out forthwith a bat
tery of hOwtZers, which was soon under line of
march, comprising four tweve-pounders, a detach-
ment of United S ates artillery, with Lieut.. Greb
BILE and other officers.
party of men belonging to what was known as
the Naval Brigade was also quickly mustered for
ton Greek, which was done by means of the fishing
boats sent down on Saturday from the Susquehan-
river.
The command, comprising about 5000 men,
moved forward at half past IL o'clock Monday morn
ing to Little Bethel, where they to be rein
forced by 1000 additional men under Col. Benedix.
At this place it is reported that there a COLI
sion in the dark. After discovering their the
entire force took up the line of march for Great
Bethel, which is about three miles from the place
where the committed. Soon the right
of column got near the place thev were very
apprised ot the presence of the foe who,
strongly entrenched, opened fire upon them with
battery of rife cannon. The Federal troops
promptly responded, but volleys of infantry and
small park of h0witzers unavaing against
the battery General Pierce had lost all presence
of mind and was unable to give order, and the
federal troops were thrown into confusion and
beat rapid retreat.
1t is Impossible TO form any correct estimate OF
the number of the Contederates. As they kept
themselves concealed, and acted solely the de-
eusive, and they had cut away the bridge
across the creek, which, while it prevented an ad-
vance by their opponents at the same time cut off
all opportunity to pursue them if defeated it is con-
jectured that there was not large force. Reports
various to killed and wounded.
If it be true that the Troy regiment, after rum
ming away from much less murderons attack of
the Germans, ''st0od an hour opposed to a CALLING
fire. the loss must have been much greater than is
reported 1t is not known how many were taken
to Newport-News. 1t was feared that Ma jor Win
throp, aid to General Butler, had been killed, but
this was found to be mistake.
The howiZers had not returned to Fortress Mon
roe when the Adelaide lef:.-
Col. Dimch, it is said, was entirely opposed to
the whole movement and advised against it, but
not listened to by civilian General Butler.
Lieut.. CREDIBLE was relative of MAYOR Henry of
Philadelphia.
Fortress Monroe.
The correspondent of the Daily Advertiser, Bos-
ton, says:
There is great deal to be said about the condi-
tion of the men here and the management of the
Quartermaster's Department and commissariat.
Massachusetts tents, which ought to be up at New
port News, now, on the fourth day since their
arrival, used to protect hay the wharf from the
rain, or yng in heaps on the pier-some showing
evident signs of mildew. Soft bread in boxes, sent
out by the Cambridge for cur troops, has gone TO
its destination today soaked with rain. If were
to give the various opinions as to the causes of
trouble, should fill at least page of the paper
but two three things | think are certain.
Massachusetts needs agent here to attend to
the receiving and forwarding of stores for her
troops. His salary would be saved five times over
by preventing the almost wanton waste and de-
struction of property.
General Butler Again.
Two gentlemen of this city, who were in the
neighborhood of Fortress Monroe on fishing ex-
curson, were seized by party of soldiers sent af-
ter them by General Butler, and after being treat
ed with every insolence and ndignity because they
refused to sign most outrageous instrument ten
dered them, were sent to the guard house. They
finally consented to sign, "under compulsion and
with mental reservation" as they distinctly
stated. The following is
THE OATH.
We, the undersigned, do solemnly swear that we
will bear true faith and allegiance to the United
States of America and will support the Constitu-
tion thereof. We do also make and sign this our
parole of honor by which we pledge ourselves in
event hereafter to take up against the U nj
ted States, afford aid or comfort, counsel to
the enemies thereof; and in consider alton of this
promise and parole, have received a safe
conduct and protection from the troops of the Uni
ted States, and upon the express condition that if
we, or either of us, are hereafter found in arms
against the United States, or affordng aid. com
fort counsel to the enemies of the United States,
we are willing to be at once put to death trai-
tors in arms, without trial or hearing before any
court or commission whatever.
Artesian Well in Fortress Monroe.
Mr.. Joseph Rupert, of Baltimore, is engaged at
present in boring an artesian we'll inside the for
tress. The attempt has been heretofore made in
ls47, but at the depth of 254 feet. The work had
to be abandoned on account of the pi pes becoming
crooked The diameter of the tubes now inserted