Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-06-18

coined
18Th 1t was written the night Of the day on which ne
battle was fought before the full extent OF the punisn
msnt his rascals bad received known 1t adroitly
attempts to shift the disgrace OF the defeat from NM
self to his subordinaes and to conceal tne iu measure
of the disaster Several Of the statements are pure ne
TONS while others are greatly distorted by e1aggeraohs
or suppresions The battery which this valiant ahkee
estimates at from fifteen to twenty pieces consisted only u
six small hOwzer pieces but two OF when were rheu'
The statement that the dead and wounded were all
broupht off accounts for their number being SO under
estimated The fact is they left the field and The route
strewed with both But here is the report;
GENERAL BUFFERS OFFICIAL REPORT OF THE
BATTLE.
HEADeUARrEBs, DEPARTMENT OF VIRGINIA,
Fortress Monroe, June 10, 1861.
To Lieutenant General Scott:
GENERAL: Having learned that the enemy haa esIao-
sbed an outpost of some strength at place called Lit
tie Bethel small church. about eight miles from Ne"
nnrt News and the same distance from Hampton IRON
whence they were accustomed nightly TO ADVANCE DOM
on Newport News aud the picket guards OF hampton "
annoy them and also from whence they hal come GOWN
in smell squads Of cavalry and taken huoer Vi onioI
men, some of whom had the safeguard aud protecuon Oh
the troops of the United States, and forced them INTO
the rebel ranks and that they were also gathehg up
the slaves of citizens who had moved away ana e' 'ne
farms in charge OF their negroes, csrr3ns tein W
in entrel chments al Williamsburg and foIktoWn, haa
determined TO send I'D force to drive them back ana
destroy their camp the headquarters oil Nhch WIS 'is
emall churoh had also learned that at place short
distance further on the road to forkto"n' was al
ouigork of the rebels on the Hampton side Of place
called Big Bethel large churcn near the neau Vi tuo
north branch of Back river, and that lere was very
considerable rendezvous with works OF more or less
strength in process, of erection and from this point the
whole country was laid under contribution
Accordingly ordered General Pierce, who Is IN com
mand of Camp Hamilton, at Hampton, TO send Duryee
ayr,ont of Z,uayes TO be ferGed over Hampton Creek
nj one o'clock this morning. and to march by the road
m TO New Market bridge then crossing the oroge, 10
90 by by-road and thus put the regiment III tne rear
of the enemy and between Big Bethel and Little Bethel
in part for the purpose OF cutting him on ana Enen 70
make an attack upon Little Bethel directed General
pierce to support him from Hampton With Col Towns
ends regiment with two mounted howitzefs ana 10
march about au hour later At the same Tune ureceu
Col Phelps commanding at Newport News to send out
battalion composed Of such companies OF the reg
| ments under his command as he thought bes', unuer
command of Lieutenant Colonel Washburp in time to
make demonstration upon Little Bethel IN 'front.' and
n have him suDoorted by Colonel Bend1s regiment,
| With two field ii, ces Bendixs and fo"Dsehds reg
ments should effect junction at iork OF the ROAD eau
i,o from Hampton TO Newport New, sGrething Ike
MO ard half from L.tle Bethel directed the march
N go timed .hat the attack should be made just at
dsybresk and that after the attack was mad upOl Le
Bethel Durvees regiment and regiment from Newport
News should follow Immediately upon the hees OF the
| iugvee, if they were enabled to cut lham on, ana
ink the battery on the road to Big Bethel, while GOV
I'd nv the fupi,iyes or il it thought e1pedient by
General Pierce falling 10 surprise the camp al Lte
Bsthel thew should attempt TO take tie YORK near b
Bethel To prevent the possibility OF mistake III the
darkness directed shat attack should be MADE until
he watchword should be shouted by tue attacking reg-
nsnt and il case that by any mistake in tne march the
eame Is that were TO make tho Junction should unex'
ctedlv meet aud ba unknown TO each Other alec direct
I'd tina; the members OF Col Towrsends regiment should
% known if IN ds, light, by something "ne worn Oh
n, arm The troops we're accordingly put IN motion aS
ordered and the march was timed that Colonel Dur
zee had got in the position noted upon the accompany
ny sketch and Lieutenant Colonel Washburn IN com
napd of the regiment from Newport News, had got INTO
h. position indicated upon the sketch, and Colonel Bon
dxs gmen had beon posted and ordered 10 hoid inc
fox OF the road with pieces OF artillery, sad Colonel
Townsends regiment had got 10 the place Indicated just
behind and were about 10 form Junction as the day
i4wned.
