davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-06-11
EDGECOMBE GUARDS.
Their Part in the Battle of Bethel by
One Sf tie PFivates.
By JOHN III. THORPE.

The battle of Bethel is famous in,
at least three ways. 1t was the first
on land, of the two thousand two hun
dred and siXty-one battles fought in
the great war. 1t was famous because
of the numerical disparity between
the forces-the North having six thou
sand and the South twelve hundred.
And it was famous because of the dis
parity of casualties-the North losing
about one hundred and seventy-five
killed and wounded and the South one
killed and nine wounded.
Until the Fort Sumpter incident and
Mr. Lincoln's call for troops in April.
the people hoped for some other so
luton of the quarrel than war. But
after this men in the North who be-
lieved in the right of secession prompt
ly ranged themselves or the side of
the United States, and men. in the
South who denied that right ranged
themselves on the side of the Confed-
crate States.
The first volunteers of North Caro-
lima organized into a regiment during
the early days of May. and an the
latter part of that month, at Virginia s
invitation, went to Yorktown, Va,
singing on their way, Wen be gay
and happy STILL, one verse of which
ran thus:
"Old Virginia needs assistance
Northern hordes invade her soil,
Well present firm resistance,
Courting danger, fire and toll
On the 9Th of June we marched 1S
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-06-11

with imperishable lustre and made
their own names immortal.
with common consent credit was
given to North Carolina as the chief
actor in the great, achievement"
The Petersburg Express said: "All
hail to the brave sons of the Old North
State, whom Providence seems to have
thrust forward in the first pitched bat
tie on Virginia soil in behalf of South
ern rights, and independence. The
Richmond Whig said: THE North
Carolina regiment covered itself with
glory at the battle of Bethel" The
Richmond Examiner, the leading pa
per of the Confederacy, said: Honor
those to whom honor is due. Ali our
troops appear to have behaved nob'y
at Bethel, bur the honors of the day
are clearly due to the splendid regi-
ment of North Carolina, whose charge
of bayonets decided it. and presaged
theif. conduct on many a moro impor-
tant field -
Governor Ellis promptly recon-
mended to the convention. in session
at Raleigh, that Colonel Hill, COM
mander of the North Carolina troops,
be promoted to the rank of brigadier,
and that brigade be formed and
placed under his command. Indeed,
Hill was on all sides recognized as the
real leader i'm the fight. though Colonel
Magruder, commander of the troops
in the Peninsula, had arrived on the
ground just before the battle negan,
and assumed command. The fortlf1-
cations. which were essential to our
success, were planned by Hill and
executed by his regiment.
On the 18th of June, Mr.. Venable
offered resolution in the convention
at Raleigh, which was unanimously
passed, as follows:
Resolved, That this convention, ap-
preciating the valor and good conduct
of the officers and men of the First
Regiment. North Carolina Volunteers.
do. as testimony of the same au-
thorize the said regiment to inscribe
the word Bethel upon their ban
ner."
The First North Carolina Volun-
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-06-11

the crack regiment of the day, was
decided. 1t was ordered to Yorktown,
the post of danger and of honor" as
the papers of the day described it. 1t
broke camp at Richmond on May "a,
and reached Yorktown the same even
ing.
Colonel John B. Magruder, of the
Provisional Army of Virginia, who
had just been assigned MAY 21sD to
the command of the Department of
the Peninsula, accompanied the First
North Carolina to Yorktown.
On June 9th, under orders from
Colonel Magruder. Colonel Hill pro-
ceeded with the First North Carolina
to Big Bethel Church, some thirteen
miles distant from Yorktown, and
eight or nine miles distant from
Hampton and from Newport News.
He was accompanied by Major Ran
dolph, of the Richmond Howitzer Ba-
tallion afterwards Secretary of War;
with four pieces of artillery.
The march from Yorktown, which
was made by dusk, was trying one
for these unseasoned troops, as it was
made by the infantry in heavy march
ing order, with knapsacks, haversacks,
canteenS, loaded cartridge boxes, often
a Bible in the knapsack, and with a tin
cup and an extra pair of shoes dang
ling from either corner of this rather
boxey affair. The light marching or
der of Jackson's foot cavalry was as
yet sealed chapter of the regula-
tions. A drizzling mist had set in be-
fore dark, and it was the regiments
first experience at cooking with ram
rods and bivouacing without tents.
Colonel Hill at once proceeded to
fortify the position. There were but
twenty-five spades, six axes and three
picks in possession of the command,
but these were applied so vigorously
that by Saturday, the Sth. the work
began to show the outlines of a forti-
fed camp. On Sunday, a fresh supply
OF. intrenching tools arrived. and en-
abled the men to make further pro-
gresS with the work.
The First Regiment and Randolph S
Artillery were aroused at 8 o'clock
Monday morning, the 10th, for a gen.
eral advance upon the enemy, who
had appeared in the roads leading
from Fortress Monroe and Newport
News. After marching three and a half
miles, it was learned that the enemy
was advancing in large force. Our
troops fell back upon their entrench-
ments. and awaited his coming.
At 8 o'clock, the head of the enemy S
column (Bendixs 7th New York; ap-
peared in the road a half mile away.
A shot from Randolphs Parrot gun,
aimed by himself, hit the earth in
their front and ricocheted; Nthey fell
away from the road; their artillery
(regulars) at once replied; and the
battle began.
a body of iskirmishers advanced
against our right, but, were driven
back. Two small regiments of infan-
try made several attempts to charge
our left. One of Randolph's guns hav-
ing been disabled, was withdrawn. A
regiment was then moved against our
right. and a body of ''Zouave" skirm-
ishers occupied the abandoned bat
terry. Under orders from Colonel Hill
Captain Bridgers, with Company A of
the First North Carolina, drove out
the Zouaves. and re-occupied the bat
terry.
The First Vermont and Fourth Mas
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-06-11

