The Last Surrender

[Viper21]

THE LAST TO LAY DOWN ARMS

Recovered from oblivion only after a long and patient search, this is believed to be the last Confederate war photograph taken. On May 26, 1865, General E. Kirby Smith surrendered the troops in the Trans-Mississippi Department. Paroled by that capitulation these officers gathered in Shreveport, Louisiana, early in June to commemorate by means of the camera their long connection with the war. The oldest of them was but 40. The clothes in which they fought were worn to tatters, but each has donned the dress coat of an unused uniform carefully saved in some chest in the belief that it was to identify him with a victorious cause and not as here with a lost one. The names of those standing, from left to right, are: David French Boyd, Major of Engineers; D. C. Proctor, First Louisiana Engineers; unidentified; and William Freret. The names of those seated are: Richard M. Venable; H. T. Douglas, Colonel of Engineers; and Octave Hopkins


Not my words, just what I found with the picture. Not sure if this picture has ever been shown here or not. I tried to search for it but, searching for a particular picture isn't the easiest of tasks for the search bar.....

I like how these guys wanted to wear clean uniforms for the picture but, honestly would've preferred they were in their worn torn uniforms. I am kin to the soldier seated far right. He was wounded at Shiloh, & oddly enough when returning home to LA after being paroled, the vessel he was on sunk. Fortunately he survived. His war injuries plagued him for the remainder of his life. He died in 1884 at The Greenbrier in White Sulfur Springs, VA. He was there to "take to the waters" in an attempt to improve his health.

Anyways, thought worth sharing......

 

[alexjack]

Thanks for sharing Viper21. Great photo!

 

[FarawayFriend]

Thank you, very interesting photo and very touching story. Judging from how loose the uniform fit on the men, they all must have lost a lot of weight. And only Major Boyd (left, standing) seems to have confidence in the future ...

 

[Podad]

Thanks for sharing

 

[donna]

Thanks for posting.

 

[UCVRelics]

Thanks

 

[AUG]

Great photo, never seen it before. I wouldn't say that they had any ragged uniforms, however. The Huntsville Penitentiary and Houston Clothing Depot was dishing out uniforms for most troops in the Trans-Mississippi Department, and I don't think these officers saw enough campaigning to ever be in rags. The enlisted men were not always well uniformed in the Trans-Mississippi but the officers corps probably was.

 

[Blessmag]

Artist: Dennis Parker
Sponsor: Sen. Jeff Rabon
Dedication: May 2, 2000
Size: 30" x 40"
Type: Oil on Canvas
Location: 4th Floor, Outside Senate Lounge

Stand Watie was the only American Indian to attain the rank of Brigadier General during the Civil War, and was the last Confederate General to surrender. He was born in Georgia in 1806. When the federal government began urging Cherokees to move from Georgia, Tennessee and North Carolina to a home west of the Mississippi, Stand Watie was one of those who believed it best for Cherokees to make such a move. As a signer of the treaty of New Echota in 1836, which provided for removal of Cherokees to the west, Stand Watie gained enmity of those opposed.

Among the battles in which he participated were Wilson Creek, Bird Creek, Pea Ridge, and Cabin Creek. He attained the rank of Brigadier General on May 10, 1864. In the battle of Cabin Creek, the Confederates routed the Federals and captured about three hundred wagons loaded with supplies, thus, for a time, enabling the destitute Indian Confederates to continue in the war. At the urging of Peter Pitchlynn, Stand Watie surrendered his command at Doaksville near Fort Towson on June 23, 1865. He died September 9, 1871 near Grove, Oklahoma: a man of courage, leadership and loyalty.


While not a photo, art work of a later surrender.

 

[Viper21]

Great photo, never seen it before. I wouldn't say that they had any ragged uniforms, however. The Huntsville Penitentiary and Houston Clothing Depot was dishing out uniforms for most troops in the Trans-Mississippi Department, and I don't think these officers saw enough campaigning to ever be in rags. The enlisted men were not always well uniformed in the Trans-Mississippi but the officers corps probably was.

My ancestor seated far right, entered the war as a private in the LA Artillery (Washington Battery). He was wounded at the battle of Shiloh. A register containing a report for killed, wounded, & missing of the 2nd Corps, at the battle of Shiloh, Aprils 6-7 1862 I saw said, "seriously wounded". Sometime after he was transferred to the Trans Mississippi Dept where he served under General Kirby Smith as a Lieutenant in the Engineer branch of the Army. Im betting his uniform very well could've been in rags several years later. Either way, the story associated with the photo suggests, all the uniforms in the picture were new unworn.

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

I've always enjoyed this image.

I was wondering if it's ever been colorized ? I did a quick search of the Colorized Period Photograph sub forum and couldn't find anything.

Paging @civilwarincolor & @Zuzah .

Have either of you colorized this image ? If not, would it be a good image to qualify for colorization ?

Thanks.

 

[civilwarincolor]

I've always enjoyed this image.

I was wondering if it's ever been colorized ? I did a quick search of the Colorized Period Photograph sub forum and couldn't find anything.

Paging @civilwarincolor & @Zuzah .

Have either of you colorized this image ? If not, would it be a good image to qualify for colorization ?

Thanks.

