Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-03-05
WYATT FIRST SOUTHERN
WARRIOR. TO LOSE LIFE
Killed in Battle of Big Bethel,
Opening Engagement, of
War Between States.
STONE M,nkS ms GRAVE
Martyr 10 Cause buried Where lie
Fol- on June 10. 1891. and Section
NJ" In Midst OF Potato Field Near
Hampton.
By Edward T.. Rrmick.

About sixty miles southeast from
Richmond tier. is a lonely grave
which is OF great historical interest.
's IL ~ III" grave of the first south
ern soldier 10 fall in the War Be
tween the states.
And they called that war" The
young veteran returned from over.
seas did not speak snceringiy. hut
rather thoughtfully. as we stood to-
se'h"r looking at the It'll" inclosurn
"h!ch surrounds the resting place Of
the first Confederate soldier To ran.
This lonely grave is located in what
Is now potato field at Big Hcth"l.
Virginia
Within the inclosure is sion. in :
ScTibcd: "'ro the memory OF Henry
lawson Wyatt June 10. 1861. by
citlzens 81 North Carolina with per
mission OF the state Of Virginia"
The nrSt martyr to the Conf.dcr-
ate cause was buried where ne fell.
Nearly is Il Handsome monument
erected by citizens nf Virginia and
North Carolina 10 mark the place OF
the first meeting between the sol
aiers OF the North and south
MnErud"r Led S"uthernrrs.
Tho story Of that first battle runs
something like this
General Il +. Butler was In com
inand OF the Northern troops and
was in camp at Fortress Monroe. The
Southern troops We're cncamped at
Yorktown under Colonel Uatcr Cen
eraD j. u. MaErud.r. with an out
post at Big Bethel. less than ten
miles from Buffers camp.
Butler had conceived the idea OF
taking possession Of the country on
the west side OF the James between
suffolk. Petersburg and Norfolk. and
thereby closing the highways be-
tween virginia and North Carolina
hut lacking sufficient men to accom-
plish this. he Contcntcd himself with
capturing Newport News and erect
ing batteries which commanded the
ship channels OF the James and
Nanscmond Rivers.
In the meantime. the Confederates
were pushing down the peninsula.
adding to their ranks az they went,
AZ Big and Little Bethel, two
churches short distance from
Hampton, they fortified outposts.
1t was evident that Magruder was
preparing to seize Newport News and
conflnc Butler to Fort Monroe. The
latter determined on a counter at
tack on these outposts.
Wore white on Left Arms.
General T.. W Pcarce was placed
in command OF an expedition for that
purpose. composed OF Duryea's Zou-
avcs. troops from Camp Hamilton,
near Fort Monroe. Vermont and Mas
sachusetts troops, some German
troops from New York under Colonel
BendiN ana TWO siN-pound field
pieces with eleven artiIlerymen. This
reads as III IL were an army of mon
but they only numbered about as man,
as modern regiment on war footing
They were divided into Two dctach-
ments. one leaving Newport News and
the other Hampton. approaching each
other at "a right angle over very dark
country roads.
To avoid an accidental collision
they were ordered TO tie white
cloth on their left arm and the
watchword YVES Boston"
The rear attachments approached
each other in the darkness near Lit
tie Bethel. BendiX and his German
troops had not been told OF the or
der to wear a white badge. and the
two columns mistook each other for
enemies. The Germans opened fire on
the troops coming from Hampton,
and two men were killed and several
wounded before the mistake was dis
covered.
Open EIre in Morning.
Under these circumstances sur
prise attack on the Confcderatcs was
out OF the question. so General pearce
the advance guard Of the Southern
troops fell back three or four miles
to Big Bethel and. about 500 strong,
entrenched themselves behind earth