NamSouth

[btownsend]

William R. Clark, First Confederate Soldier Killed In The WBTS

Although Henry L. Wyatt of North Carolina's Edgecombe Guards in Tarboro has always been acclaimed as the first to die at Bethel on June 10, 1861, new evidence shows that William R. Clark preceded him, and Edgecombe's own William Dorsey Pender played a part in this event. Private Wyatt, whose fountain on the Tarboro Common was dedicated by the Dixie-Lee Chapter, CofC in 1910, still retains the honor of being first to give his life in an organized battle.

Artillery Captain William Dorsey Pender went to Baltimore, Maryland March 24, 1861, to take charge of the Confederate Recruiting Station on Market Place. Secession fever was running high, and those enlisting were sent south by boat. On April 11, Captain Pender was suddenly ordered to close the station, and report to Montgomery, Alabama. On the way, he learned of the planned attack on Fort Sumpter, South Carolina which revealed the reason for his abrupt departure. Captain Pender had enlisted William R. Clark before he left, and Clark was still waiting for transportation south on April 19. This was the day of the Baltimore Massacre, and in a confrontation with Massachusetts Volunteers, Clark was "instantly killed at the corner of Pratt and South Streets by a Minnie ball which entered on the right side of the eye and passing through the head came out the other side."

Captain Pender, who is buried at Calvary Episcopal Church in Tarboro, went on to distinguish himself until he was mortally wounded on the third day of Gettysburg, and became the youngest Confederate Major General at that time to die in defense of his country. Referring to the fact that General Pickett was not properly re-enforced during his famous charge, General Robert E. Lee later said "I shall ever believe if General Pender had remained on his horse half an hour longer, we would have carried the enemy's position."

Brock Townsend
Gleaned from NC & CW 02/07 & CV 11-12/06, Robert E. Reyes author