Newbern weekly progress., 1861-06-18
FROM ANOTHER CORRESPONDENT.

a D
Yorktown, June II, 1854
When wrote last we were IN The country at
place called Bethel Church. and it was Sunday.
We spent the day pleasantly until at n; ght, when
there as, an alarm given caused by cannon fir
ing down towards Hampton. We afterwards
learned that cf one the county companies had III
countered Federal troops and had fght-uofh-
ing more than a scTisnmage. At o'clock we
startled by the bugle sounding the ''assen-
bly, call" ! n two minutes every soldier in tha
cucampment il arms ana ready for duty
having previously been instructed 10 sleep with
accOutreI,ents on and arms by the side.
TIE MARCH.
In half an hour the North Carolina Regiment
under command OF Col HILL brave, cool COM
mander, and competent leader were ordered with
three guns Of Major Randolphs Battery to march
towards Hampton. while the Virginia Life
Guard, IIenriGc Southern Guard and Young
Guard uUder Lent. Col Stewart, were ordered
to move lower down the cncamp0?eui and take
The position vacated by the North Carolina Ro.-i-
ment, which was promptly done. 1t as u noble
sight, stood near the outer limits of our en-
camprent, in the grey of the morning, to sea the
ilowltzefs and the North Carolina Regiment,
those worthy sons OF noble States, under the
command Of cur gallant Col. Maoruder defiln
past and advance to meet the marccnary Ie-
gi7ns Of a pesutted Government They were
soon lost to sight in the woods, and all was still
except the occasional challenge Of a sentinel or
an outpost all the men were expecting some
great event.
THE RETURN.
Col Magruder and his command had only
gone three NJ les down the road when thew
learned that the enemy they were in pursuit Of
had retired to reinforce, and intended making an
attack Us in p short time as soon as they re-
turned The entire camp arranged for the
assault
POSITION OF OUR TROOPS. O
The encampnent was q parallel formation the
of Iyi7 1,,a
East and West North and South and was nro
tected by embankments thrown up on four sides
the strongest of which was the southeast side
which commanded the road, the bridge and the
field, through which troods must pass coming
from Hampton, and well fortified To the
defence Of this position, 2 how itzey battery of
three guns under the command cf Major George
". Randolph, and four companies OF the N c.
Regiment on the northwest side; the remainder
of the Il. G. Regiment were stationed from East
to West. On the south side Was q ravine thirty
feet deep and very maEsby. This position was
defended by battery of ore howitzer gun, I'M
der command OF Capt, j. Thompson Brown on
the left, and an earthwork and trench made and
occupied by the companies of Lieutenant
Colonel Stewards command, consisting of the
Virginia Life Guard Capt Walker; Henrico
Southern Guard, Capt. Childrey; and Young
Guard, Captain CharteIs-the remainder Of
the troops, of infantry and cavalry, We're stationed
! inside the enclosure, and completed the defense
of the entire parallel. All was now in readiness
and with calm determined countensnces, the men
awaited their coming.
THE APPROACH.
In few minutes scouts and videttes com
| menced firing and coming in, announcing the
| advance. The caunoniers and infantry in the
line OF fortllcatlons were Notified and stoo,
ready, ommunition in hand Our men (Colone
stewartsl were ordered in the trenches, whe,
they were compelled to kneel, in order to escap
observation, it being our object to conceal on
position until he enemy advanced to the midd
of the field. and then open fire. The approach
20 the Notifications can only be made through
6eld e00 yards wide, and By the bridge. spar
nine the creek running along the hIs seHfteas
Of car position.