Still Further accounts.
The Baltimore Sun, of Thursday, contains some additional particulars.
It appears that the officials at
Fortress Monroe are making an effort to conceal the amount of their loss from the public eye at the
North, fearing doubtless that the truth would have a discouraging effect.
The official dispatches forwarded to
Washington, according to the statement of the
Northern Associated Press, state the loss of the
Federals at fourteen killed, eight of whom fell by the hands of their friends, and the number of wounded at forty-five.
This is an arrant falsehood; for more than that number were buried by the
Confederates after the battle.
The Sun says:
‘
the late Settle.
Such was the condition of affairs at
Fortress Monroe that but few additional particulars could be obtained of the battle of Monday morning at Great Bethel.
It was learned, however, that in the mistaken assault by
Colonel Benedix's regiment on the
Albany regiment, five of the latter were killed and quite a number wounded.
The whole of the
Federal force, it is said, did not exceed four thousand men, while that of the
Confederates was about eight hundred, with six pieces of artillery in two batteries, two or three companies of riflemen, and a fine cavalry corps.
The cavalry, it is said by one of those who participated on the
Federal side, attempted to charge upon the
Federal troops, but the fire from the latter drove them back, with the loss of one man killed or wounded.
He was seen to fall from his horse.
The number of killed and wounded is not definitely ascertained, but it was admitted at
Fortress Monroe to have been an unusually large per centage of the force.
The troops are said to have exhibited great bravery, but were compelled to beat a hasty retreat from the well directed and devastating fire of the
Confederates.
As an instance of the precision of their aim, a cannon ball from the Confederate battery struck the barrel of the musket of one of the
Federal troops about its centre, bending it so that the ends nearly came together, and the following ball took off the head of the soldier who had lost his musket.
After the retreat of the
Federal troops began, the cavalry of the
Confederates followed them nearly into
Hampton village, and then retired.
There was no intention expressed at the Fortress to send out another force to the scene of battle, as it was thought the
Confederates would remove their position, and if it should be captured, it would require a force of 2,500 to hold it, with five hundred additional to keep open the communication between that and
Hampton.
A large number of wounded had been brought in to the hospital at
Fortress Monroe, many of whom were fatally injured.
On Tuesday two of the wounded died.
A passenger by the Georgeanna stated that twenty-five Zouaves, besides those known to have been killed and wounded, were still missing.
Two who had separated themselves from the regiment in the retreat, came into the Fortress on Tuesday afternoon, but could give no account of their missing comrades.
A good deal of depression is said to be exhibited among the
Federal troops because of the defeat, but they do not lack the courage to renew the contest as soon as they receive the word of command to march.
Major Winthrop, one of the aids to
General Pierce, who was reported missing, is said to have reached Newport News-point in safety.
He gave the order to charge on the battery, when the fearful havoc of his troops took place.
’
[Correspondence of the Baltimore Sun.]
Old Point Comfort, June 11.
The first battle between the contending forces of the
United States and the
Confederate States has taken place, resulting in the defeat of the former.
At midnight on Sunday about nineteen hundred men advanced from Newport News-point and three thousand from
Old Point Comfort, with an arrangement to meet near Newmarket Bridge, where they would conjoin under the command of
Brig. Gen. Pierce, of
Mass., for the purpose of checking the incursions of a corps of Virginia dragoons who had arranged the pickets in the vicinity of
Hampton.
A part of the troops from Newport Newspoint mistaking the
Federal troops for the
Southern forces, at about three o'clock in the morning, opened fire on them, and killed several, besides wounding quite a number.
This revealed their approach to the
Confederates, and the delay caused by the confusion resulting from the mistake, enabled the
Confederates to thoroughly prepare for them.
While on the march,
Capt. A. Whiting, of
Hampton, who was on picket duty, was captured.
He is represented to be a splendid specimen of manhood, and his bearing and courage elicited the admiration of the
Federal officers.
Another picket was discovered and fired on, but he escaped.
After order was restored among the
Federal troops, they advanced rapidly towards Great Bethel, unconscious of any formidable opposing force.
Upon approaching the brink of the narrow creek which separated them from those lying in wait for them, a galling fire from two batteries, one of two, and one of four guns, opened on them, while they protected a large body of expert riflemen.
For want of able generalship, the
Federal force, after several bold assaults, were compelled to retire, which they did in tolerably fair order, their rear harassed by a troop of Confederate cavalry.
The loss to the
Federal troops was very considerable, but I cannot state the number.
Col. Duryea's New York Zouaves had seven killed, forty-two wounded and four missing. The four other regiments,
Albany,
Col. Townsend; Steuben Volunteers, Massachusetts,
Col. Benedix;
Troy,
Col. Carr, and First New York,
Col. Allen, all suffered severely.--About twenty artillerists of the regular army, under
Lieut. Greble, acted gallantly, and Lieut. G. was shot dead while working one of his guns.
He had three 12-pound howitzers.
He is said to have relations in
Baltimore, and was highly esteemed by his fellow-officers.
The force of the
Confederates in the conflict is variously estimated at from eight hundred to twenty-five hundred, and was said to be an advance body from the forces at
Yorktown.
The Federal officers who particularly distinguished themselves for bravery were
Col. Duryea,
Lieut. Col. Warren, Col. Townsend,
Maj. Davis,
Lieut. Greble and
Capt. Kilpatrick--all of whom, except
Townsend and
Greble, are attached to the
Zouave Regiment, which went through the battle with remarkable bravery
Captain Fitzpatrick was among the wounded.
The belief here is that the Confederate forces were under the command of
Col. Magruder, and their guns did fearful execution.
The battery was evidently hastily constructed, and two of its guns were removed to more favorable positions while the battle was going on, so that the woods in which the
Federal troops were protected were raked in two directions.
On one side of the road is a dense wood, and on the opposite were clear grounds, while a narrow, marshy stream only separated the contending forces.
A letter found on the person of a prisoner stated that the force at
Yorktown in a day or two would amount to ten thousand men. The letter was of recent date.
While the fight was going on
Lieutenant Yorke lost his sword, which was snatched from him. To give you some idea of the precise aim of the
Confederates, a soldier in the front rank had his hand blown off while holding his musket, the barrel of which was completely folded, and the next ball took off his head.
The gun barrel was forwarded to your city, to be sent to his relatives in New York.
Lieutenant Greble's remains are now en route for
Philadelphia, where his friends reside.
The guides of the
Federal forces were nenegroes.
