The National tribune., 1885-06-04
Absolutely the "I.sst Fight,

To THE EDITOR On reading in THE Ma
TIoNAL TRIBUNE the account. by Capt. +. G.
Jones, Gath n. Y, of the last battle of the war,
as he styles the engagement at Farmville, on
the 9TH of April, 1866, made up my mind
that Capt. Jones must have been either killed
or disabled in that battle, or else that was as
far as he got on the way TO Appomattox. What
ever his fate was, that was not the last battle
of the war in which infantry was engaged
not by a jugful. know that the battle of
Farmville was fought ON that day, for 1 was
there shortly after the battle.
The day after the fight at Farmville we
marched till l o'clock at night before we bivou-
acked, stopping in piece of timber which
afforded us q slight shelter from the cold nj ht
air. We were hungry, being on short rations,
and learning that near by was train of about
80 cars loaded with ham and other provisions
which Sherman had corralled that day, we
went down, and, getting on the right side OF
the guard, confscated all that we needed for
the present, at least. We then lay down for
short nap,-and it was short,-for at 3 o'clock
we fell in again and marched until g. when we
halted for breakfast. We built fires, and had
Just got my coffee nicely boiling when word
came that Lee was breaking through Sheri-
dams line of cavalry, and :" Fall in, double
quick!" was the order. Well, l lost my coffee,
for it was too hot to drink, and there was no
time to cool it. We double quicked for about
five miles, when we met cavalry coming back,
singly and in squads, who greeted us with
cheers and cries of $50 in, bloody heart" and
other like EXPLANATIONS. We were in the First
Division, Twenty fourth Corps, whose badge
was red heart.
My regiment, together with the 55th Pa,
were ordered to form line and charge through
the wood and engage the enemy. which order
we obeyed IS we had marched that morning,
at the double quick. Passing through the
wood we came to o high rail fence, over which
4 Lafor caA
Johnnies, who had no idea that there was any
infantry within miles Of them, but thought
that. as they had got the cavalry upon the go,
they would have it all their own way; but
there's where they made mistake. They were
just across little valley not more than Il think
20 rods from us, and they opened on US with
artillery and musketry, but without much
effect, as their shots went mostly over u.s. doing
some damage among our reserves, however;
among others, the 18th Me. suffering some. We
lost there only IL men wounded, but also lost
the 55th Pa, which fell back, leaving us all
alone. We didn't stay there long, but pushed
Oh with such celebrity that we captured two
field pieces, leaving them to be taken charge of
by those in our rear.
We drove the rebs back about mle when,
as we came over the hill, we had fine view of
the rebel army just as werd came for us to cease
firing, flag of truce had been sent in. Some
boys of our brigade, forming a company of
sharpshooters, under the command of Capt.
Winfield Smith of my company, fred few
shots after that, which were, l think, the last
shots fired in that battle. The rebel army lay
in a broad valley and appeared to be all mixed
up-infantry artillery, cavalry and wagons all
together, and We're evidently in no condition
to fight any longer.
Once, during the interval OF waiting, they
attempted to form somewhat, and we made up
our minds that more fighting was to come, but
they dessted and we felt easier. Finally, word
came, Lee has surrendered" and then what
cheers rent the air from those tired and hum
cry soldiers, for we realized that the war was
played out and that our fighting was over.
Just before nightfall my regiment was re-
lieved, and we went back to look for our bril-
gade., We found them drawn up to receive Us,
for report had reached them that we were all
cut to pieces, and their cheers, together with
the music of the bands, made us feel proud to
think that they honored us with so kind a re-
ception. This was the last battle of the war
as i saw it. l wish ito state one thing more.
l have seen the authenticity of the story of the
apple tree of Appomattox questioned. Now, l
know it was there, for | got piece of it, of
which / fashioned a heart-our corps badge.
! have since lost it, for which l am very sorry,
but know that l had it, all the same.-WM.
BECKLER, Co. G, Sth Me-, Sioux Falls Oak.