The National tribune., 1894-05-24
FIGHTING THEM OVER
What0Ur Veterans Have to Say About
Their Old Campaigns
FIRED THE LAST SHOT.
Here's the Comrade Who Had That Honor
and is Proud of 1t.

Here's the Comrade Who Had That Honor,
and is Proud of 1t.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: In your
Issue of March Is l notice Serg't Leroy S.
Falls. Sth Ind. Cav, says the last shot of the
rebellion was fired April Is, 1865, at or near
Morrisville, n. c., a short distance from
Raleigh, n. G. But he mistakes and calls it
a detachment of the Doth n. Y. battery,
when in fact it was a captured section of
artillery attached to the Odd \. Y. battery,
manned by men detailed from the cavalry
of the Second Brigade of Killpatrick's Di-
vision. But one gun was called into action
that was my gun-and / claim the honor
if any is attached, to being the Corporal, or
gunner, who called for a fouT-second fuse
shell and threw it into the enemy's lines.
Gen. Jordan, commanding our brigade,
came up and personally ordered the one gun
into position, and asked me if l thought
could move that rebel line in the woods that
was skirmishing with our advance
/ had confidence IN that old steel gun.
She was my Joy and my pride. My answer
was that if they stayed there two minutes
longer / would show him. My first shot
rather went high, but my second shot caused
them 10 move in hurry, and my third was
a fve-second fuse and drove them out of
sight.
Gen. Jordan personally complimented me,
and said he felt proud Of such craftsmanship
and of the steel gun section. As soon as our
advance began to move / was ordered to
Timber up and fall into column, and we
started on the road. At or about p. m.
we came to little railroad station and went
into camp. Wewere then at the little town
of Durham, n. C. We remained there the
next day, and upon the second day news
came into camp that Joe Johnston had
stopped and was negotiating for surrender.
It seemed to suit all of our boys, and from
the talk one could hear he would suppose
that Little Kill and his men would be on
the march homeward in day or two.
But, like everything else, we were doomed
to disappointment. In day or two the
"poOr boys in gray" came in and along the
road on the homeward march; having become
disguised, discouraged and tired out, they
had left their commands, and, as they said,
were "gwine home" Quite a number stop
ped at our camp, got good square meal
and exchanged tales of army life and started
homeward under protection of the star
spangled flag of our fathers. Fitzpatrick
and his forces remained at Durham eight or
10 days, when an order come to saddle up,
and then we thought we were on the high
road TOR home.
After two days marching we came to Lex
ington, Y. c., and went into camp. We had
nothing to do but to take care of our horses.
The guns were turned into the Ordnance
Department, and all the men ordered to re-
port 30 their companies. l reported to the
5th Ky. Cav, and found Capt. j. w. Law
less IN command of the regiment, and old
Co. L without a commissioned officer in it,
and only one non-comnissioned officer
your humble servant Capt. Lawless de-
tailed the Chaplain and myself to make out
the company and regimental papers, and at
it we went.
The people of Davidson County, n. c.,
were nearly all of German origin, and kind
hearted, good people; consequently the young
ladies and the yOung men in blue uniform
were not slow in getting acquainted, and
acquaintance led TO love and love TO marri-
age. Quite number of our boys married
and stayed in the Old Tar State.
In reply to Comrade Falls ! will say that
/ claim the honor of the last shot. Ard in
reply to him also will tell him that my section
was attached to the 10th Wis battery, also
under command Of that gallant old sol
der, Capt. Beebe.-J. W. RATLIFF, Cor
pOral, Co. /, 9Th Ky. Cav, Garvin, Tex.