The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-02-10
LAST SHOE Ar -APronArTox


GLORY that Belongs 60 North Carolina
Troops-1essimony Thas Sessles b
Question A. 60 VINE Fired the Last
Gun I'm the Army Of Northern Virginia
Wilmington. ". c.. Feb. 2. 1883.
Messrs. Editors:-The November 1898
numebr OF the Confederate Veteran.
page 524, contains an article by Capt
VIM. Kaigier. Of Dawson, Ga, and a
letter by General c. A Evans. claim
ing that General Evans brigade gained
the last victory. and hat Capt. Kaig-
ler's picket corps of sharpshooters fired
the last shot, burned the last grain OF
powder. and directed the last confed-
crate bullet from the great old army
of General Lee. Being at h time on
Major General Bryan Grimes staff.
though not in that charge myself, I
heard many perfectly reliable soldiers
then and since, state that General w.
r. Cox's brigade of Grimes division,
fired the last volley Of the rmy Of
Northern Virginia Il Appomattox c.
H, and have never heard it contra
dicted until this article in the Veteran.
If I mistake not General Jno. B. Cor
den, in his famous lecture Of the war
made the same statement and, further
that General Sheridan, on hearing this
firing Of Cox's brigade, asked him what
it meant, n threatened TO renew hos
tilities. / herewith and you an ex-
tract from Col. w. A. Browns History
of the First North Carolina Infantry"
a statement from w. r. Kenan, adju-
tant Of Forty-third n. c. infantry, and
General w. r. Cox's narrative of the
battle on the 9Th Of April, 1865. Much
more corroborative evidence of the
above can be furnished.
Respectfully,
JAMES 1 NETS,
Late Capt. n A. 1. G.. Grimes Div.
End Corps A. N. ".
Col. Hamilton A. Brown, in his his
tory of the First North Carolina In
fantry, says: The march from Pc
tersburg to Appomattox was but a
series of engagements until the 9th.
This brigade was commanded by Gen.
w. r. Cox, who, as his men were re-
firing, ordered a halt and the command
right about face" was given. 1t was
promptly obeyed, and once more and
for the last time these few ragged,
foot sore and half starved North Car
olinians stood in the strength of their
manhood, with the men they a met
and had driven back on many a bloody
field. Once more the command rang
out, in the clear voice Of the intrepid
Cox, ready, aim, fire" And the last
volley fired by the army of Northern
Virginia was by North Cardinals
troops. This regiment, among the num-
Der, defeated, but not dishonored and
SO hould we, as true sons of Carolina,
in the education of our children, teach
them to ever refuse that savage les
son-'that might makes right"
Wilmington, N. c., Feb. 3, 1899.
Capt. James L. Nets, City.
Dear Sir:-Referring to the last vol
ley fired at Appomattox," c. H., Va,
on the morning of April 9Th, 1865, my
recollection is on retiring in col
umn of tours from the field, our bri-
gade (Grimes) passed about sixty feet
in rear of Cox's brigade which was in
line of battle. Gen. Cox, mounted on
his horse, gay the in
clear, distinct tones, ready, aim, fire.
and the order was so we'll executed
that it sounded like the report Of one
gun This was the last
Yours truly,
VIM. r. KEENAN,,
Late Adjt. 43rd N. c. Infy.
Grimes Brigade.
Grimes Division,
End Corps A. N. ".