The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1913-05-30
LAST SHOT IN CIVIL WAR.
u Wss Fired In Texas After Lee Had
surrendered.


u Was Fired In Texas After Lee Had
eurrsndsred.
II IL a generally accepted tradition
IN Texas at least that Captain 8. H
Barton. in later years editor and own.
er Of the Del Rio Record. 6red the last
shot in the civil war. When the troops
were leaving the battle ground at Palo
Alto q soldier was shot at the cap.
tain's side. The captain turned quick.
~ and fred at disappearing blue OBJ.
ject
II IL q strange coincidence. too. that
q soldier named Ney. who claimed to
be descendant of Marshal Ney. who
sred the last shot at the Cossacks In
the war between France, and Russia.
was q witness to this incident
The story of that last battle. which
was fought on the 18th day of May.
1865. after the war was ended and
peace declared. has escaped the atten-)
don that II merits. for II was an AFFAIR
sf no little Importance.
General Egbert Brown. who died at
West Plains. Mo-. many years later.
was In command OF the Federal troops
In southern Texas. aud he was doubt
less well informed concerning the ter.
minatOn OF hOstlities General J. q.
Slaughter. who commanded the Con.
federate troops encamped at Brazos
Santiago. had heard rumors of the sur.
render OF the armies commanded by
Lee, Johnston and other generals, but
be had received no official notice Of
these facts from the war department.
General Brown. under dag of truce.
informed the Confederates of the state
Of Affairs about Washington and Rich.
mond. at the snme time inviting them
to come IN and lay down their arms.
az the war was entirely over.
General Slaughter refused to act In
IN affair OF such Importance until he
was better informed Thereupon Colo.
mel Barrett, at the head Of consider
able force. was dispatched to break up
the rebel camp A hot battle ensued.
and. curiously enough. most Of the
fighting was done on the old field Of
Pal0 Alto. where Taylor achieved a
victory over the Mexicsns nearly TWEEN.
~ years before. The French soldiers
sncamped on the southern shore OF the
Rio Grande were In sympathy with
the southerners, and they kept General
Slaughter and Colonel Rip Ford posted
~ to the movements Of the Federal
troops. Several spirited engagements
occurred, and the loss sustained BY
some Of the negro regiments must
have been severe. While the battle
ragged the Confederates were frequent.
y informed BY some bold cavalrymsn
In blue that the war was over. One
daring fellow shouted: Lee surrsn-
dered month ago! rhe war u ended.
Why don't you 60 homer
When the engagement was hottest
General Slaughter received dispatches
and the French sent him q bundle Of
nswspapern. Fully satisfied that the
rause for which they were lighting was
forever lost. hs ordered the aring 70
cease AT that particular moment
neither side could have claimed any ad-
vantage over the other. but both A.
mice began to retirs from the Geld q
the same time.
A Captain 8. n. Barton, in com.
mand Of the rear guard vas slowly nd.
Ing away Z stray ball struck young
man by bis side. and be tell from bis
saddle. That was certainly the last
man killed In the long war.
II thought that was hard luck" said
the old soldier yChe yOung man had
served four years and never got q
scratch, The last bullet that came our
way killed him. Prompted more by q
Npite at fate than bitterness toward
the enemy. ! turned tn my saddle and
nred toward dark blue line which !
hops waa out Of range. That was Ger.
htnly the last shot VI the great war"