The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1861-06-15
War News.
Exciting Military Movements-Grand
Mistake-Battle at Great Bethel
and Defeat of the Federal Troops.
FORTRESS MONROE, Monday Night.

June 10, 1861.
One Of the most exciting days ever exper.
fenced within the walls Of Fortress Monroe
was 10 day, a. your readers may readily i.ria-
CINE by perusng the following hastily written
lines. For several days past Gen. Butler,
commanding the Military Department Of Yir.
sinla, had been advised OF the movement Of
a considerable body of Confcd, rate troops in
the vicinity of village called Great Bethel.
which is abuh twelve miles distant from the
Fortress, aud near tie road conducting to
Yorktown. Believing. from reliable reports,
that they had thrown up an entertainment
at the place, and were gradually cxtcndi ing
their ouler Inc Of pckets, he determined
after consultation. with other officers. to whip
them away. and accordingly gave orders to
several regiments to hold themselves in read.
l'ess To march at a moments warning. AT
The same time the Chief Of the Ordnance
Department received orders 10 send out forth
with battery Of howltZcrs. which was soon
under line of march, comprising four twcle.
FOUNDERS, detachment of United States
artillery, with Lieut.. CREDIBLE and other
officers.
party of men belonging to what was
known as the Naval Brigade was also quickly
mustered for the purpose of conveying the
troops across Hampton Creek. which was
done by means cf the fishing boats sent down
OH Saturday from the Susquehanna river
The detailed force of volunteers consisted of
three regiments. The command moved at
l2a O'Clock on Sunday night, with the Znuaves
nearly one hour ahead: and owing to a most
unfortunate misunderstanding in relation to
signals, two of the regiments got into collision.
when Col Benedix's Regiment installing
that OF Col. Townsend for the enemy, fired
into them and did not discover their mstak 2
Until the dawn of day, when their supposed
tnelnics left them masters Of the field Ii
is not known how many were killed and
wounded, but the loss will not be considera.
BILE.
After an explanation and a mutual under
standing, it was agreed to move for Grea,
Bethel, and the entire force took up the line of
march for that point, which is about three
miles from the place where the error was
committed. Soon as the right of the column
got near the place they were very soon appri-
scd Of the presence of the foe, no, strongly
entrenched, opened fire upon them with a
battery of rifle cannon. The Federal troops
promptly responded, but volleys of infantry
and a small park ofhowitze-s were unavailing
against such formidable battery, and in the
COURSE of half an hour a retreat was sounded,
and executed in good order. The regiments
moved well. and the men, it is acknowledged
on all sides, acted with spirit of detcrinin-
edness. The most melancholy feature of the
action was the killing Of Lieu. CREDIBLE.
One of Lieutenant Greiblc's command as.
sured our informant that had an advance
been ordered, instead Of a retreat, the battery
could have besn taken in five minutes. -
Lieutenant CREDIBLE had silenced all their guns
except one rlled cannon, which was fired
| with great rapidity. and concentrated entirely
on his command. This gun was worked
well, BOT all the rest We badly managed
theli balls cutting off the tops of the limbs OF
the trees over their heads. Had the battery
been well supplied with experienced gunner-
there is no doubt that the loss Of life would
have been very heavy.
Lieut.. CREDIBLE spiked the gun at the
moment he received orders to retreat, as it is
supposed on account of his surprise at the
order, presuming That Gen. Pierce had dis.
covered an attempt TO cut him off ana that il
his gun should be captured in the retreat he
would render it harmless. lie had just driven
the spike home when ball from the rihed
cannon carried away the back part of his
head, causing instant death. One of his
I llcn was alSO hllcu anu one NOunutu.
The whole number killed and wounded, as
ascertained at the fortress up to Tuesday
evening, was nineteen killed. forty seven
wounded, and five missing. The rnmored
loss of Major Winthrop appears to have been
altogether fancy affair, as nothing had beer
heard Of it at the Fortress. Several Of the
killed were inhumanly slaughtered whilst
carrying off their wounded which had caused
the most bitter feeling among the troops
being regarded as violation Of the rules o
civilized warfare.
Tuesday evening, just as the boat was
leav,ng.a Confederate Captain of Cavalry
with two privates, were brought in as prison
ers by the Zouavrs. They were al. Splendid,
mounted and uniformed. The elegant trap.
pings of the Captains horse attracted grea,
attention. Their flames could not be ascer.
tanned by our informant.
The impression at the Fortress was tina
another attack will he make OH Great Bcthe
this morning. The picket guards had beer
extended nearly to the battle field, and ever,
precaution was being taken to prevent the
erection Of other batteries on the line o.
march. Baltimore american.