Last man killed in Civil war. (Anderson Cor. Indianapolis News.)
Capt. B. B. Campbell and
Daniel F. Mustard, of this city, members of the Thirty-fourth Indiana Infantry in the
Civil War, have obtained the last photograph of the last man killed in the
Civil War —
John Jefferson Williams, of
Jay county.
“It is on record that the last battle of the
Civil War was the one in which
Jeff. Williams was killed,” said
Mr. Mustard.
It was fought on May 13, 1865, almost a month after the surrender of Lee to Grant.
The prolonged campaign of our regiment was accounted for because of delay in getting word to us to lay down arms.
We got into that last battle when we went to the relief of some colored troops who were foraging for beef cattle, and were charged on by Confederates.
Jeff Williams was the only man killed.
The boys carried his body to near Brownsville, Tex., where it was buried.
About 10 days afterward our regiment was marching into Brownsville, Tex., to take that town when we met Confederates who did not oppose us and explained that the war was over.
We then occupied Fort Brown and other camps near Brownsville until ordered home for our discharge.
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From the
Times-Dispatch, May 30, 1906.
