Old Confederate Veteran Visits “last Shot Monument” East Of The Mississippi River.

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Brev. Brig. Gen'l
Honored Fallen Comrade
Joined
Dec 3, 2011
Location
Laurinburg NC
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This old Confederate Veteran, probably of Thomas' Legion, visiting the Confederate Memorial to commemorate the "last shot fired" east of the Mississippi. The location is Sulphur Springs Rd., near 5th St., Waynesville, North Carolina.

On May 6, 1865, Lieutenant Robert T. Conley and a small company from Thomas' Legion clashed with Federal Lt. Col. William C. Bartlett in White Sulphur Springs (present day Waynesville), N.C. When Conley was passing through the woods, he was unaware of Bartlett's presence and actually stumbled into Bartlett's Regiment. Conley rapidly formed a skirmish line and commenced firing causing the Federals to run in confusion. In the war the last man killed east of the Mississippi River was Federal soldier James Arwood at White Sulphur Springs, North Carolina. After the war, Mr. Conley often stated, "I still have James Arwood's gun as a relic." The Last Shot should also be defined as the last Federal and Confederate forces in combat east of the Mississippi and should not be viewed or confused with the United States Army fighting bushwhackers and outlaws.
 
The monument was erected in 1923. So my guess would be not too long after that. That is the first ACW monument that I ever saw.

There are many places around here that claim the last shot fired.

May 1st - Williamston, SC, Stoneman's raiders and the Citadel Cadets skirmished.

May 9th - Williamston, SC, William M. Parker, 18 years old, ran into a detachment of Stoneman's men, ordered them to surrender, they didn't and his gun misfired, he was shot and killed.

May 23rd - Greenville, SC, News was heard that a band of outliers was approaching, a group of citizens and returned Confederate veterans organized a home guard and occupied high ground to block the path of approach. What was thought to be outliers were actually the 13th Tennessee Cavalry, or E. Tennessee Tories as they were called. I had an ancestor that served with them. They were fired on by the defenders of the city. When it was realized they were federals, the shooting stopped. Some of the veterans were threatened to be hanged, but explanations were accepted and nobody was hurt. Well, except for a bunch of jewelry and other personal property stolen.
 
The skirmish at Waynesville was a very small affair. Bartletts troops were looted Waynesville and there were 3 men going to take some horses and crossed the creek when they ran into Conley's sharpshooters who were scouting for the Thomas Legion. There were 3 shots fired as related by a witness and two of the yankees came running back to camp. Then about 30 or 40 crossed the creek firing and recovered a James Arrowood who was mortally wounded but didnt die until a day or two later when the regiment headed back toward Asheville. None of the witnesses say anything about a standup fight with volleys exchanged. Just a scouting party running into 3 men is all it basically was. That night was when Thomas came with the rest of what was left of the Legion and camped around the town and his Indians scared Bartlett so bad he was ready to surrender but getting word of Lee's surrender made terms favorable for the Confederates to just go home.
 
Regrettably that information wasn’t given but from the style of clothing worn and the aged look of the veteran I’d say the 1920s, maybe even the thirties.

The small format barrel-lens camera (seemingly 35mm or Bantam film type) on the neck of the man at left, and the style of hat, shirt, tie and belt on the man on the right give this the appearance of at least mid to late 1930s. The vet looks that old as well. But who knows?
 
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