Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-12-30
FIRST nan KILLED ] !


.
Tho very first life lost in the nnai direct
struggle over secession was on the Fede
raj side at Fort sumter. In an accidental
explosion, after the fort had surrendered
April u, 1881. But the nrst Confederate
to be killed In line OF battle was Private
Henry Lawson Wyatt. . soidier In Com
pany A. First North Carolina Regiment
infantry. His life was lost In the battle
known a. that Of big Bethel" fought
June 10, 1861, near Yorktown. Va.
The conflict at Big Bethel was the mrs
land battle of the war. Though on
minor scale. It was q brilliant victor'
for the southern arms. The Confederat'
troops engaged belonged to the command
Of General John B. Magruder, the In
fantry force being chiefly the First Norti
Carolina Regiment, under the immediat'
command Of Colonel ID. II. Hill. VINO wa
afterwards heutenant-sene1a, ar
Confederate service, and who has peer
quite universally regarded as the nero o.
the battle. The Northumberland OF th'
regiment was c. C. Lee, and the maJo'
was James II. Lane, both OF whom SUD
seouently rose to the rank OF prigauier
general in the Confederacy. The regimen
nassed into history as THE Betnei hesi'
ment" of North Carolina troops.
The Federal troops engaged IN tne ee,
ton were under the immediate command
Of General b. L. Butler.
A NATIVE OF VIRGINIA.
Henry Lawson Wyatt was a native o.
Virginia, born In Richmond Fepruary 49,
1872. a SON of Isham and Lucinda Wyat.'
the latter of whom had but recently dso
Henry had learned the carpenters trsoe,
and was working in Tarboro', N. G., wnen
the war broke out--his father having
moved from virginia to Pitt county, N.
c., in 1856.
Young Wyatt was one the very nrst
men TO enlist as a soldier for the southern
cause when the Governor OF North caro-
lima called for volunteers In April. 1851
after the Lincoln proclamation declaring
war against the Southern States. He en-
tered the Edgecombe Guards, under com
mand of Captain John L. Bridgers. t1fty'
four days after he was mustered into
the service, Henry Wyatt fell In battle
al the age of 90. He was buried near thS
foot of the CORVALLIS monument, York
town, Va.
GREAT CALAMITY.
Young Wyatt lost his life under cir
cumstances OF great gallantry ana nero
ism. In the beginning OF the battle II
which he fell the sharpshooters OK the
enemy occupied house between the two
opposing lines, blue and gray. A cal
was made for volunteers to advance
across the intervening distance. through
an open field 200 yards wide, and fire the
building. Corporal George W. Williams
Priyates Henry Lawson Wyatt, John III
Thorpe, Thomas Fallon. and Robert II
Bradley responded to the call and at
tempted to perform the duty. They haf
proceeded but short distance into th'
field when Henry Wyatt fell with bull
let In his brain In a volley fired from
the building. The other four soldier;
dropped to the earth and remained unit
they could with safety rejoin their com
mand, went through the entire war ant
are yet living.
Very soon after the cannonading Of tn
house began, Major Winthrop, q gallan
and noble son of Connecticut, endeavore'
| to lead his men into the action; but a
| he came 10 the front waving HI
sword about his head, the Nort
| CarolinIans fired q volley at hin
| and he fell dead, his bod
riddled with bullets-he, I believe. wa
| the first victim among the Federal officer
| in the war; His native State has lon
| ago well perpetuated his memory.
A LIFE-SIZE PAINTING.
The State of North Carolina has a
| last determined to treasure in perpetuit
| the features and name of the DARN
| and noble Wyatt. Through the effort
| Of ]. c. Birdsong. State Librarian, pho
| tograph of the dead hero was secured
| and at the session of the Legislature o
| 1891 the Librarian secured an appropriation
| 70 have n life-size painting made from tn
| only existing picture OF the young mar
| and a handsome oil portrait made from
| now adorns the walls of the North Caro-
| lima State Library. Persons who ha
| known the living youth say that the arts
| has, In most striking degree. caught tn
very spirit of the daring. generous sou
| and fixed its expression brilliantly In tn
dark. lustrous eyes that CLEAN out upo
the speaking canvas.