The following brief account, L imagine,
will serve the present purpose.
Of the four lines by which General
Scott had planned the invasion of Nir-
ginia-from Washington; from Fort
ross Monroe; by the Cumberland VAL
ley; and from Ohio, by the Kahawha,
into West Virginia-that from For
tress Monroe became the natural one,
with the transfer of the Capital of the
Confederacy from Montgomery to
Richmond. Except that first men
toned served the double purpose of
protecting the Federal Capital, the
line from Fortress Monroe would
undoubtedly have claimde his chief at
tention. The splendid base which that
great military work, one of the largest
in the world, supplied, and the ideal
route which the Yorktown Peninsula
presented for his marching troops,
with The James and York rivers open
to his navy on either flank, were con-
siderations which otherwise must have
fixed his choice.
1t is probable that the situation at
the moment of the arrival of the First
North Carolina Regiment in Rich
mond (May 1S-21) would have des-
tined it to Northern Virginia, but cir
cumstances were rapidly shifting the
theater of operations. The leading
feature of these circumstances, cou-
pied with demonstrations by Federal
gun boats up the James and the York
rivers is thus described lMay I'D by
Rev DIR. w. y. Pendleton afterwards
Brigadier General of Artillery in a
letter addressed by him to his West
Point classmate, President Davis, at
Montgomery: AS you value our great
cause. hasten on to Richmond. Lincoln
and Scott are, if / mistake not, COW
ering by other demonstrations the
great movement upon Richmond. Sup
pose they should send suddenly up the
York River, as they can, an army of
thirty thousand or more; there are no
means at hand to repel them, and if
their policy shown in Maryland gets
footing here, ii will be a severe, if not
a fatal. blow Hasten. | pray you, to
avert it. The very fact of your presence
will almost answer. Hasten, then, [
entreat you: don't lose day"
On the 18th of May (the day after
Virginia's secession) the United States
ship Monticello" fired on a Virginia
battery at Sewell's Point, and again
on the 21st. On the 22nd. Major Gen
eral Benjamin F.. Butler, United States
Army, was transferred from the De-
partment of Annapolis and assigned
to the command of the Department of
Virginia, with headquarters at For
tress Monroe; and nine additional in
fantry regiments were sent there. On
the 23rd, Federal regiment made a
demonstration against Hampton.
three miles from Fortress Monroe.
1t was under these circumstances
that the destination of the First Caro-
lima, Colonel d. H. Hill commanding
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-06-11

