Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-11
MONUMENT UNVEILED.
Memorial on Historic Battlefield Of
Bethel, Va.
Correspondence of The Star.

Special Correspondence of The Star.
NEWPORT NEWS. Va. June 10. 1905.
In the presence of a large concOurse Of
people. who had gathered from the two
states OF Virginia and North Carolina, on
the historic battlefield of Bethel in York
county, the spot where fell the first con-
federate soldier in the first engagement be-
tween confederate and federal land forces.
was marked today by the unwilling of hand
some granite monument and tablet by two
young ladies'. the daughters of veterans
from the two states, who participated In
the battle.
The event was notable one in Virginia.
and many of her distinguished citizens
Were present, chief among whom were Gov.
Andrew Jackson Montague and his staff
FROM North Carolina came Col ]. Bryan
Grimes, secretary of state and personal rep
resentative of Gov. Glenn. who was pre-
vented from being present in person, and
many of the distinguished citizens of the
old north state, escorted by the Edgecomb
Guards as escort of honor.
Maj. f. a. Semple of Hampton, Va, sec
rotary of the Bethel Memorial Association,
was master of ceremonies Mayor Thorn
ton +. Jones of Hampton, delivered the ad
dress of welcome and introduced the Rev.
j. Pendleton Jones of Hampton. the orator
of the day.
DR. Jones Is the son of the Rev. ]. Will
liam Jones. DID, who was chaplain for
Gen. "Stonewal Jackson and afterward
for Gen. Robert Z. Lee, and who was
known as the lighting chaplain of the
Army of Northern Virginia" DIR. Jones de-
nvered an eloquent address, and was fol-
lowed by Col John l.. Bridgers of North
Carolina. who responded for that state.
Following the address of Col. Bridgers
and while the band played Dixie" Miss
Maggie Tabb. daughter of Capt Henry
Iabb OF York county, and Miss Fanny
Kyle daughter of Capt w. f. Kyle Of
Fayetteville. n c., pulled the cord that
had held In place the draperies Of confed-
crate flags which concealed the monument
and the handsome shaft was exposed to
view.
Following this addresses were made by
Gov Montague of Virginia and J. Bryan
Grimes OF North Carolina after which the
monument was formally presented to the
care and custody of Magruder Chapter,
Daughters of the Confederacy by William
I. L. Iaiiiaferro of Hampton. Va. on the
part OF the Bethel Monument Association
and accepted on behalf of Magruder Chap
ter by Mr. w. F. Goffigan of York county
after which benediction was pronounced by
the Kew. h I. Wexford of Newport News.
me monument Is a plain granite shaft.
On one side is the word Bethel and I'M
derneath this Is carved the confederate bat
tie nag. At the bottom of this is the in
scription. lS61-lS6J." Its erection Is the
result of a movement started about year
ago by the Daughters of the Confederacy
of Hampton and participated in by all of
the otheI confederate organization of this
ment WAS erected by subscription. and al
most every confederate organization of the
two states has contributed something to-
ward IL.
The battle of Bethel was the first clash
of armed troops after the organization of
the confsderacy. and all conflicts preceding
this Wee fought by state troops 1t was
participated In by a body OF confederate
troops comma nded by Col. Magruder, after
ward Gen. Magruder, and a detachment of
1000 federal troops sent from Fort Monroe
by Gen Ben Butler. at that time COM
mandant OF the fort. for the purpose of
dispensing them.
The battle resulted In victory for the
confederates. who lost only one man killed
and seven wounded. The confederate loss
was Private Henry A. Wyatt. Company A.
Ist North Carolina Volunteers. The first
federal soldier to lose his life was Capt
Winthrop OF a Massachusetts regiment
These were the first soldiers to fall In ac-
tual battle in the civil war.
The battlefield is located about seven
miles form Newport News. on the road to
Yorktown and is at present the farm own
ed BY Thomas Jefferson Crandall. who Is
noted throughout Virginia for his hospital
tty and courteous treatment of tourists who
visit the historic ground. The sections on
which stand the monument and tablet
which were unveiled today have been &C
ouired by the confederate organization and
will in the future be maintained by Ma
gruCer Chapter Daughters Of the Confed-
eracy OF York county.