The Lambertville press. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1858-1???, 1861-06-19
$500 Men in the Confederate Battery.


evening we obtain some additional
particulars in regard to the Battle at
Great Bethel The Patriot says
TIE steamer Georg5arsnd, from Old
Point, arrived at her wharf at 5 O'Clock
this morning, and brings some inter-
esting particulars of the engagement
at Great Bethel, on Monday night
week.
Captain Butler, nephew Of General
Butler, came up in the Georgianna as
bearer of dispatches, and proceeded on
to Washington. Several other Off
GERS came up as passengers, and
private of Duryea's ZouaVes, on some
business connected with the fort.
Oar reporter had conversation
with Captain Butler and some Of the
officers of the boat, and from them
was enabled to CLEAN the following
particulars
The number of killed on the Fede-
raj side will not, it is said, exceed fif-
teen or sixteen, and the wouaded fifty
or sixty. All the killed and wounded
were brought back to Fortress Mon
roe in boats, under the charge Of the
Naval Brigade, who are said to have
acted in the braYest manner in going
on to the field and bringing the bodies
off during the thickest of the fight
thus exposing themselves to the great
est danger from the fire of the enemy.
1t was tie opinion of all who witnessed
their conduct, that if they had been
provided with arms, they could have
silenced the battery in short time.
The entire blame of the unfortunate
result of the affair is laid on the should
ers of General Pierce, who is execrated
By every one for his total want Of eff
cheney. This sentiment was shared
alike By both Onion men and secea-
sionists--the latter especially express
ing their contempt for him,
General Butler was perfectly enraged
against him; and when Pierce was
brought before him, he cursed him,
called him fool and a coward, told
him he had failed in the performance
Of his duty. declaring that he had no
confidence in him, and that he would
not hereafter trust him, no matter how
small Or unimportant the affair.
1t was the general impression that
the battery could have been taken in
half an hour had General Pierce, when
he first discovered it, withdrawn his
forces and went two miles below, where
he could have crossed the river in boats
and attacked it in such a way as to
have captured it almost without resist
ance.
The bridge which divided the river
was a wooden one, three fourths of a
mile long, and had been burnt by the
Confederates the night before. There
had been a good deal of skirmishing
between the opposing forces the day
before the battle, but the result was
uniH portant.
When the first of the Federal troops
arrived in the vicinity of the river, and
before the commencement Of the bat
tie, they captured three prisoners, who
were cooking some victuals before a
small fire. These men had been sent
out on recommending expedition, and
did not perceive tie Federal troops
until too late to retreat.
One Of them was Captain Whiting,
a commander of a company, and the
other two priyates. Captain Whiting
had very valuable horse, about whose
safety he appeared to be much con
cerned. He said they might do with
him what they pleased, but begged
them to be kind to his favorite animal,
which had cost him $500.
Captain Whiting states that the
Confederate troops were commanded
by Col. Magruder, late of the United
States army, and that there were at
least $500 men in the batteries, which
were constructed in the most formid.
able manner.
The loss of the Confederates is re-
ported by the passengers to have been
heavy, but the exact number of killed
and wounded is not known.
There were only three regiments on
the Federal side in the engagement,
comprising 1900 men. The colonies
Of the other regiments refused to order
their men to march up to the battery,
declaring that such was their want of
confidence in General Pierce, that they
would not run the risk of imperiling
their lives, prefering rather to be
court martialed than to do so.
There is great deal of regret mani
tested by the residents in the vicinity
of Great Bethel at the result of the
fight, and it is asserted that it has
had the effect of making many persons
declare their sentiments as Unionists.
During the fight, the frigate Cumber-