Cumberland County resident Charles G. Beetam, a Civil War tragedy: "On April 23, 1861, my brother, William Luther Beetam, at the age of 20, was the first Carlisle man to give his life in [the] war on a tour of duty."
At one o?clock in the morning that day, the people of Carlisle were scared out of their beds by what turned out to be the first false rumor that 5,000 Rebel soldiers were marching to Carlisle by Mt. Holly Springs, known then as Papertown. The local company was formed and marched to Mt. Holly Springs; however, they found the rumor entirely false.
The day was hot, and William was assisting the men in laying their rifles into a wagon which had accompanied them. The cartridges were removed, and the rifles were laid in the wagon with their stocks towards the driver. Someone in the Company had failed to remove his cartridges. When the wagon rumbled over a rough part of the road, the rifle discharged. William was walking directly behind the wagon and the bullet pierced him in the heart. "I am shot", he exclaimed, and dropped dead.
(captions)
(center) William Luther Beetem (age 20), first Carlisle man to give his life in the war when on tour of duty Courtesy of the Cumberland County Historical Society
(right) Mt. Holly Gap Courtesy of the Cumberland County Historical Society
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