The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1911-07-04

co. were from this State.
Inc only Confederate troops that
suffered any loss Chilled or woundedl
We're the First North Carolina regi-
ment and R~andolph's Virginia bat
terry, the latter having three wound
~. Inc North Carolina regiment was
composed OF Some of the States best
nlntary comp anies that had been or
gained before the war began. and
were from the following towns: Ashe-
vile. Chapel Hill. Charlotte. Enfield.
faYetteVllle, L~incolhton, Morganton
and Tarboro. The colonel was d. H
hill. who attained the high rank Of
Lieutenant General later in the war,
and many Of its subordinate officers
ana prIVates also attained high rank
during the war. Among the lieuten-
ants was Robert r. Hoke. who became
a Major General and one of the best
in the army.
This was the first regiment organ
lied in this State. part of it arriving
IN Richmond on the 18th of May and
the remainder on the 22nd Of May,
1861. At hat time it was thought that
the Federals would make their ad-
vance on Richmond by way Of the
yorktown P%eninsula'' (betWeen the
York and James rivers) with Fortress
Monroe as the base of supplies. A
large Federal force had been sent to
that fort with beast" Butler in com
mand. and preparations We're being
made for an advance. Accordingly
the North Carolina regiment was sent
to the post Of gerateSt danger taS it
was thoughD and was stationed at
Yorktown where it remained several
days. On the 9th of June Col. Hill was
sent With his regiment several miles
below Yorktown to build some breast
works near a country church. called
Bethel" about half way between
Yorktown and fortress Monroe. on
the morning Of the 10th Of Jun the
Fedora troops made their appearance
near this place, having marched since
midnight from Fortress Monroe and
the battle Of Bethel began about 9
| o'clock.
The Federals greatly outnumbered
the Confederates, the former being
about 5000 and the latter not quite
1900. but the C~onfederates had the
advantage Of being behind some
breastworks and we're thus better pro
| tected than the Federals who were
the attacking party. After an engage
ment Of nearly four hours the FEEDER
ais We're di~sastrously defeated and
We're completely repulsed, and beat q
hasty retreat to Fortress Monroe. The
most prominent Federal officer killed
was Major Theodore Winthrop Con
. SA"AL) Wy ""o M
bravely urging his men to charge the
Confederates. Another gallant Fedora
officer killed just at the close Of the
Action was Lieutenant Greble of the
artillery in the regular army. AS is
! we'll known the Confederate killed
was Henry L.. Wyatt Of Company A
(from Tarbofo), whose name is {
! household word in this State. The
manner Of his death was as follows:
Volunteers were called for to burn a
vacant house in front Of a part Of our
breastworks which afforded some pre-
lection to the enemy, and Wyatt and
four others of the same company of
fered their services. They were sup
piled with matches and a Ratchet and
at once scrambled over our breast
works and started towards the house.
but had gone only a few feet when a
yolley from the enemy was fired al
them killing Wyatt. The others wer'
ordered to return, and the house was
afterwards set on fire and burned
bv a shell fired from the Virginia bat
terry.
The news of his action caused the
widest enthusiasm throughout the
South and made our people believe
that the war would soon be Over ant
that the South would speedily SaiT
her Independence. The newspapers o!
that time declared it to be one of the
most extraordinary victories in the
annals of war Our State (SecesSlOnJ
convention. which was then in session
passed a resolution in appreciation o.
the "valOr and good of the OF
ficers and men Of the First Regimen
North Carolina Volunteers,' uthorl
ing that regiment to inscribe the wore
"Bethel' upon its banner. Hence !
is that that regiment is known as tht
Bethel Regiment" It's members We're
regarded as great heroes and were IN
lions Of the day. Before the va
was over the members of that regl
ment were no doubt ~theTnSelEe
amused at the enthusiasm and pralS'
their skirmish at Bethel had created