The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1900-05-08

seant Smathers there captured a Federal
'uiohel commanding negro troops, and
with great difficulty prevented his COM
panions from killing him, they were so
lncensed at being confronted by negroes.
He disarmed him and retained his sword
until last spring. Having learned in some
way the address of the Colonel. he in
Stltuted q correspondence and proposed
the return of the sword. A representa-
tive was sent down to receive it, and,
with some formalities, sp~eech-making
etc, it was turned over.
Il next attended a reunion of the first
company going out from this part of the
State. 1t was known as the 'Runcombe
Ri1emen.' commanded by Captain w. w.
Mcdowell, and became Company e, Bethel
regiment. They made history quite early.
1t is claimed, in fact, that this was the
first company engaged in open field COM
bat, having had a skirmish with a COM
pany Of Federals On June 9. the day be-
fore the Bethel light. The casualties were
light: probably one or two Federals
wounded and one taken prisoner. 1t par
ticipated also in the Bethel affair of
next day, and some of the company wit
messed the killing of the gallant Henry
Wyatt, mentioned elsewhere. This battle
was between a force of Federals under
General Butler sent from Fortress Mon
roe to Big Bethel Church.. a few miles
inland, and the First North Carolina regi-
ment of infantry and four Virginia howit-
zers, Col. d. II. Hill. of North Carolina,
in command. There were several in
stances of conspicuous bravery during the
engagement, on both sides. Notably on
that of the Federal side was a major who,
in leading his men. was shot down con-
siderably in advance of his line Of battle.
He furnished the first recorded instance
Of the ludiCrous in battle, although there
was much of it afterwards. He fell grasp
ing in his right hand his sword, while in
his left he held the neck of a goose which
lie had supposedly caught up in "a spirit
of fun as he started into the charge. His
death grip on the goose had eXtinguished
its life. The flag borne on this occasion
was the first to have a baptism of blood
in a field engagement between the Con-
federates and FederaIs. The Buncombe
Rifemen We're made the color company
and the flag they carried was made and
presented TO them by young ladies of Ashe-
viIle-Misses Annie and Little Woodfin,
Fannie and Annie Patton, Mary Gains,
and Kate Smith. The material was the
silk dresses of three of the makers and
donors; the colors, red. white and blue.
The presentation speech was made by
Miss Annie Woodfin, who, after the war,
with deft fingers, embroidered upon 1t,
Bethel The Misses Woodfn and Patton
are still residents Of Asheville. Miss Fan
ME Patton being president of the Ashe-
Vile Chapter of Daughters Of the Con-
federacy. Miss Kate Smith became Mrs.
Mark Erwin. She died less than a year
ago. Her eldest son is now Commandant
Ct Johnson Pettigrew Camp of Sons of
H. G,r+ 1,.,N af Conc ORC N ivn6
in North Carolina. Miss Mary Gains be-
came Mrs. McAboy, and a resident OF
Knoxville, Tenn, but is now dead.
Meeting with the Bethel company was
the Rough and Ready Guard, Zeb
Vance. original captain, who was succeed
ed by Captain J. NJ. Gudger, who pre-
sides over these meetings.. He was a
worthy successor of Vance so far as
fighting went, and probably got as much
fun out of the war as any man in it.
'W. NJ. Gudger's record, of this com
pany. is doubtless unparalleled. Il sent
you his subscription a short time since).
He ~- was sick q day, and never
missed a roll call or a battle in which
his company took part. He has not been
sick at all since the war.
Major Ballew, in whose company orig
fnally served the woman soldier, of
whom you have heard much, doubtless, is
now a citizen of AshevilIe. She and her
husband, named Blalock, served in the
same company; and for some time be-
fore her sex was known she did drilling,
doing guard and picket duty when she
could not frame excuses to avoid it. 1t Is
said she was an adept at excuse making.
Mr.. and Mrs. Blalock, it is thought, yet
survive. and are thought 20 be residents
Of Texas.