10 TO this point the plan had been vigorously, &C.
-ura,ey and successfully carried out but here by some
range faulty and as yet neIplaned brnder, without
ly word of moi e while Colonel IoSnsend was IN col
,mn en- yo,.t, and when the head Of tic column was
,,tan one hundred Yards Col Bsudxs reg ent opener
ire with both artillery aud musketry upon Coi lo"h'
ends column, which, ia the hurry and coninson was
!rresulaly returned by some OF Col. TcSnsence men,
,bo feared that they had f,len into aInbuscaoe.
lolon,l Townseuas column immediately retrested 10 the
runence near by, aud wero lot pursued by Colonel
3sudi men. BY his almost Grim nal biunder t"o men
of Colonel Towrsends regiment were kiIleo, and sish
more or less wounded.
Hearing this cannonadng and airing 10 bis rear, Lieu
.euant Colonel Washburn, not knowing but that hi'
communication might be cut OF, immediately reversed
liz march, did Colonel Dur &c, aud marched back TO
'orm junction with his reserves.
General Pierce, who with Colonel ToNnsends re-
ent fearing that the enemy had got notice OF our sp
9roach and haG posted Limss IL force On the lac oil
march, and not getting snv communication from Coontl
O1ryee sent hack to me Tor le!norcements, and i'm
nediaely ordered Colonel ALIENS regiment 70 be put l.
notion and they reached Hampton about sven O'Clock
In the meantime the state Of facts having been as
ertained by General Pierce, the regiments effected
junction and resumed the line OF march. AT the mo
nent Of the firing OF Colonel Bendil Colonel Doryee had
surprised part of an outlying guard ot tee enemy,
consisting of thirty Iersons who have been brought in
20 me-
O. course by this firing all hope of surprise above
the camp at Little Bethel lost and, upon marching
npon IT, was found have been vacated, and the cay
siry had pressed toward Big Bethel Colonel Dutyec,
however destroyed the camp at Little Bethel and ed-
vanced General Pierce them ss he Informs nee, with
he advice of his Colonies thought best to attempt to
carry the works Of the enemy 81 Big Bethel and made
dispositions TO :het effect The attack commercial as
avn niormedfor haze not yet received any otclal re-
port-about half pas nine o'ciock.
A
saving that there Was a sharp engagement with the
enemy and that he thought he should be able TO main
tain his position unit, endorsements could come up.
Acting upon this Information, Colonel Cars regiment
Fhioh had been ordered in the morning IL proceed as
tar as Newmarket Bridge allowed TO go forward.
received this information, FOR which had seIt spe-
cisl messenger, acout twelve o'clock. Immediately
made disposition from Newport News to have Colonel
Phelps from The four regiments there forward aid II ne
cessary As soon as these orders could be sent for
ward repaired to Hampton for the purpose Of having
proper ambusnces aud wagons for the sick and wound
ed intending 70 90 forward and JOIN the command
While the wagons were going forward, messenger
came announcing that the engagement had teTmi'
mated, and that the troops were retiring in good
order to camp. | remained upon the ground at
Hampton, personally seeing the wounded put in boats
.nd tored rognd TO the hospital, and ordering forward
Lieut. Morris with tvc boat howitEars, TO covr the
rear of the returning column in case 1t should be attack
ID Having been informed that the ammGnition oil the
artillery had been expended and seeing the head OF the
column approach Hampton in good order, waited for
General Pierce TO come up / am informed by him that
tho dead and wounded had all been brought of aud that
Tho return had been conducted in order, and without
hlste. learned from him that the men behaved with
Zr stesdiness with the exception OF some instances,
aud hat the attack was made with prOprsty, ygor and
courage hut that the enemy found to be supported
~ battery veriously estimated as OF from fifteen TO
twenty pieces some of which rtied cannon, which
we're very wei. served and protected from being readily
turned by a creek in front.
Our loss is very considerable amounting perhaps, to
forty fifty quarter part OF which you vii! see was
from the unfortunate mistake-to call 1t by no worse
nsme-of Colonel Ben5ix.
Twill as soon as eff ia returns be got, give full
er detail of the affair." and will only add now that we
have to regret especially TIE death OF Lieut. TREBLE oil
the Second artillery who went out with Col Washburn,
from Newport News and who very efficiently ard g'l-