The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-01-31
II YEARS. SERVICE
Mr.. r. H. Bradley Has Been
With the Supreme Court
Since 1879.
HE WAS WITH HENRY wyatt


When the Brave Young Caroiinian Fell
at Bethel, the First Confederate Killed
in the War Between the States--Some
incidents of MIR. Bradley's Long Term
of Service.
Seventeen years next Saturday /
have been connected with the Supreme
court" said Marshal and Librarian r,
H. Bradley yesterday. ''When I was
elected in 1879, upon the accession of
the Democratic court. the Judges were
Hon. w. II. n. Smith, Chief Justice,
Thomas S. Ashe, and John II. billiard.
The late Maj. w. II. Bagley was Clerk
of the Court, and Leroy Bagley was
the Librarian To-day Judge billiard
is the only survivor except myself.
Since that time | have attended the
funeral Of all the above officials on
cept Judge billiards.. and of thelr sue
cessors there have died sN es15co she late
Chief Justice Merrimon, Justice Davis.
and Justice Rufiin"
Mr.. Rradley's first service VAS in
the old Supreme court quarters at the
capitol. and when the court moved its
quarters he arranged the splendid law
library of which he has been Librarian
since 1883. which position he now
holds in addition to that of Marshal
of the court. Before he was elected
Librarian. Mr.. Bradley was engaged in
merchandising in Raleigh, and was
10.
1878. He is native of Edgecombe
county, and went to the war with the
old company, the Edgecombe Guards.
Mr.. Bradley is q consistent and in
tiuential member of the Baptist Taber-
nacle, and an active and prominent
Mason, having been Grand Tyler of
the Grand Lodge for many years. At
the last session of the Grand Lodge he
was also made Librarian of the Grand
Lodge.
Mr.. Bradley has made an excellent
official, popular with the bar and
Judges, all of whom will join with the
News and Observer in wishing him
many anniversaries. He rs an excel
lent official, and well deserves the
popularity he enjoys.
The following letter, written by
Capt. j. II. Thorpe, shows that Capt.
Bradley was by the side of Henry L.
Wyatt when he fell, the first hero of
the Lost Cause:
Rocky Mt, \. c., August Goth, 1893.
DIR. +. Burke Haywood, Raleigh, N. C.
Ny friend and war comrade has re-
quested me TO write you giving the
names of the men land boys) who
ia Tod "a, 4,
pany with Wyatt during the battle of
Big Bethel.
A battle wherein considerable num-
bers are engaged is made up of very
many incidents acted within a few
minutes, frequently, each of which
might we'll be the subject of an extend
ed theme. A participant can hardly
note very many of them. The facts,
however, are gathered from a multi
plicity of witnesses who discussed
them Immediately after. 1t was not
at all remarkable that Col. ID. III. Hill,
in making short report of the battle,
failed to mention the name of sol
der in connection with an event that
at the time did not elicit the praise
that it has been accorded since; and
the battle was Immediately followed by
a long war. My evidence is this: Near
the close of the battle, Col Hill passed
through our company Ca" j. L.
Bridgers, Captain,) and asked if he
could not have that house burned,
pointing to it. The Captain imInedi->
ateiy asked If five of his men would
volunteer to do so. Within minute
the number had volunteered, and
matches land think hatchet) were
handed Corporal Geo. III. Williams.
Williams was the first one who jumped
over our little breast-works and started
in a run to the house. Thomas Fal-
loa was second about three or four
PAGES behind him-then followed the
writer of this, John II. Thorpe, then
Henry l.. Wyatt, then Il. il. Bradley.
A voIiey of the enemy's shots caused
the squad to drop to the ground 1--WE had
been drilled in this). Williams and
Fallon returned the fire, being on the
ground. Wyatt fell ON his back be-
hind me perhaps five or six PAGES be
fore Bradley. We heard the order of
our captain 10 return, which we did,
leaving Wyatt mortally wounded
Respectfully, etc,
(Signedl JOHN Ii. THORPE.