I would be interested in it if I could find a larger version. I like to have a version that I can print at least an 8x10" print from and this one is much too small. Typically I will do an image if the height x width is greater than 2,000,000 (2 Mp). This one is 655 x 652 (427,060 or 0.4 Mp). If you (or anyone) knows of a larger version, let me know.

Don't know if @Zuzah has any issues with it's size or not.

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

I would be interested in it if I could find a larger version. I like to have a version that I can print at least an 8x10" print from and this one is much too small. Typically I will do an image if the height x width is greater than 2,000,000 (2 Mp). This one is 655 x 652 (427,060 or 0.4 Mp). If you (or anyone) knows of a larger version, let me know.

Don't know if @Zuzah has any issues with it's size or not.

Thanks !

I hope a larger version can be found.
This would be a very cool colorized image.

 

[hanna260]

Fantastic photo and fascinating story!

 

[James N.]

My ancestor seated far right, entered the war as a private in the LA Artillery (Washington Battery). He was wounded at the battle of Shiloh. A register containing a report for killed, wounded, & missing of the 2nd Corps, at the battle of Shiloh, Aprils 6-7 1862 I saw said, "seriously wounded". Sometime after he was transferred to the Trans Mississippi Dept where he served under General Kirby Smith as a Lieutenant in the Engineer branch of the Army. Im betting his uniform very well could've been in rags several years later. Either way, the story associated with the photo suggests, all the uniforms in the picture were new unworn.

The artillery private's uniform he wore when he was wounded three years earlier at Shiloh was no doubt "history" long before this photo and if he was indeed seriously wounded likely didn't survive that particular incident. All these men, their patriotism unquestioned, were serving as staff officers in a backwater theater of the war where attention to their appearance was not only more possible, it would've been thought desirable in order to maintain a proper military bearing.

 

[Viper21]

The artillery private's uniform he wore when he was wounded three years earlier at Shiloh was no doubt "history" long before this photo and if he was indeed seriously wounded likely didn't survive that particular incident.

More than likely. Besides, there's no doubt that a promotion to Lieutenant certainly warranted a new fancier uniform. My post was in response to, " I don't think these officers saw enough campaigning to ever be in rags." I certainly can't speak for the other officers in the photo, I just believed it was possible in my ancestors case.....

 

[1stMS-Arty]

I don't think these officers saw enough campaigning to ever be in rags.

I don't agree....the engineers of the Trans-Mississippi were probably more busy than the combat troops...they constructed forts and earthworks at Camden, Arkansas, earthworks at Fulton, Arkansas, several forts, earthworks and gun emplacements around Shreveport, La., earthworks and a dam at Tone's Bayou south of Shreveport, Fort DeRussy south of Alexandria, La. (including an ironclad casemate), Fort Beauregard at Harrisonburg, La., the engineers were involved in building and placing torpedoes on the Red River, pontoon bridges, rafts of timber, they sank a 300 foot long steamboat (filled with earth and cracked the keel) across the Red River at Loggy Bayou. The later is the actual physical obstruction that stopped Admiral Porter's advance up the Red River in April of 1864. He was preparing to remove it when he got word of Banks retreat from Pleasant Hill. They were also involved in the numerous defenses around Galveston and other defensive projects on the Texas coast. And they were involved in the construction of one and possibly two steam powered torpedo boats in the Houston area.

Richard Venable was the chief map maker for the Trans-Mississippi. Several of his maps are located here....http://dc.lib.unc.edu/cdm/search/co.../field/covera/mode/exact/conn/and/cosuppress/

Most of the above mentioned was accomplished from 1863 to 1864. In 1865 two more forts were constructed at Alexandria/Pineville, La.

 

[AUG]

I don't agree....the engineers of the Trans-Mississippi were probably more busy than the combat troops...they constructed forts and earthworks at Camden, Arkansas, earthworks at Fulton, Arkansas, several forts, earthworks and gun emplacements around Shreveport, La., earthworks and a dam at Tone's Bayou south of Shreveport, Fort DeRussy south of Alexandria, La. (including an ironclad casemate), Fort Beauregard at Harrisonburg, La., the engineers were involved in building and placing torpedoes on the Red River, pontoon bridges, rafts of timber, they sank a 300 foot long steamboat (filled with earth and cracked the keel) across the Red River at Loggy Bayou. The later is the actual physical obstruction that stopped Admiral Porter's advance up the Red River in April of 1864. He was preparing to remove it when he got word of Banks retreat from Pleasant Hill. They were also involved in the numerous defenses around Galveston and other defensive projects on the Texas coast. And they were involved in the construction of one and possibly two steam powered torpedo boats in the Houston area.

Richard Venable was the chief map maker for the Trans-Mississippi. Several of his maps are located here....http://dc.lib.unc.edu/cdm/search/co.../field/covera/mode/exact/conn/and/cosuppress/

Most of the above mentioned was accomplished from 1863 to 1864. In 1865 two more forts were constructed at Alexandria/Pineville, La.

Yes, I understand, but I meant that as an officer he was probably better uniformed than the average enlisted man who was marching through the dust and the mud or doing the actual digging. Yeah, its likely that while on campaign his uniform may have got some dirt and mud on it, but as a staff officer in the engineers I doubt his uniform was ever in rags. And as James N. said, as an officer I would guess that he did what he could to maintain as good an appearance as possible. I can't say for certain, however, because I know nothing more about him other than what has been said here - what engineering operations he took part in, etc. - though I think it would interesting to find out.