The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1906-07-25
WAR STORIES.
Last Battle of the War.
Columbia State.

The States readers will no doubt be
Interested to learn that in the last
battle east Of the Mississippi-of the
War Between the Sections as we'll as
in the first, South Carolinians had
active and noble part.
The last battle was the one fought
at West Point, Georgia, on Sunday,
April IL, 1865, just one week after
Lees surrender. But the telegraph
lines were all down, and the brave
boys in gray from South Carolins,
Georgia and Louisiana, who formed
the garrison Of Fort Tyler. situated on
9 bluff overlooking the purling waters
Of the Chattahooohee, knew not that
the star Of the ConRederaoy had gone
down to rise no more. Neither had
the federal troops, operating in the
vicinity, received aught Of knowledge
concerning the surrender.
Fort Tyler was st this period COM
manded by Maj. Gen. Robt. G. Tyler,
On intrepid Tennesseesp, from whom
the fort received its name. y. General
Tyler had been wQuaded at the battle
Of Chickamauga, and was on crutohes
at the time Of the federal attack upon
the fort. A large portion of the gar.
rison OF Fort Tyler on this April day
Of 1865 consisted Of the West Point
militia, elderly men and boys, but
each proved ere that day was done
that the heart Of hero beat in his
breast, despite the physical weakness
Of old age and the natural timidity
Of youth. The only really trained
soldiers were those Of Whites battery,
from Columbis, s. G., and IL men be-
longing to Point Doupee battery of
Louisiana or Of Mississippi-the
records are not very clear on this
point. Only 120 men were in the
garrison, and shere were only 85 mus
kets Of all sorts, sizes and conditions.
The fort contained one siege gun, o
32.pounder, apd two that were IL
poundors. This was che condition Of
affairs, when near to noon Of April is,
1865, $3.50 of as fine cavalry men as
the federal service could produce came
steadily on the march down the rail-
way Prom the direction Of Opslika,
sid after series Of manoeuvers pre-
oipitated themselves in fierce attack
upon the fort.
It was beautiful spring Sabbath
day, the skies blue, the sunshine
golden, the birds singing, and the
bells nealing out their chimes, sum.
moning the worshippers to church.
But soon above the birds songs and
the sweet notes Of the bells came the
5o0zzi 5ee -7=ssse. ed .he hc..:ssA sh!enta
Of men 10 the shook Of conflict.
The federal troops were in command
Of Col. La. Grange. Almost at the
beginning Of the battle we'll directed
shot from the fort brought down his
hcrse. Fer some moments thereafter
there was considerable confusion in
the federei ranks, 1ut soon the attack
gea renewed with even arester yix-
or.
For nearly seven hours the unequal
conflict was wsged, the battle of 3, $50
federal cavalry men splendidly mount
ed and equipped, with every modern
appliance Of warfare against the l2O
ConfedeEates, more than oue.half Of
them old men and boys, and with not
enough weapons to supply one for
each man. Not until the e.. :nunition
Of. the fort gave out did the fort sur
render. The federal commander, who;
proved himself both q broad. minded
and generoua foe, afterwards de-.
olared that in all the annals Of the
war there had not como to ibis knowl-
edge anything so conspicuous in brav.
cry as this unequal contest. 4 He, fe?:
q long time refused to believe that
only l20 men had been, within the
fort. ,.. g., = !, - ! :, +; /. =, :,
Early in the engagement, General
Tyler was killed. He was picked Oh.
by . sharpshootes while sxposing him.
self In: the attempt 70 ;use his field
glass. The commsnd then .devolved
upon Capt. Gonzales, ~ brave Flori-
dian, whose exsppls IS salos was! ], d; / an9 d,
inspiration 10 his troops until he Also
fell moztsI'S ~o=saed 81 s:.'. $*.' s:a%
6 Again and again'the South ! Caro-
lima blttery tWhite's) was sqnmsnded
For its bravery aud Also for ths skill of.
It's Are Some ofS ihe, names Ses chose
belonging. 70 thu battery II have Oh