The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1892-07-27
The Last Shot Fired In Anderson
County.


The Last Shot Fired In Anderson
County.
Much has been printed recently in the
papers on this subject, and the affair at
Columbus, Ga., about the 18th of April,
1865, is supposed by some to be the last
known hostile shot fred east of the Mis-.
sissippi. All other shots after that time
are considered as coming from bush
whackers. The Columbus skirmish was
the last 80 far as Georgia is concerned,
but not elsewhere.
In recent issue of your paper, you
announced the arrival of Mr.. John B.
Lewis, of Anderson, S. G., 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 1 witnessed, and in
which Mr.. Lewis, then young lad, par.
ticipated.
After the surrender returned to my
home, at that time in Greenville, s. O.
The Federals did not occupy the place
until about the last days of April, 1865.
An armistice of two weeks took place af'
ter the surrender, duriDgswhich time 9
large force of Federal cavalry was sta.
toned at Asheville, N. G. The town OF
Greenville was without any sufficient
government, military or civil. The color
ed people were growing restless, and
there were tbreatenings of violence. In
fact, one or more large warehouses had
been already plundered. 1t was thought
best to organize 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 Legisla-
ture at the time, to open the State armory
and arm the citizens, which he did bur.
riedly, with Morse breech loading guns,
distributing at the same time all the am
munition tc be found in the armory. One
hundred guns were then distributed.
This company took charge OF
the place until the Federal soldiers arriv-
ed. On the day they were to march in,
the company thus improvised, marched
ont Eve 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 Captain William Choice,
about quarter Of mile up the road. A
negro soon arrived and informed US that
Mr.. Joe Choice, who was we'll known in
former years about Dahlonega, had been
killed by the Yankees, while attempting
to keep them from carrying off his horse
which he had brought with him from the
war. His nephew, VIM. Choice, whose
tragic life in Georgia is we'll remembered,
was standing with me at the moment.
The news produced some excitement in
our ranks. DR.. Brosdus turned and re-
marked to ME that he thought it best for
me to return to town and escape arrest for
few days, inasmuch as l had taken the
responsibility of moving the arms from
the armory, and being member of the
Legislature, I would likely be sent to
prison, as had been the case with a mum,
Der of North Carolina members.
Following the DOCTORS advice return
ed to town, and in company with the late
Gen. w. K. Easley, 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, com.
manded by Colonel Thomas, had never
disbanded. They had been defending
some Notifications above Greenville, and
on the approach of the Federal cavalry,
had retreated to Greenville, intending to
return in a body to their respective
schools, and resume their studies. From
Greenville they undertook the march to
Anderson, a distance of thirty miles.
Young John B. Lewis, as we'll as broth.
er of Professor Gaillard, of Dahlonega,
was in the command.
On the first of May, my little party Of
civilians were close to the Cadets, when
they reached farm house, believed now
to be Mr.. Fraser's. At the we'll, in front
of the house, inside the fence, the boys
bivouaced, stacked arms, laid themselves
down and were sleeping. My party were
close by in pine thicket, but in sight Of
the Cadets. Things were in this situation
when body of cavalry, fifty OF more in
number, came by down the road from the
direction of Pickensville. They we're ev-
identity in quest of horses, and we're led
on by renegade citizen of that section.
The noise of horses hoofs and clanking
of swords, sabres, and carbiues, awak-
ened the cadets, who Immediately rose
with their rifles in their hands, and began
firing through the rail fence, somewhat
at random. Several fred their guns in