sachusetts, led by Major Theodore
Winthrop, of General Buffers staff,
then attempted to enter the gorge at
our left by q sudden rush. Companies
B. and c. and portions of companies
G. and H., of Hills regiment, killed
winthrop and drove back his troops.
The Death of Wyatt.
When Bridgers recaptured the bat
terry, he found in his front a house
which was used as a shelter fer the
enemy's sharp shooters. At ColonefS
Hills suggestion, Captain Bridgers
called for volunteers to burn it, Cor
poral George I. Williams and privates
Thomas Fallon, John H. Thorpe,
Henry L. Wyatt r. H. Kicks and r. H.
Bradley leaped the works and went on
this mission. At the first volIey from
the enemy Wyatt was killed.
The troops engaged on our side were
eight hundred men of the First North
Carolina Regiment, and some four
hundred Virginians. Upon the enemy's
side some four thousand four hundred
took part in the fight-the 1st, End.
3rd, 5th and 7th New York. the 1st
Vermont. the 4th Massachusetts and
Grebble's detachment of the 2nd u. S.
Artillary-all under command of
Brigadier General Pierce.
The battle lasted from o'clock un-
til half past one. The enemy lost heart
upon the death of Winthrop, and
shortly after retreated.
Importance of the Battle at Bethel.
The battle of Bethel was but a small
affair in itself, if we compare it with
the sanguinary conflicts between great
bodies of men of which it was the pre-
cursor. The total number of troops
engaged on our side, as we have seen,
was but 1,2C0, and on the Federal side
but 4.400.
Our losses were but 10-as follows:
First North Carolin -. Henry L..
Wyatt, private. Company A.. mortally
wounded Lieut.. J. w Ratchford,
Aidede-Camp to Colonel Hill, wound
ed; Council Rodgers, private, Com
pany A, severely wounded; Charles
Williams, private. Company A, severe
~ wounded; S. Patterson, private,
Company d. slightly wounded; Will
liam White, private, Company K.
wounded: Peter Poteat. private, Com
pany G, slightly wounded eTotal
North Carolinians: 1 killed, .
wounded
Randolph's Howitzer's--LieUt Hud-
nall commanding the Howitzar in
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-06-11

monument is Is feet high. in
Guiding the base. The shaft proper is
twelve feet in height and the base six
feet 1t is made of fine Virginia
granite and is quite attractive and
very much more impressive than its
description would indicate.
The marker is a square granite slab
standing several feet above the ground
so THAT the inscription is near the eye
of the visitor. 1t marks the place Sc
lected as the exact spot where Wyatt
fell
THE INSCRIPTIONS ON FACE OF
SHAFT.
'To Commemorate the Battle of
Bethel. June 10th, 1861, first conflict
between the Confederate Land Forces,
and in memory of Henry Lawson wy
att, private Co. n, First Regiment, N.
c. Volunteers, and the first COnfeder-
ate soldier to fall in actual battle"
ON REAR OF SHAFT.
Erected by the Bethel Monument
Association of Virginia and North
Carolina, June 10th, 1905"
On Both Sides of Shaft.
On both sides of the shaft are re-
produced the "stars and bars" flag Of
the Confederacy, with the word
Bethel above the date 1851" be-
meath on one side, and 1906" on the
other side.
Inscription On Marker.
On the granite marker, which is
placed on what is believed to be the
exact spot where Wyatt fell, is the
following:
ION this spot. June 10th, 1861, fell
Henry Lawson Wyatt, private, Co. A.,
First Regiment, n. c. Volunteers.
This stone, placed here by the courtesy
Of Virginia, is erected by authority OF
tile State of North Carolina.
''FI. j. HALE.
'TN. e. KYLE.
"JNO. III. THORPE,
"W. II. TAYLOR,
''R. III. RICKS.
commissioners"
The local committee deserving the
greatest credit for the success of this
undertaking is composed of Mrs.
Robert S. Hudgins, chairman; Major
e. A. Semple, secretary; Mrs. Harry
w Booker. VIM. G. L. Taliferro and
r. S. Hudgins. Jr., of Hampton; Maj.
w. J. stores, of York county; Mrs. w.
j. Nelms and Capt. j. II. Coffey, of
Newport News
The members of, this committee
have worked faithfully to make this
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-06-11
MEMORIAL TABLETS.
To he Erected at CbicIamauga and
Bethel BattleaeIds.

The Legislature of 1906 passed a
bill authorizing the erection on the
battlefield at Chicakamauga of a me-
mortal tablet TO mark the locality of
the far advances of the Tar Heel
troops. which pushed farther toward
the enemy there than the soldiery of
any other State. and on the battlefield
of Bethel Court House, a memorial
tablet to mark the spot where young
Wyatt was killed in 1861, the first Con-
Continued on Page Seven.)
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-06-11
Major E. ]. Hale Writes
of Battle and Troops.
INDEX OF THE WAR
ROut Of Four Times Its Number of
Troops, Encouraged and SoIidified
the South and Startled the North.
A Regiment From Whose Ranks
Later Came 2O2 Officers.
BY MAI. E. j. HALE.

