The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-06-14
FROM FORTRESS MONROE
Particulars OF the Conflict Mt Great BetheJ.
Major Winthrop MOrtally Wounded.

Particulars OF the Conflict Mt Great Retb.I
Major Winthrop Mortally Wounded.
Correspondence Of the Associated Press
FoRrREss MONROE, June u, p M-The county
bridge where the battle of Monday mOrnipr was
fought is near the head of branch of Rock river
and is better known Great Bethel After cross
ing the narrow but apparently deep stream the
road defects somewhat to the left, around its side
their battery, consisting, at least of one twelve
pounder rifle cannon and two field pieces. The
line of entrenchments then followed the right side
OF the road with ditch only between them. The
position was eXeellently cbosen-the stream and
swamp on the left of the road widening so as IN
render futile any attempt to out-hank the Confed
crates on that side.
The formation of the ground on the right made
nank movement very cirCuitous. The first init
nation of the battery was a sharp discbarpe of ar
tillery upon the Z0uaves who twice attemnted n
carry the work, but were unable to pass the stream
and had to fall back among the trees The other
regiments came up In the order given in my first
despatch, but for want of good commander fell
into confusion. council of the Colonels was held
and the o. der given to retreat after the men had
been exposed an hour and half to a destructive
ire IL the meantime Lieutenant, Colonel Wash
ourn, with two hundred and fifty men, had by a
wide circuit, reached the rear of the battery and
1t is now quite evident that the C0nfederates whom
1t is now nearly certain did not exceed in number
SIX hundred men, were on the point of leaving the
held when the order given for the Federal
troops to retreat. Notwithstanding the report of
pursuit. the Confederates were not seen this side of
Great Bethel. 1t is fortunate that the Confederate
cavalry did not pursue.
On the disappearance of the Federal troops the
whole force OF the enemy, fearing an attack nm
der better auspices, left their entrenchments and
hastily withdrew toward Yorktown, CARVING
away their artillery and burning the adjacent
buildings.
Col. Taylor, with nearly one thousand men, yes.
tefday made reconnaissance frOm Newport News
put returned to camp in the evening. With this
exception no military movement has occurred.
A Captain of the Zouaves, with their Assistant
surgeon, has to day gone to Great Bethel under a
nag OF truce and bearing letter from General
Butler respecting the burial of the dead They
nave not yet returned. The official returns of the
lost have not yet been completed.
The casualties, am confident, will number not
less than 70 killed and over so wounded. Two of
the wounded at the Hygeia Hospital died yester-
day. N''
Colonel Benedix's regiment has three killed and
seven wounded and two missing
AN Gectdem In the morning near Little Bethel
cost Col. Townsend's regiment two lives and seye-
raj wounded.
At Great Bethel he had one killed and two NOR
tally wounded. Quite large number are still
missing.
Lieut.: CREDIBLE, whose funeral is now being ce-
leorated with imposing ceremonies, was killed on
horseback. His head struck by rife cannon
ball.
Major Winthrop fell mortalv wounded in the
arms of Vermont volunteer. He was one of the
aids and acting Secretary to Gen. Butler, and was
the author of the brilliant Seventh Repiment ar tice
in the June "Atlantic.'
Brigadier-General Pierce has not vet giyen an
official account of this unfortunate affair.
The United States steamer Monticello has inst
| arrived from Washington with large amount OF
ammunition.
The weather is intensely hot here.
ADDITIONAL FROM FORTRESS MONROE
There was no additionl news yesterday by the
| steamer Adelaide. The report from General Butler
makes the loss of the United States troops very
small; but an officer from the Fortress who passed
through here, acknowledged the loss in his own
iment was greater than the whole number stated
in the official despatch.
The Washington despatch to the Cincinnati Ga
zete says that the true account carefully conceal
ed by the officials at Washington.
gentleman just from Richmond, stated, al
though we do not vouch for the truth of it, that
there was great excitement in that CITY; that new,
had reached there that the Federal forces had beer
| entrapped into ambush, which had been pre-
pared by General Beauregard and executed by
Colonel Magruder; that battery of six piece,
had been placed in position so that il
| could be easily seen BY the enemy and that on the
approach of the United States forces the artillery
fell back till the enemy came within musket range
OF the masked battery, when IA guns, with csnnis
| ter and grape, and 900 muskets opened upon
them. The slaughter he reported as deadly He
also stated that two rifle regiments one from Loui-
siana and one from North Carolina, were within
tour mile of the battle ground, and on hearing the
hiring advanced very rapidly, but did not reach the
| spot in time to participate in the fight.
A private despatch from Annapolis received yes.
terday morning, brings us reliable information that
despatch boat arrived there the day before from
Gen. Butler with orders for all the surgeons there
| to report themselves to Fortress Monroe without
delay, and that an effort was made by the officer
IN command to obtain the services of other surgeons
| IN the city.
| Especial Correspondence Of the Daily Frchanqel
RECEIPT OFTHE NEWS IN FREDERICK
The news of the battle of Bethel created an in.
tense excitement here, and intensified and increased
the Southern feeling greatly. On Wednesday
| night one of the most enthusiastic demonstrations
which has ever taken place in the city came off,
| Several hundred citizens, preceded by band Of
| music, to the tune of "Dixey" marched To tne
| quarters of Mr.. Wallis, and serepaded that gentle.
| man. Mr. allis made most eloquent address
| Mr.. Dennis was then called on, and he responded
| in few remarks, breathing the true spirit Mr..
Wlnans was also called for. On making his ap
pearance he was received with the widest demon.
strations of favor. Cheer after cheer rent the air
| and some minutes elapsed before he could com.
| mence his remarks. He spoke but few minutes
and was rapturousy applauded. Such a demon.
stratOn as this could not have taken place in the
| city two weeks since.
OPINIONS OF THE NORTHERN PRESS.
| The New York Herald saws:
| A man of Mr.. Cameron's sound, practical sense
must see at glance the danger of confding large
bodies of men to the generashp of inexperienced
}civilians. He must perceive the absurdity of di-
rectjug gallant officer like Capt. Doubleday, who
has served his country and studied his profession
practically for twenty-five years, to report to
Pennsylvania grocer or lawyer, who happens to
have political influence enough to obtain the title
| of Brigadier- General. Surely the Bethel disaster
will rouse MIR. Camerons attention to the subject
The New York Express adds:
The Journals, generally, in full blast against
the system of picking up lawyers, politicians, or
merchants, and improuisimg them into "Major- en-
erals" "Brigsdier- Generals" "Colonels" &C., and
all to concur in the sentiment that igar is a
| Trade and that the men that know the rade mus,
guide and direct it. Let this be forced upon the at
tenton of the Administration, while it is distribnt
ing Generals among the Politicians and the Law.
yers, with very liberal hand. Where is Major.
General Dix, trained soldier? Why is he Ief,
| here in New York? Where is Brigader Genera
| Harneyf Whv is he left idle in ST. IouisP
| From the Chicago Post
We think that less blame for the disaster sbouId
os attached to the conduct of Gen. Pierce and Lieu
tenant Butler, than to Gen. Butler The move.
ment was ordered by him undoubtedly, and the
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