Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1901-03-01
THE LAST BATTLE.


away from the limpid waters Of
"Old Carter's Creek" and it's hospi-
table dwellers, my thoughts again
and again carry me back to the
"House on the hill and its neighbor-
ing Castle" across the lot where /
have passed so many happy hours
with cherished friends and loved
ones, that the words of the old song
cob, carry me back to old Virginia
well up in my heart. aud | long to
be back again to join the chase with
horse and hound. or frighten the
fleeing partridge into faster flight, as
has so often been the case when in
company of some of my friends, and
| thought / would recall to you and
the readers of your excellent paper
the story of the. "Last Battle" at
told to me by one of the old survivors
VINO wore the gray.
Looking down from its lofty heighl
upon the quiet little valley occupied
by the "twin cities"-West Point, Ca,
and Larrette, Ala, whose picturesque
cottages reminded me of Atlantic
City or Elberon-stands, what was in
the late struggle between the states
fort so feet square, garrisoned by
l35 "graY jackets" composed Of
every branch of the service, and
fortified by one smooth-bore 80
FOUNDER, and two 10 pound Parrot
guns. ltwas commanded 10y Brigadier-
General Tyler, of Tenn, with Capt.
Gonzales second in command, called
IN honor of the commander Fort
Tyler, whose gallant defense, sealed
with his life's blood, shall ever
stand as a monument as the last
battle, and the heroism displayed by
both officers and men. For, on the
morning of Sunday April 16, 1865,
just two days after the torn and
shattered columns of the Confederate
Army had laid down their arms in
surrender, when the sword of the
immortal Gen. Il. K. Lee had been
sheathed for the last time and the
hearts of his devoted followers sunk
in utter dispair, this little band of
gallant men saw approaching over
the crest of nearby hill a body OF
the enemy, numbering, as was after
ward ascertained, 5000 men, COM
posed of every branch of the service.
The call to arms was sounded and
every brave heart at once prepared
to do or die; onward came the invad-
ing hosts, sweeping down the hill
side into the open valley beneath.
while battery of the enemy on
Reese's Hill opened terrific fire from
its crest, dismounting in few well
directed shots the old 30 FOUNDER;
while nearer and yet nearer still
advanced the eyultant infantry. With
quiet determination the little squad
of defenders waited with bated
breath until the foe was within q
hundred yards of the Fort, when 9
whitening valley from the little gar
rison sent them in utter confusion
back to the protection of their battery;
again and yet again for seven times
did these determined men advance
to the attack, only to be again and
again repulsed; but alas, human en-.
durance could hold out no longer
and with the dead bodies of their
late general and captain lying in their
midst and ammunition expended
this gallant little band, now num-
bering only 1l2 men, the rest being
wounded, struck their colors and
marched out as prisoners of war
| could but exclaim what a great
pity it was that this little ban6 OF
noble defenders could not have heard
of the great surrender, the creates,
of this or any other age. upon the
historic field of old Appomatoa
Courthouse, thereby saving the lives
of two noted Confederate officers
Brigadier-G r-General Tyler and Capt
Gonzales, who were the only ones
killed in this "Last Battle between
the States"
The MAN FROM MEXICO.