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| Duryee's Zouaves.1 |
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Bethel, followed by Townsend.
Washburne, at the same time, was pushing on toward the same point, followed by Bendix and the artillery.
Townsend and Bendix approached the point of junction, in front of Little Bethel, in a thick wood, at the same moment.
Townsend's men, dressed similar to the insurgents, wore their white badges, and were ready to shout the watchword.
Bendix's men had no badges, and were ignorant of the watchword.
Butler's aid, who was sent to Newport-Newce with orders for the advance, had neglected to give the watchword or order the wearing of the badges.
Bendix knew that the insurgents, with proper precaution, had worn white bands on their hats.
Seeing, in the dim starlight and a slight mist, just before the
dawn, similar badges on the arms of an approaching column of men, clad something like the enemy, he mistook them for his foe,2 and ordered an attack.
The Germans at once opened upon Townsend's column with musketry and one cannon.
The other cannon was with Lieutenant Greble, who had pushed eagerly forward a mile or more in advance.3 Townsend's men shouted “Boston” lustily, while Bendix's men shouted “Saratoga.”
The shots of the Germans were returned irregularly, when the assailed party,
1 the costume of Duryee's corps was that of the Second Regiment of the French Zouaves, composed of a blue jacket trimmed with red, and blue shirt trimmed with the same; full scarlet trowsers with leather leg gins, and scarlet cap with blue tassel, partly arranged in turban form.
2 It is said that Bendix was also deceived by the fact that General Peirce and Colonel Townsend, with their respective staff officers, who were riding in front of the column, were mistaken for cavalry, and as there was none with the expedition, it was supposed to be that of the insurgents.
3 For want of horses, one hundred men had drawn one of Greble's cannon from Newport-Newce, and two mules the other. With the latter, he was pressing on toward Duryee's column.
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