Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1861-06-20
From the Richmond Papers.
FIGHT AT BETHEL CHURCH

FIGHT AT BETHEL CHURCH
The soldier who was killed at the battle
of Bethel Church was Mr.. Wyatt, of th'
North Carolina Regiment. His remains
were brought hither yesterday morning fo'
sepulture. The funeral discourse was
preached in the afternoon by Rev. james
A. Duncan, and the burial took place WI;
military honors.
From the soldiers who formed the escort
of the corpse, we learned many Particular
of the fight, agreeing substantially with The
most favorable accounts published in our
last issue.
Through the kindness of DR. B. W. Ma.
brey, of Tarboro', North Carolina, who IL
Just from the battle ground, We are enabled
to lay before our readers the following iute
resting details Of the fghtat Bethel Church
Just before entering the field, the doctor
met two of his friends, who we're wounded
and on their way to house near by. Their
names were Charles Williams and Couuci
Rogers, both being members Of the Edg
combe Guards, North Carolina. One wa:
wounded in the shoulder, the other in the
chest On returning to the field, the doc
tor found the hottest fire from the enemy
was being poured on our entreuchments
from the woods. 1t was from these same
woods that Capt. D. W. Waldrop advanced
at the head of body Of the enemy, and
when within about sixty FIVE yards of oul
troops, fell pierced with ball. He was
upon fence at the time, and it is said was
discovered by Col. Hill, Of the North Ca
rolina Volunteers, who Immediately turned
to his men and exclaimed, 'sboys, there is
your mark, take him down." The words
had scarcely passed from bis mouth before
the unfortunate individual fell dead. DR.
Mabrey states that theimpressiou generally
prevailed in camp among our soldiers thai
another officer of higher grade was killed,
as he was decorated with gold lace, and
was upon horseback; but being instantly
removed from the field, there are no means
of ascertaiuipg what was his name. Anoth
er account says the officer killed was Col.
Duryea, of the Seventh New York Regi'
ment.
During the engagement strong force as
saulted and carried one of our entrench
ments, but were afterwards driven back, in
great confusion, by body of North Caro-
lipians, under command of Capt. Bridges
A portion of the enemy took refuge in d
house about one hundred yards distant
from one of our series of entrencbments,
when the above captain called for vouu
teers to set the tenement on fire, and thus
dislodge them. Five Immediately respon'
ded, among whom was young Wyatt, (who
was buried Yesterday These advanced.
firing as they went, and then Zouave fash
ion, throwing themselves on their backs to
load. 1t was then that young Wyatt rccciv.
ed ball in his forehead. At the same
time they were supported by howi2
which was throwing its shot into the hou-e
Between these two inducements, the e:'en',
speedily evacuated the premises. 1t wa> ~
an orchard in this vicinity that several -
the dead were found. During the acti""
borh Colonels Magruder and Hill behaved
with great gallautry, moving on foot among
the soldiers during the fight. The Louisi
ana regiment did not arrive until yearly
an hour after the affair, and manifested
much regret that, Notwithstanding their ad
vance greater part of the way at ''doublc
quick" they had not been able to reach
the scene of action in time to participate
The prisoners taken state that the Van
KEGS expected to take our entire force pris,
oners if they did not cut them to pieces
Saying that they could whip the North Car
oliuians off the field with corn stalks
Before the battle they were heard to laugh
derisively, as if they expected to meet with
nothing but boys play. How much they
were mistaken, the bloody field they left
behind them is the best evidence.
We copy the following from the Dis
pltCft CAeio.
YORKTOWN, June l1.-An engagement,
lasting four hours, took place yesterday,
(Monday,) between FIVE regiments of the
troops from Old Point and l, 100 Confeder.
ate troops, consisting of Virginians and n.
Carolinians, under Gen. Magruder, at Beth.
ell Church, York County. Before telling
you of the battle, l will give you some cir.
cumstances preceding it. About two weeks
ago, party of 800 Yankees came up from
Hampton and occupied Bethel Church,
which position they held a day or two aud
then retired, leaving written on the walls
of the church several inscriptions, such as
"Death to the Traitors p' "Dowu with the
Rebels" &c. To nearly all OF these the
names of the writ:rS were defautly signed,
and all of the peusmen signed themselves
as from New York except one, who was
from "Boston, Mass, Z. s." To these ex
cursions into the interior, of which this was
the boldest, Magruder determined to put a
stop and accordingly filled the place after
the Yankees left, with a few companies Of
his own troops. In addition to this, he de
termined to carry the war into the enemy's
country, and on Wednesday last, Stauard s
battery, of the Howirzer Battalion, was or
dered down to the church, where it was
soon Joined by portion of Browns battery
of the same corps. The North Carolrs
Regiment, under Col. Hill, was also there
making in all about 100 men, aud sever
howitzer guns.
On Saturday last. the first excursion
considerable importance was Dadc. y de
tachment of 200 Infantry and hov'z"
gun under Major Randolph, and "cs g
oauontv inf,nt,v an,3 another huwitzcr H.,