The last Confederates to surrender ?

[Manassas]

I recall watching a video a few years ago where it mentioned that three Confederate soldiers who were deployed to the Great Dismal Swamp in VA to keep an eye on Federal activities in Norfolk, did not actually surrender until July of 1866. (making them the last to do so) It's not quite the same as some of the Japanese soldiers hiding out for many years after the end of WWII, but it's very interesting none the less. The problem is that I have yet to read any other references stating that this event actually did occur. Can anyone shed any light on this as being fact or fiction?

thanks

Scott

 

[James B White]

In a quick search, this 1888 anecdote is as far back as I can trace it.

https://books.google.com/books?id=C... swamp" confederates surrendered 1866&f=false

It at least adds a name for checking records, Sgt. Tewksbury.

 

[Dave Wilma]

I did a search in the Chronicling America database at the LOC and found one reference to Great Dismal Swamp in 1866, articles of incorporation for the Great Dismal Swamp Peat Land and Lumber Co. in the Staunton (VA) Spectator.

I did a search for "last Confederate" in 1866 and encountered a story from the Wilmington (NC) Journal dated October 18, 1866, the return of a local soldier long believed dead who refused the oath and was imprisoned until 1866.

 

[War Horse]

I recall watching a video a few years ago where it mentioned that three Confederate soldiers who were deployed to the Great Dismal Swamp in VA to keep an eye on Federal activities in Norfolk, did not actually surrender until July of 1866. (making them the last to do so) It's not quite the same as some of the Japanese soldiers hiding out for many years after the end of WWII, but it's very interesting none the less. The problem is that I have yet to read any other references stating that this event actually did occur. Can anyone shed any light on this as being fact or fiction?

thanks

Scott

Keep digging, you never know what you will come up with. Interesting story. Thank you for posting.

 

[ole]

And keep posting your progress. Sooner or later you will get some hits to help you.

 

[Specster]

I thought the crew of the C.S.S. Shenandoah were the last but perhaps you are on to something.

 

[lelliott19]

This article lists the names of all four:

Under the headline "The Last of the Rebel Army," and the subhead, "Four Rebel Soldiers Surrender – They Have Just Found Out the War is Over," the Index detailed a report that four Confederate soldiers had just turned themselves in to Federal authorities on Aug. 14, 1866, nearly 1-1/2 years after Robert E. Lee surrendered the Army of Northern Virginia to Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox and nearly 15 months after the last Confederate army had capitulated.

According to the report, Anthony Monkas, Thomas Wells and James Brinberter, all of Co. E, 52nd Georgia Infantry Regiment, and Allan Tewksbury of the 43rd Louisiana Infantry Regiment, all members of the Army of Northern Virginia, surrendered after holding out along the Appomattox River since the first half of 1865. ​

The post goes on to say this:

A search of the National Archives shows no listing for any of the four men, nor any names that are similar in the 52nd Georgia. Further, Tewksbury's purported regiment, the 43rd Louisiana, never existed. Louisiana infantry regiments during the Civil War topped out with the 31st Louisiana.​

https://southcarolina1670.wordpress...f-the-confederates-who-came-in-from-the-cold/

A closer look at the records available on Fold 3 confirms that no men of the 52nd GA had such names (or similar) and that the only Tewksbury listed as a Confederate soldier was a Captain Timothy Tewsbury listed only as having served in a "Livingston Regt"

 

[Dave Wilma]

Fayetteville (TN) Observer, September 13, 1866

Spirit of Jefferson, Charles Town, WV, September 4, 1866