News Observer Chronicle

Bit of History.

Communicated.

At the request of a friend Mr. Jno. H. Thorpe, of Rocky Mount wrote the following letter some months ago to Dr. E. Burke Haywood, throwing light upon an interesting incident of the war:

A friend and war comrade has requested me to write you giving the names of the men and boys who started to burn the farm house in company with Wyatt during the battle of Big Bethel. A battle wherein considerable numbers are engaged is made up of very many incidents acted within a few minutes, frequently, each of which might well be the subject of an extended theme. A participant can hardly note very many of them. The facts however are gathering from a multiplicity of witnesses who discuss them immediately after. It was not at all remarkable that Col. D. H. Hill in making a short report of the battle, failed to mention the name of a soldier in connection with an event that at the time did not elicit the praise that it has been accorded since; and the battle was immediately followed by a long war.

My evidence is this: Near the close of the battle Col. Hill passed through our company ("Adjutant" J. L. Bridgers, Capt.) and asked if he could not have that house burned, pointing to it. The Captain immediately asked if five of his men would volunteer to do so. Within a minute the number had volunteered, and matches (and I think a hatchet) was handed Corporal Geo. W. Williams. Williams was the first who jumped over our little breast works and started in a run to the house. Thomas Fallon was second about 3 or 4 paces behind him, then followed the writer of this, John H. Thorpe, then Henry L. Wyatt, then R. H. Bradley. A volley of the enemy's shots caused the squad to drop to the ground (we had been drilled in this). Williams and Fallon returned the fire, being on the ground. Wyatt fell on his back behind me perhaps five or six paces before Bradley. We heard the order of our Captain to return, which we did, leaving Wyatt mortally wounded.