The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1866-03-20
From the Asheyille News.

THE LAST VIcToRY.-The time will come
when the various incidents of the late war will
be gathered up with great interest. American
history will contain no more interesting chapter
than that which will faithfully chronicle the events
of the last five years. The future historian will
carefully detail the circumstances of the bonn
bardment of Fort Sumter and the first Southern
victory at Big Bethel. From these bv natural
law of thought he will turn to record the last VIC
tory. Tosena5e him TO rl,c this subject in a
proper light the following record is made: Ashe.
Vile. N. c., as the seat of Confederate States
Annoy, and head of Military district, had long
been threatened from East Tennessee. The first
week in April, 1865, it was ascertainel that
Brigade, commanded by Col. Kirby, of the Fed
era! Army, was advancing up the French Broad
River. The Confederates had so DISTRACTED the
approaches that his advance slow. Conf
dent in his greatly superior numbers, Col. Kirby
expected easy victory surrender without
a contest. On approaching the Confederate
works, some three miles below the town, he found
Col. Palmer's Brigade in line of battle. The
fighting commenced at l O'Clock on Thursday
the 7th day of April, and lasted until dark. The
advantages were clearly in favor of the Confed-
crates. Gen. Martin during the night changed
the position of his command, and prepared to
renew the contest at the next dawn. But Col
Kirby, so much more roughly handled than he
anticipated, avaed himself of the covert of dark
ness to- make good his escape. The next morn
ing found the Yankee commander under force
march for East Tenn. This from its locality will
be known as the battle of Woodfin's farm 1t
was decided victory to the Confederacy De-
termined on the reduction of Ashevile, and
Western Carolina, Brigadier General Gillian was
soon after kirby's defeat found to be approaching
from the East, by way of Swannanoa Gap, with
a heavy force Of cavalry Col, James r. Love,
with his Regiment, reduced by assertions and
other causes to from two to three hundred men,
was placed in charge of this Gap, while the
balance Of General Martins forces guarded
other passes through which the enemy might
attempt to advance. On the 18th Of April,
Gen. Gillian attempted to cross the Blue Ridge
at Salamanca Gap. He had as many thousands
as COL Love had hundreds, but the advantages
of position were so decidedly in favor of Col
Love, that he easily repealed hi. assailant, and
compelled Gillian to abandon that road to Ashe-
vile. He reached Asheville under flag of Truce
during the Sherman and Johnston Armstice.-
There was little fighting and victory to tbs
Coufederaes West of the Mississippi after this,
but the Battles of Woodfin's Farm on the 18th
and of Swannanoa Gap on the 18th of April
1865, We're the last victories of the Confederacy
East of the Father of Waters.
According to the above statement the last Gght
and last victory Of the war, we'll as the first was
fought and gained by North Carolina troops
The Greenville g. Co. Mountaineer gives
the following notice of the last meeting of the
Confederate Government:
THE LAsT.-The last meeting ever held by
the Confederate Government, was on the after
noon of May I'd, at Abbeville, in this State A
correspondent of the Cincinnati Enquirer gives
the following account of it:
at was historic scene. Mr.. Davis presided
with General Bragg, who had become by the
surrender of Lee, Johnston, Beauregard and
Cooper, the senior General of the Confederacy,
on his right hand, and General Breckenridge,
Secretary of War and Major General, on the
other side Of him. Next cane Brgadier Gens
erai G. W. Ferguson, gallant and enterprising
South Carolin:an, West Pointer, pet of
Beaurecard, and a favorite of Davis; next Gen
eral Geo G. Dibrel, plain, practical, sensible,
middle. aged Tennessee Clerk and merchant,
who was beloved BY his men, and had justly
won his spurs by long. hard, skiilful, devoted
service; next, on little sesa. sat tao young
men-Brigadier General Basil ". Duke and
Colonel William c. 2. BreckinFidge, we'll known
among the troops from Kentucky in the Con-
fsderate army; and then, near General Bragg,
sat General Vaughn, of East Tennessee, brave
officer and an earnest man"