HISTORIC ANDERSON COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA Subject: Last Battle of the Civil War Version 1.0, 8-Apr-2004, H-40.txt **************************************************************** REPRODUCING NOTICE: ------------------- These electronic pages may not be reproduced in any format for profit, or presentation by any other organization, or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. Paul M Kankula - nn8nn Seneca, SC, USA Golden Corner SC GenWeb County Coordinator **************************************************************** DATAFILE INPUT . : Rebecca Akins at Rebecca.akins@cityofmesa.org in Apr-2004 DATAFILE LAYOUT : Paul M. Kankula at kankula1@innova.net in Apr-2004 HISTORY WRITE-UP : Rebecca Akins at Rebecca.akins@cityofmesa.org in Apr-2004 The Daily Intelligencer May 14, 1914 W.P. Price THE LAST BATTLE OF THE WAR An Account of the Engagement on Anderson County Soil Which Is Said To Have Been the Last Encounter From the Dahlonega (Ga.) Signal Much has recently been printed in the papers on this subject and the affair in Columbus, Ga., about the 16th of April, 1865, is supposed by some to be the last known hostile shot fired east of the Mississippi. All other shots after that time are considered as coming from bushwhackers. The Columbus skirmish might have been the last so far as Georgia is concerned, but not elsewhere. In a recent issue of your paper, you announced the arrival of Mr. John B. Lewis of Anderson, S. C., in Dahlonega on his way to Porter Springs. Mr. Lewis was born in Dahlonega. His coming here brings to mind an incident of the war which occurred on the first day of May, 1865, which I witnessed and in which Mr. Lewis, then a young lad, participated. After the surrender, I returned to my home, at that time in Greenville, S. C. The Federals did not occupy the place until the last days of April, 1865. An armistice of two weeks took place after the surrender, during which time a large force of Federal cavalry was stationed at Asheville, N. C. The town of Greenville was without sufficient government, military or civil. The colored people were growing restless and there were threatenings of violence. In fact, one or more large warehouses had been already plundered. It was thought best to organize a military company to keep order until the Federals arrived. Capt. A. D. Hoke of the Butler Guards, since deceased, was made captain, and Dr. John A. Broadus and the writer were lieutenants. There being no military officer in charge of Confederate property, it was thought best for the writer, being a member of the South Carolina legislature at the time, to open the State Armory and arm the citizens which he did hurriedly, with Morse breech loading guns, distributing at the same time all the ammunition to be found in the armory. About one hundred guns were then distributed. This company took charge of the place until the Federal soldiers arrived. On the day they were to march in, the company thus improvised marched out five miles on the Asheville road to meet and escort them into town. While resting at a branch near the Stone House we heard the firing of guns in and about the premises of Capt. William Choice, about a quarter of a mile up the road. A negro soon arrived and informed us that Mr. Joe Choice, who was well known in former years about Dahlonega, had been killed by the Yankees, while attempting to keep them from carrying off his horse which was brought with him from the war. His nephew William Choice, whose tragic life in Georgia is well remembered, was standing with me at the moment. The news produced some excitement in our ranks. Dr. John A. Broadus turned and remarked to me that he thought it best for me to return to town and escape arrest for a few days, inasmuch as I had taken the responsibility of moving the arms from the armory and being a member of the legislature, I would likely be sent to prison as had been the case with a number of North Carolina members. Following the doctor's advice, I returned to town and in company with the late Gen. W. K. Easley, a member from Pickens, and one or two other persons we passed over into Pickens, and for two days kept close to the Saluda River. The Citadel and Arsenal Cadets commanded by Col. Thomas, had never disbanded. They had been defending some fortifications above Greenville and on the approach of the Federal cavalry had retreated from Greenville. From Greenville, they then undertook to march to Anderson, a distance of thirty miles. Young John B. Lewis, as well as a brother of Prof. Gaillard, of Dahlonega, was in command. On the first of May, my little party of civilians were close to the cadets when they reached a farm house believed now to be Mr. Fraser's. At the well, in front of the house, inside the fence, the boys bivouacked, inside the fence, stacked arms, laid themselves down, and were sleeping. My party were close by in a pine thicket, but in sight of the cadets. Things were in this situation when a body of cavalry, fifty or more, came by down the road from the direction of Pickensville. They were evidently in quest of horses and were led on by a renegade citizen of that section. The noise of horse's hoofs and clanking of swords, sabers, and carbines, awakened the cadets who immediately rose with their guns in their hands, and began firing through the rail fence somewhat at random. Several fired their guns in the air. One cavalryman fell out of the saddle when the remainder turned and fled up the road in the direction they came. The wounded man was carried to Greenville where he was confined several months, but finally got well. He was, I believe, from Michigan and returned on several occasions afterwards to Greenville. The cadets disbanded that day and returned to their homes, instead of going to Columbia and Charleston. Up to that time they had never surrendered or disbanded. I believe that to be the last hostile shot fired at Yankee soldiers from an organized body of southern men or boys east of the Mississippi. Many of these lads had been under fire at the hard fight at Sugar Hill on the coast of South Carolina.