Edgecombe-Statewide County NcArchives News.....First Confederate Killed 1861
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Guy Potts http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00017.html#0004214 December 16, 2008, 4:44 pm

Charlotte News
29 Oct 1890

The First Confederate Killed

Mr. J.M. Sims has received a war relic which he greatly prizes in the shape of 
photograph of Henry Lawson Wyatt, the first Confederate soldier killed in 
battle. The subject of the photograph was born in Richmond, Va., on the 12th 
day of February, 1842. His parents were Isham Belcher Wyatt and Lucinda N.L. 
Wyatt.

At an early age he was apprenticed to the carpenter's trade, and worked 
faithfully until October, 1856, when he accompanied his father to North 
Carolina and ultimately settled in Tarboro, Edgecombe County, where he pursued 
his calling until the breaking out of the war. By his upright deportment he 
made a number of friends in that community. 

When the Governor of his adopted State called for troops he was among the 
first to offer his services, enlisting in the Edgecombe Guards, Captain John 
L. Bridgers commanding, which company was lettered "A" of the First Regiment 
of North Carolina Volunteers, and was under the leadership of the gallant D.H. 
Hill as Colonel. This regiment was afterwards known as the "Bethel" regiment.

Gen. W.G. Lewis, who was an officer in the company, in a personal letter to 
the State Librarian says:

Dear Sir Please send me two of Henry L. Wyatt's photographs. I was third 
Lieutenant of the Company A, 1st North Carolina Regiment, at the battle of 
Bethel. I saw Wyatt when he and three others, John H. Thorpe, of Nash, and 
George Williams and --- Taylor, of Edgecombe, volunteered to charge across an 
open field two hundred yards, in the face of six thousand of the enemy, to 
fire a house behind which the enemy had their artillery in position, and saw 
Wyatt when he was killed. During my four years service in the war I never knew 
a more gallant or better soldier in all respects than Henry L. Wyatt.   
Very truly,
W.G. Lewis

Thus passed away, in the 20th year of his age, one of North Carolina's bravest 
sons, after serving his State only fifty-four days, having enlisted on April 
18th, 1861. He was killed at "Big Bethel," Virginia, June 10th, 1861, being 
the first man who fell in battle on the Confederate side in the war.

Mr. Sims was in the engagement and saw Wyatt just after he was killed. He was 
shot in the forehead.


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