Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1861-06-22
BATTLE AT GREAT BETHEL!
Bad Management of Gen. Pierce! !

Bad Management of Gen. Pierce!
FEDERAL TROOPS REPULsED
DEATH OF LIEUT.. GRIBBLE!
Maj. Winthrop and colonel arinnel
MissingI
Fortress Monroe, June 9-via Baltmo ore
llth.-Gen. Butler having learned that
the rebels were fortifying a camp with
strong batteries al Great Bethel, 8 miles
from Hampton, on the Yorktown road, be
deemed 1t necessary to dislodge them
Accordingly movements were made last
night from Ft. Monroe and Newport News.
About midnight Col. Duryees Zouaves
and Col. Townseud's Albany regiment
crossed The river at Hampton by means of
six large batteaux, manned by the naval
brigade, and took up the line Of march
the former some two miles in advance Of
the latter. At the same time Col. Burdix
regiment, and detachments of the Massa.
chusetts and Vermont regiments at New
port, moved forward to form o junction
with the regiments from Fortress Monroe
at Little Bethel, about half way between
Hampton and Great Bethel. The Zou.
aves passed Little Bethel about 1 o'clock
in the morning. Col. Benedix's regiment
arrived and took up position at the in.
terseciion of the roads Not understand.
ing the signal, tho German regiment in
the darkness Of the night fred upon Col.
Townsend's column, marching in close
order and led by Lieut.. Butler, son and
aid de camp OF Gen. Butler. with two pie
ces of artillery.
Otheraccounts say that Col. Townsend's
regiment fired FIRST. At all events the fire
of the Albany regiment was harmless,
while that Of the German was fatal-kill.
ing one man, and wounding seriously two
or three Tiers, with several other slight
casualties.
The Albany regiment being back of the
Germans, discovered. frar.- ts.e supposed
~s.vnntes we're their friends. They had in
the mean time fred nine rounds with small
arms and field pieces The Zouaves hear.
ing the firing, turned and fred upon the
Albany regiment.
At daybreak Col. Aliens and Col Cars
regiments moved from the rear of the for
tress to support the main body.
The mistake at Little Bethel hnvipo
been ascertained. the buildings were
burned, and a Major with two prominen,
secessionists taken prisoners.
Tie troops then advanced upop Great
Bethel, but ou- three small pieces of arti!.
lery were unable to cope with the heavy
rities cannon of the enemy. The rebel
battery was completely masked No men
could be seen-ony the flashes Of the
guns. There were probably no less tha.
thousand men behind the batteries of the
rebeh.
A veil concerted movement mi ight have
secured the POSITION but Brig. Gen.
Pierce, who commanded the expedition,
appears to have lost his presence of mind,
aud tae Troy regiment stood for an hour
exposie to CALLING fire, when al order TO
retrea; was at last given.
Lieat. CREDIBLE of the L. S. army, in
command of the artillery, was struck by
cannon ball aud instantly killed He had
spiked his gun and was gallantly endeav
orng 10 withdraw his command
Capt. George w. Wilson of the Troy
regiment after the order to retreat was
given took possession Of the gun and
brought i: of the field with the corpse of
the Lieutenant. Both were brought to
Fortress Monroe this evening.
There are probably sbou. 25 killed and
loo wounded
Lieut.. Butler deserves the greatest cred
it for bringing of the killed and wounded.
Several Of the latter are now in the hospi,
tai here.
Great indignation is manifested against
Brig Gen. Pierce.
It is not known how many were killed
or wounded in tho unfortunate collision
Of the Federal troops previous to march
ing on Great Bethel. The loss was, how
ever, inconsiderable.
The fire Of our troops on the masked
battery, did apparently little execution.
Our Artillery being composed of small
field pieces and how;tzers, against tho RI
fed cannon Of the enemy.
The attack lasted but half an hour.
when the retreat was sounded and executed
in good order.
The troops throughout this trying affair
behaved veil
The estimated number killed was about
thirty and one hundred wounded.
Major Winthrup-ai to Gen. Butler
and Lieut. Col. Grinnell, of the New York
first regiment are missing.
STILL LATER.
New York. juno lllh.-The Herald
account OF the affair at Great Bethel,
states that after the unfortunate mistake
was rectGed the first. second and third
New York regiments joined by detach-
vents Of the 4th Massachusetts, first Ohio
fifth and ninth New York regiments, with
two light field pieces under Lieut., Gribble,
came upon an advance guard of rebels,
defeated aud drove them back taking thir
ty prisoners. Then they advanced on
Great Bethel, in York county, where they
came upon the enemv 1000 strong and