WYATT MEMORIAL

Bing Photo by Eric Schuttler
One of the BIG days in Selma’s history was July 24, 1907. According to John Mitchener, more people came to Selma that day than ever before, and the number has been exceeded only one time since. The occasion was the launching of the campaign to raise funds for the erection of a statue to Henry Lawson Wyatt of the Edgecombe County Guards, who was the first to give his life in the War between the States. He died as a result of wounds suffered at Big Bethel in Virginia on June 10, 1861. On the day of the fund-raising launching here, the Edgecomb Guards came to Selma and presented a sham battle on the grounds opposite the Baptist Church Festivities began at noon and lasted until midnight Five counties were represented at the occasion; W. A. Stewart of Dunn delivered the talk. First contributors to the fund were John Mitchener, $5.00; Col. Ashley Horne, $25.00; Gen. Julian S. Carr, $25.00; and Captain Bob Ricks, who was with Wyatt when he fell, $1,000. The movement was popular from the first and within five years, on June 10, 1912, the statue was unveiled on the capitol square in Raleigh.
A letter to Mr. Mitchener from Chief Justice WaIter Clark of the North Carolina Supreme Court on June 18, 1912, stated: “I congratulate you upon the wonderful success of the movement which you originated. The statue is generally deemed, I think, the very best piece of art in the: Capitol Square. You have also achieved the unique distinction of causing a statue to be erected to a private soldier:
From the History of Selma - Centennial Program.