HENRY LAWSON WYATT

HENRY LAWSON WYATT,

THE FIRST CONFEDERATE SOLDIER KILLED IN BATTLE.

It is somewhat remarkable that North Carolina, which was the last State to leave the Union, should have furnished the first soldier to the grim monster who during the next four long and weary years was to claim such a host of victims.

            This soldier was Henry Lawson Wyatt. He was born in Richmond, Virginia, February 12, 1842. In October, 1856 he accompanied his father to North Carolina, and ultimately settled in Tarboro, Edgecombe county.

It became evident in April, 1861, that North Carolina must secede or fight the southern States. Private parties, anticipating the action of the State, were organizing and drilling troops for service. One of the first of these companies was the " Edgecombe Guards " of Edgecombe county. It was organized April 18, 1861, and on that day Henry Lawson Wyatt enlisted in it as a private soldier.

The battle of Big Bethel was fought Monday, the tenth of June, 1861, at Bethel Church, situated on the Yorktown road, nine miles from Hampton, Virginia.  (The battle sits is located only a mile or so from my house on Compton Court just off of Big Bethel Road).

A strong column of Federals consisting of Massachusetts troops crossed over the creek and appeared on the left flank of the Confederate line. The Union troops made a rush hoping to get within the Confederate lines. They were met by a cool and deliberate fire, but were concealed in part by a house. Volunteers were called for to burn this house. Corporal George Williams, privates Henry L. Wyatt, Thomas Fallan and John H. Thorpe, of company A, advanced to perform the duty. Their duty was to charge across an open field, two hundred yards wide, in face of the enemy's lines and commanded by his sharpshooters. They behaved with great gallantry, but had advanced only about thirty yards when Wyatt fell pierced through the brain by a musket ball. The other three were wounded and remained on the earth until a shell from a howitzer fired the house and helped to route the enemy.

excripted from an article by: Stephen B. Weeks.

National magazine: a monthly journal of American history, Volume 17

Pages 55-59