The Washington times., 1905-06-11
SHAFT To FIRST
CONFEDERATE DEAD
Dedicated With Ceremonies
on Battlefield.
BEARS HENRY WAITS NAME
Handsome Granite Shaft Marks Point
at Which North Carolina volun-
teer Lost HIS Lie,

NEWPORT NEWS. We. June .0-Ir
the presence OF q large concoursa ot
people. who had gathered from the two
States of Virginia and North Carolina
on the historic battlefield of Bethel. II
York county, the spot where fell the
hrst Confederate soldier in the first en-
gagement between Confederate and
Federal land forces was marked today
py the unveiling of a handsome granite
monument and tablet by two young Ia
dies, the daughters of veterans from the
TWO States who participated in the bat
tle
Ihe event was notable one for Vir.
g1nia, and many of her distinguished
ci1lzens were present, chief amone
whom were Governor Andrew Jackson
Montague and his staff. From North
Carolina came Col. J. Bryan Grimes
secretary of state and personal repre-
sentative Of Governor Glenn, who was
prevented from being present In person,
and many of the distinguished citizens
OF the Old North State with the Edge
combe Guards of Tarboro as an escort
OF honor
Big Crowd Present.
The ceremonies took place at Il
O'Clock, and owing to the seven-rnile
drive from the city to the battlefield
an early start was necessary. Excur-
sion trains and boats arrived early in
the morning, bringing crowds from
Richmond. Norfolk, and other sections
of the State, and there was no delay in
the program.
Major E; A SempIe. of Hampton. sec
nf
ton, was master of ceremonies, and
everything was in readiness when the
crowd arrived on the grounds. Mayor
Thornton ]. Jones OF Hampton, de-
livered the address of welcome and in
troduced the Rev. e. Pendleton Jones,
OF Hampton, the orator of the day,
Or. Jones is the son Of the Rev. Dr., J.
William Jones, who was chaplain for
StoneWalP Jackson, and afterward for
Gen Robert E. Lee, and who was
known as the fighting chaplain Of the
Army OF Northern Virginia." Dr. Jones
delivered an eloquent address, and was
followed by Col. John L. Bridgers, OF
North Carolina, who responded for that
State
Monument Unveiled.
Following the address of Colonel
Dixie Miss Maggie Tabb, daughter of
Capt Henry Tabb, of York county, and
Miss Fannie Kyle. daughter Of Capt. w.
E. Kyle. of Fayette. n. c., pulled the
cords that had held in place the
draperies of Confederate flags which
concealed the monument, and the hand
some shaft was exposed to view
Following this addresses Were made by
Governor Montague and Colonel Grimes.
after which the monument was formally
presented to the care and custody of
Magruder Chapter, Daughters Of the
Confederacy, by William c. L. TaIia-
ferro, OF Hampton, on the part of the
Bethel Monument Association. 1t was
accepted in behalf of Magruder Chapter
by Hon. ". E. Gomgan, OF York coun-
ty, after which benediction was pro
nounced by the Rev. Z. IT. Wexford, of
Newport News
Following the exercises an old-fash-
Toned country basket dinner was served
On the battlefield by the ladies of the
several chapters Of Daughters Of the
Confederacy.
The monument which was unveiled
today is a plain granite shaft. On one
side is the word Bethel" and under
meath this is carved the Confederate
battleflag. AT the bottom Of this is,the
inscription. '1S61-1S6s"
Battle of Bethel.
The erection of the monument is the
result Of a movement started about a
year ago by the Daughters of the Con-
1ederacy of Hampton and participated
IN by all of the other Confederate or
ganizatfons of this section and of North
carolina. The monument was erected
py subscription and almost every Con-
ieoerate organization of the two States
mas contributed something toward it.
Inc battle of Bethel was the first
ciash OF armed troops after the organi-
cation OF the Confederacy, and all con-
ficts preceding this We're fought bv
State troops 1t was participated In
by a body of Confederate troops. COM
manded by Colonel Mag1uder, afterward
General Magruder, and a detachment of
5VvJ Federal troops sent from Fort
Monroe by Gen. Ben Butler. at that
time commandant of the fort, for the
purpose OF dispensing them.
Victory for Confederates.
The battle resulted in a victory for the
Confederates, who lost only one man
Killed and seven woundA5 The Con-
federate loss was Private Henry A. |
wyatt, Company a First North Caro-
INA Volunteers. The first Federal SOL /
der to lose his life was CAPTAIN Win |
throp, of a Massachusetts regiment. |
These We're the first soldiers to fall in
actual battle In the civil war.
The battlefield is situated about seven
miles from Newport News. on the road
TO Yorktown. and is ct present the farm
cwned by Thomas Jefferson Crandau. |
The sections on which stand the monu- |
ment and tablet which were unveiled
have been acquired by this Confeder-
ate organizations. and will be maintain
ed by Magruder Chapter, Daughters of
the Confederacy, of York county
A PHENOMENON EXPLAINED.
"I once made $50 in Wall Street