Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-06-18
gbe Ohio 9tatesnratr
7 z z II 0
BATTLE Ar GREAT BETHEL.
official Plan of the Expedition.

BATTLE AT GREAT BETHEL.
Official Plan of the Expedition.
REPORTS OF COL. DURYEE AND CAPT. Kill
PATRICK.
On Sunday afternoon the orders were promul
gated for an attack upon Little Bethel and BIZ
Bethel; the latter q sort of halfway house Of
the road to yorktown, couple of miles beyon'
the former.
The following were the orders:
HrAD.ouARTERs CAMP HlMMrOS,l
June 0, 1861.
GENERAL ORDERS, No. IA plan Of attaci
tonight is herewith inclosed and forwarded Il
Col. Duryee, comma handing Fifth Regiment New
York State Troops, who will act accordingly
Col. Townsend, commanding Third Regiment
New York State Troops, will march his COM
mand in support of Col. Duryee. Col Carr
commanding Second Regiment New York Vol
unteers, will detach the artillery company o.
his Regiment, with their field pieces, caissons
and suitable supply of ammunition, and TAXI
their position at the burnt bridge, near Hsmp-
ton. Coils. Allen, Carr and McChesney vii
hold their entire command in readiness, fullJ
prepared to march at a moments notice. AL
the troops will be supplied with one days ra-
tions, and each man with twenty rounds OF bal
cartridges
That no mistake may be made, all the troops
Coils, Allen, Carr, Townsend, Duryee and
McChesney will take notice and act accordingly
By command OF Brig Gen. E. w. PIERCE.
r. A. PIERCE, Brigadier- -Mojor.
Appended were notes, Of which the following
are the salient points:
A regiment or battalion to march from New
port News.
A regiment or battalion 10 march from Camp
Hamilton-Duryee's.
Each to be supported by sufficient reserves
under arms in camp, and with advance guard
out on the line of march.
Duryee to push out two pickets at III T. M.
one also two and half miles beyond Hampton,
on the county road, but not 30 far as to alarm
the enemy. This is important. Second picket,
half as far as the fret. Both pickets to keep az
much out Of sight as possible No one whom
soever to be allowed to pass through their lines
Persons to be allowed to pass inward toward
Hampton, unless it appear that they intend to
60 around about and dodge through the front.
At l2M (midnight) COL Duryee will march
his Regiment, with twenty rounds Of cartridges,
on the country road towards Little Bethel -
Scows will be provided to ferry them across
Hamton Creek. March to be rapid, but not
hurried.
| A howitzer, with canister and schrapnel, to 60,
and wagon with planks and materials to re-
pair the New Market Bridge.
Duryee to have the two hundred rifles. He
will pick the men to whom they are entrust-
ed. Rockets to be thrown up from Newport
News.
Notify Com. Prendergast of this, to pre-
vent general alarm. Newport News movement
to be made somewhat later, as the distance is
less.
five find the enemy and surprise them, we will
fire volly IL desirable, not reload, and 60 ahead
with the bayonet.
AS the attack is to be made at night, or grey
Of morning, and in two detachments, our people
should have some token-say q white rag, OF
nearest approach to white attainable, on left
arm.
Perhaps the detachments who are engaged
in the expedition should be smaller than Reg.
iment.
CAPT. KILPATRIcK's OFFICIAL REPoRT.
HEAD.QuARrERs CANT HIMrrros(
June H. 1861.
Sir: In accordance with your orders, l have
the honor to submit the following report of my
command, acting as the advance guard, on the
evening of the 9th, and brief account of my
command during the engagement on the follow.
ing day, OF the New County Bridge. left camp
with my command at 10 p. M, consisting Of
fifty men of Company H, one lieutenant Camp
brelling), four sergants and four corporals; Com.
pany 1, Capt. Bartlett, one lieutenant york.,
four sergeants and two corporals, crossed the
river at Hampton at 10h P. M; reached New.
market Bridge at A. M, threw out scouts in
all directions and waited for the main body,
which arrived at 8 A. M. According to your
orders, advanced on the road to New County
Bridge, the point where the enemy was reported
to have made stand A little before daylight,
when within mile and quarter of the bridge,
we discovered the outlying picket guard of the
enemy, and were challenged "Who comes
there?" replied, .'Who stands there7" A
horseman attempted to leave. Corporal Ellison,
of Company H, sprang in advance, directing
him to halt. l supposing the enemy to be in
force, gave the command to FIRE and charge. In
moment the affair was over, twenty or thirty
shots had been given and exchanged; the off,
Ger Of the guard was captured and disarmed. AT
this time, hearing fire. in the rear, and suppos-
ing that our rear guard was attacked, returned
to follow the main body under Col Duryee, who
was advancing by forced march In direction Of
the firing, only to discover that by mistake our
own forces coming in different directions, and
supuosing each to be the enemy, had fred sew.
eral shots before the mistake was discovered. I
again advanced, and at 9 A. M. met with and
drove the picket guards Of the enemy. I then
detached portion Of my command, made an
armed reconnaissance, and found the enemy
with about from 5000 to 5000 men posted in q
strong position on theopposite side ofthe bridge
three earthworks and masked battery on the
right and left; In advance Of the stream thirty
pieces Of artillery and large force Of cavalry,
all of which information reported to you at
once. was ordered to advance and engage the
enemy in throwing out skirmishers on the right
and left Of the road leading to the bridge. We
rapidly advanced, supported by the Advance
lery under Lieut.. Greble of the First Reg ment
United States ARTILLERY. The enemy soon open.
ed fire on us from the rifed cannon in front.
We answered his discharges by cheer, and
continued to advance, clearing ell before US, till
we reached point just on the edge ofthe woods,
where the FIRE was so hot and heavy that We
remained as directed by Lieut.. Col Warren till
that gallant officer had made dispositions to
turn their fanks. The enemy's FIRE at this
time began to tell upon us with great effect.
My men were falling one after another, as was
the case Of the rest Of the command
After remaining in this position about two
hours, and our object having been accomplished,
numbers of our men being killed and wounded,
having received grape shot through my thigh,
which tore off O portion of the fectangle on
Col. Duryee's left shoulder, passed through my
leg and killed soldier in the rear, withdrew
my men to the skirts Of the wood. We man
aged to reach Lieut.. Greble's battery and bring
TO his aid several " my men. The charge was
| then sounded, Lieut. Greble opened FIRE with
| orana and caniater within two hundred varfla nj