A complete account of the battle of
Bethel, the first pitched battle between
the armies of the North and the South
in the Great War of 1S61-'5, and of
the events leading up to it, will be
found in the history of the First North
Carolina Regiment - the 'Bethef'
Regiment-in Clark's North Carolina
Regiments, 1865. vol. l., pg. 69-123.
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-06-11

North Carolina and sent to the front,
as we'll as the first Confederate regi-
ment To engage i'm battle-incIuded in
its ranks probably the highest average
order of men ever mustered for war.
They contributed TO other commands
in the Confederate service four general
officers, seven officers of the general
staff. fourtecn. coIonels, ten lieutenant-
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-06-11

date memorable and they have sue
cceded in accomplishing what they
desired in the matter of impressing
upon all visitors the fact that nothing
in their power was to be left undone.
This affair has been one great success
from the beginning of the exercises to
the close. W. H: BAGLEY.
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-06-11

colonies. eight majors, twelve adju
tants. ten other staff officers, fifty
seven captains, thirty-seven first lieu
tenants and forty-threc second lieu
tenantg-total, 202, being more than
regiments.
T. j. HALE.
Fayetteville, n. c., June 10.
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-06-11
THE MONUMENT.
1t is Made of Fine Virginia Granite.
Eighteen Feet High.

Especial to News and Observer
Hampton, Virginia, June 10.-The
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-06-11
A Snap-ShO of Bethel
Forty Years Ago.
EDGECOMBE GUARDS
Mr.. R. H. Bradley, Private in Pivotal
Company, Talks Of the Battle and
Incidents Which Remain Clear
TO Him after Forty Years.
Marked WAITS Grave.

One of the squad of volunteers who
saw Wyatt when he fell was private
r. H. Bradley, of Co A., the Edge
combe Guards, now Marshal and LII
brarian of the Supreme Court.
Mr.. Bradley threw back his head
and looked at the ceiling through half
closed eyes:
Remember Bethel" he exclaimed,
why 1 should say so. l can see it all
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-06-11

as clearly as though it was yesterday.
Yes, yes, all that comes back TO me.
No man ever forgets his first battle, do
Won think -
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-08-14
PANIC IN BALL FIELD.
Lightning Knocks Out Police sergeent and
Gives Former Deaf Mute Better Voice.

Gives Former Deaf Mute Better Voice.
Police Sergeant Thomas Goode. Sr Of
the Second precinct. Hoboken was knocked
unconscious and score or more baseball
fans we're shocked at the Cricket Grounds
in that city yesterday afternoon by bolt
OF lightning which came to earth near the
grounds.
The semi-professional Hoboken Baseball
Club was on the diamond warming up for q
game with the Philadelphia Giants. negro
club, when several binding streaks zigzaged
across the enclosure. The bolt seemed to
have struck in lots to the northwest Of the
grounds. Sergt. Goode stood near the
grand stand with his hand on gate which
leads to the bleachers. He dropped like q
log.
Several men picked the sergeant up and
he revived for a moment. Then he became
unconscious again. and was TAXI to st.
Marys Hospital in an ambulance. He
his Ss x ais sd na cent eao
ment for q few seconds after the binding
crash. Men ran yelling in all directions.
OF the 400 persons on the grounds fully
q hundred beat retreat from the en-
closure.
L. .wenglass. a negro, who was shocked
had been singed OF bis hand and forearm.
Pitcher Willie Deegan. the Hobokens'
mute team, said that the lightning improved
his power of speech. He has always been
able to talk some. but after receiving cleo
trical treatment he surprised his friends
by doing lot Of talking.
The game was played after a long delay
and the local team was trimmed by the
score Of o to- Q.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-08-14
holt STRIKES sANATORIUM.
Patients Shocked and Panic Strioken-A
Horse ParalyZed.

STANFORD, Conn.,, Aug. ls-Lightning
threw the inmates Of DR.. Frank Barnes's
sanatorium, Grey Towers, Stamford, into
a panic yesterday afternoon. The bolt
split tree a hundred feet from the stables
and felled a horse which had been taking
refuge under the tree. Then it ran along
a barbed wire fence to the barn, up the
lightning rod, over the caves and down on
the other side into box stall. 1t struck
DR.. Barnees horse In the head and paralyzed
it. From the stable the electrical fluid ran
along the telephone wire and entered every
cottage on the place.
DR.. Barnes and three mon were in the
engine room and were Frustrated. The
inmates OF all the cottages were shocked,
and when the lights went out the excite
ment, especially among the violent. was
intense. Attendants went about with can
dies and lamps trying to calm the patients,
but 1t was long time before they became
quiet. In one or two cases 1t Is feared the
shock may have a lasting effect.
During an electrical storm at Greenwich
this afternoon lightning hit New York
and Stamford car and burned out all the
fuses. Giuseppe Pressiove, an Italian pes
senger jumped up and cried Don't kill me. .
He Ieaped over q couple Of seats and dived
head foremost through the canvas rain
shield into the street. He was slightly
hurt
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-08-14

