Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1861-06-27

their party, but reasonable men can hardly
swallow so monstrous story--Baltimore
Republican, 18th.
We have learned lesson in Southeast.
ern Virginia, and experience has charged
us an unusually dear price. Some three or
four thousand Federal troops left Fortress
Monroe on Sunday night, for the purpose
of taking a rebel battery at place called
Great Bethel, about nine miles from Hamp-
ton. The erection of the battery was evil
dently part of a plan to environ the For
tress aud to strengthen the defensive works
of our enemies. 1t was found, on making
the attack, that the Federal troops we're
unable to cope with the we'll fortified rebels
Their artillery was inefficient, and they
were compelled to retire before the riaed
cannon of the Virginia troops. Our own
loss was heavy Nothing is known about
the rebels, but as they were we'll eutrenched
behind masked batteries, it is probable they
escaped without loss.
Wehave before US two statements of this
melancholy affair. 1t is evident that there
has been an objectionable error somewhere.
By misunderstanding of the orders, two
of our own regiments engaged iu conflict,
each under the impression that the other
was of the rebel force. Several shots were
iuterchanged, and many brave men were
wounded and slain before the mistake was
corrected. We are told that General Pierce
LOST his. presence Of mind on the field of
battle, and the inference is that to him the
disaster of the day is owing. This state
ment is made, however, on the uncon6rmed
authority Of q telegraphic reporter. and
justice to Gen. Pierce requires Ia to await
the facts before wo pass an opinion on his
|conduct. We cannot conceive how force
so poorly equipped and apportioued, lacking
in artillery and the means of an available
aud offensive warfare, should have been
sent on an errand like that undertaken by
the command of General Butler.
We hope We shall have no more blum
ders in this campaign. The moral effect of
a repulse like that of Monday will be. won.
derful among the Southern people. The
lives of our volunteers are too precious to
be sacrificed in fruitless salies, or by the
ignorance or misappreheusion of those COM
manding them. We deplore this disaster,
and mourn the melancholy fate of the brave
men who have fallen; but it teaches dis.
cretion to those in authority, and shows our
soldiers that rashness is not valor, nor reck-
less dari-g true military courage. The
lesson will not be without Its uses, however
dearly we may have paid for is.-Pilaael.
phia Press, 18th.
The affair at Bethel appears to US to show
degree of blundering which must be at
tributed to nothing else than want of skill
10 the officers. Over three thousand men
start out at night to unnask some batteries
which the rebels, it was believed, had erect
ed between Hampton and Yorktown, out
side uf Gen. Buffers line ut Fortress Mon.
roe. The danger of night attacks is that,
unless great caution is observed, the col
umns, if in detached commands, are like
to encounter each other. This is the case
in this affair, and two of the New York
regiments attacked each other 10 the sup
position that they we're encouotering the
enemy. This mistake, which might have
produced much mischief, was discovered in
lime before any great injury was done. But
the event does not seem to have induced
greater caution, for We fud the commander,
Gen. Pierce, attacking a masked battery
of thirty riaed cannon without apparently
knowing its power or strength, though these,
probably, could have been tested before the
assault was ordered 1t is difficult mat
ter, at this distance from the scene Of ope-
ratious, to criticise The judgment of the
officer n command; but as the soldiers who
were engaged iu the affair condemn their
officer, it seems highly probable that their
condemnation is based upon subssa utial
reasons, for they very soou 6od out the
qualifications of their leaders when they
see them tested in the field.
The Bethel affair is an important one, for
it is the first rebuff to series Of we'll
planncd and skiiltulIy executed movements
By General Butter t-tilat important cad Of
the line Of operations against the enemy.-
That this live General, and sensible and
clear.sighted Com mander, will repair this
temporary disaster, we have not the least
G'rb,, for with promptitude he combines
the faculty of knowing how to act and when
to act, having shown himself hitherto equaI
to any emergency or any duty required OF
him. The renulse, we hope, will be les
sou full of wise instruction. 1t will induce
regiments to get rid of incompetent officers,
and to place men of known qualifications
aud skill in command.-Piladelphia Lscl-
ger, 18th.
We do not believe General But
ler ordered an attack by wearied troops,
having but two or three guns, on an en-
treuchment or breast-work bristling with
artillery. Nor do We believe General But
ler ordered an attack on such position 10
ignorance of its real strength. We pre-
sumo the officer in command of the expo
dition was fired by a stern resolve to eface
the recollection of his initial disaster in the
brilliancy of his ultimate achievement, and
was thus impolled to exceed his orders
And the gallautry of our brave volunteers
would have wrested victory from fortune
had it been possible to faux the enemy's
position. As it was, heavier guns and more
of them were indispensable, and the at
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