" %e:s %sss 10Th street and ~. Alien
son Of the owner. None Of the party was
any the worse for the voting except Laura
Melaney, who was exhausted when picked
up. They were taken to the hospital at
Mr.. Allen bought the sloop q week ago
at Rookaway. Yesterday he took his family
and a few friends Of his sons for 9 sal.
They left the foot Of West Ninety .foM1th
street and sailed down the bay. On Ellis
for the lee Of the island, but was too late.
He was trying to heaye the boat 70 when
she capslzed. Mn Allen, Mics Reilly and
Miss Melaney were In the cabin, but man
aged to get out, Mrs. Allen lost her Sdp
Allen had to swim after her. They had
been In the water about twenty minutes.
The tug Willard lowed the sloop TO Ellis
Island, where she was righted, and Mr..
Allen decided TO sail her back to Ninety
fourth street.
FRIGHTENED IMMIGRANTS ApRIrr.
The John E. Moore also went back to the
island, TO find that the bargee, full Of irnmi-
the bay on their own hook. The immi-
grants were scared and the barge crews
had their hands full. Tho stssmbo s,ts
after the barges and caught them before
they had drifted far.
sLoop SANK UNDER THEM
About tho time the John E. Moore went
to the rescue OF the Allen party. the revenue
cutter Hudson and the tug Katy D, were
coming up the bay abreast just on Bay
Ridge. when Pilot James A. Bradley Of the
Hudson heard cries for help, Two young
men and dog were secn struggling IN the
over and picked them up. One man was
exhausted when hauled aboard and the
other was unconscious: They were Nor.
and Frank Lieber Of 1856 West Sixtieth
street They went sailing in strangwayes's
new 90-foot sloop and were capsized wnen
the squall came. The boat has false
keel OF lead and this with the water inside
crawled up on Lieber's back and the effort
to keep himself and the dog afloat proved
too much for him and he would have gone
down II Strangwayes had not come 70 ms
rescue. The men were landed at the Bat
terry and taken to the Hudson street hos
pital In an ambulance.
FLOOD STOPS CARS.
The Amsterdam avenue cars, inolud ding
the Third and the Sixth avenue lines that
run to Fort George, were tied up for an
hour Yesterday by the rainfall. They were
stalled at the foot Of the Amsterdam avenue
hill at l29th street. The rain poured down
the hill In such torrents that It flooded the
street and the trolley slot. The l2Sth street
line also was blocked. 1t took workmen an
hour to clear the water out Of the slot.
The rain washed down several tons Of
dirt and stones on the freight tracks OF the
New York Central Railroad that run along
the North River. At l3sth. lA6th and l6Sth
The police Of the West l52d street station
reported the trouble to the railroad and a
gang Of Italians was soon at work clearing
the tracks.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-08-14
SEEKS CABBY WIrB SHALL SIGN.
Unknown Inebriate Hooks Girls "Jewels"
with Equally Unknown Jchu-

Unknown IneDrleto h0Csee OtrIs So"s
with Equally Unknown Jeau.
Mise Clara Stewart, . young woman who
lives In boarding house at - West thirty.
third street, would like to find the oabman
who loaned $3.50 On her gold chain neck
lace last Tuesday night. The necklace.
TO which we're attached . number OF small
rubies, IL said to DO worth ovor 500.
Miss Stewart was out last night when .
reporter called but negro maid who opened
the door tells this story:
Last Tuesday afternooni while Misc
Stewart was asleep In her room. another
boarder, a man whose name she did not
know. entered and took the necklace from
Miss Stewards neck without awakening
her. The man had been drinking. He
then went out and along toward midnight,
having spent all his cash. he hailed cap
driver at Nineteenth street and Sixth
avenue and asked for q loan on the neck
lace. The oabby gave him $50 ne
wrote the number Of the cab on slip OF
paper which he afterward lost.
The unknown spent that money also,
and when he returned to the house early
Wednesday morning every one wae up and
discussing Miss Stewards loss. which she
discovered upon awakening. ~
Maybe on account Of his condition. the
unknown was accused Of the theft. which
he readily admitted. He told how, whom
and where he disposed Of tho necklace to
the best Of his recollection, and added
that he spent the money.
The other boarders. relieved, went to
breakfast time came round the unknown
did not appear. When tho maid went to
his room TO call him 1t was found that he
had packed his belongings and departed.