2nd North Carolina Mounted Infantry Regiment, U.S.

A.K.A. Union 2nd North Carolina Mounted Infantry Regiment; 2nd North Carolina (Federal) Mounted Infantry; 2nd North Carolina Mounted, U.S.A.

In April 1865, according to O.R., 1, 49, pt. II, pp. 407-408, General Davis Tillson ordered Colonels Bartlett (Union's 2nd North Carolina Mounted Infantry Regiment) and Kirk (Union's 3rd North Carolina Mounted Infantry Regiment) to advance through Western North Carolina and suppress the remaining Confederate forces in the mountains. General Tillson had attended the U.S. Military Academy and because of a severe foot injury his foot was amputated and, subsequently, he left West Point.

Lieutenant Robert T. Conley and Company F of Love's Regiment, Thomas' Confederate Legion would soon engage Colonel Bartlett's 2nd North Carolina Mounted Infantry at Waynesville. And during the night of May 6, 1865, while Bartlett and his men enjoyed the spoils of Waynesville, they would find themselves surrounded by both the Cherokee Battalion and Love's Regiment.

Lieut. Col. Bartlett**, a New Yorker and commanding colonel of the Union's 2nd North Carolina Mounted Infantry Regiment, was ordered to intercept and destroy Thomas' Legion. Consequently, Bartlett's forces advanced the French Broad River and almost captured Asheville. "Without the prompt and vigorous steps taken by Colonel G. Westly Clayton" and the 62nd North Carolina Infantry Regiment, Asheville would have been captured. General Martin ordered Lt. Colonel Love and the infantry regiment to hold the Swannanoa Gap against the enemy approaching from Salisbury. In preparation for the Union assault, Love ordered the regiment to cut down trees as a defense (an Abatis and it was a perfect ambush).

While Love's Regiment of battle-hardened veterans was entrenched in good ground at Swannanoa Gap, they soon encountered General Gillem's entire, but under-strengthened, division (O.R., 1, 49, pt. II, p. 539). On April 20, 1865, they struck the division with enfilading fire and forced their retreat to Mill Creek, McDowell County. General George Stoneman recorded that General Gillem "was opposed at Swannanoa Gap by a considerable force." (General Alvan Gillem's Official Report: O.R., 1, 49, pt. II, p. 446 and O.R., 1, 49, pt. 1, 335; General George H. Thomas's Official Report: O.R., 1, 49, pt. 1, 345).

** Bartlett's highest attained rank was Lieut. Col., however, during informal communication it is common practice to address a Lieut. Col. as Colonel.

"East of the Mississippi River this event is considered "The Last Shot" of the Civil War"

On May 4, 1865, General Davis Tillson ordered Lt. Col. William Bartlett and the Union's Second North Carolina Mounted Infantry to Waynesville (O.R., 1, 49, 1, 339).

On May 6, 1865, Lieutenant Robert T. Conley and a small company from Thomas' Legion clashed with Bartlett's regiment in White Sulphur Springs. While Conley was passing through the woods, he was unaware of Bartlett's presence and literally stumbled into his regiment. Conley rapidly formed a skirmish line and commenced firing causing the Yankees to run in confusion. Consequently, the Union regiment retreated, but without one of its soldiers. In the Civil War the last man killed east of the Mississippi River was Union soldier James Arwood at White Sulphur Springs, North Carolina. After the Civil 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 Union 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. Colonel Thomas also ordered Private John S. Rice to exchange his Confederate uniform for civilian clothes. He then instructed Private Rice to infiltrate Colonel Bartlett's camp and to exaggerate and profess that a large Confederate force is located in the "Balsam Mountains to the south, and in the Smoky Mountains to their west, and in the New Found Mountains to the north." Later, that night, Chief Thomas instructed the Cherokees to build hundreds of small bonfires in the surrounding mountains. After they built the fires, the Cherokees began their ancient dances (a war dance known as the "te yo hi") and displayed their chilling "war whoops" until the morning of May 7th. This activity created the impression that there was a massive Confederate force poised to converge on the Union troops. The intimidating "Cherokee War Whoops and Dances" were common practice in Cherokee War Rituals. The May 6-7 activities are currently known as Psychological Operations or PSYOPS.

On May 7th Colonel Bartlett believed that he was outnumbered and surrounded by a massive Confederate force, so a flag of truce was exchanged with Colonel Thomas. Some reports state that Thomas initially sent the flag of truce, while other reports reflect that Bartlett initiated or sent the flag.  Regardless, the outcome is concrete (see O.R., 1, 49, pt. II, p. 669). Moreover, there is credence that Bartlett believed that he was confronted by superior numbers. According to Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, April 10, 1865, Union Maj. Gen. D. S. Stanley believed and recorded, "Thomas' Legion consisted of 800 infantry, 400 Indians, 1 four-gun battery with 150 men, and about 450 cavalry, and were stationed at Quallatown, North Carolina" (O.R.,1, 49, pt II, p. 309). Confederate General Martin (O.R., 1, 49, pt 1, p. 1048), Union General Stanley (O.R.,1, 49, pt II, p. 309), and the Thomas Legion's Lt. Colonel Stringfield (Histories of the Several Regiments and Battalions from North Carolina in the Great War 1861-1865, Volume 3, page 761) recorded  similar strength for the "Legion." Apart attrition from deaths, diseases, wounds, and imprisonment (prisoners of war) sources reflect that most of the Thomas Legion deserters had rejoined the legion. They had previously deserted or returned to Western North Carolina to perform "Home Guard" duties. They had protected their homes and families during the area's anarchy and had rejoined the legion for the remainder of the War. After all, the legion was initially formed with the intent to defend East Tennessee and Western North Carolina.

On the morning of May 9th the Confederates desired another meeting with Bartlett. General Martin (after the war Martin resided in Asheville, N.C., until his death on October 4, 1878) and Colonels Thomas and Love, all met with Bartlett. Thomas also selected twenty to twenty-five of the largest Cherokees to attend. Chief Thomas and his Indian soldiers displayed their Cherokee customs by "stripping to their waists and then painting and feathering themselves." Stringfield admirably stated that "fortunately for our country, the Cherokee Indians inhabited the wildest section and were loyal to us to the last." 

Bartlett, impressed or intimidated (or perhaps both) by the Confederate leaders and their Cherokee escort, announced his terms stating that the Thomas Legion must relinquish its arms and equipment. Bartlett further added, with a promise, that he and his troops would also exodus the area. Thomas knew, however, that Kirk's 3rd North Carolina was stealing every remaining horse, cow, and ox in the county, and had even sacked nearby Franklin and Macon County. Thomas invokes Psychological Warfare or PSYWAR: With a loud and stern voice the infuriated Thomas avowed, "If your men don't surrender I will unleash the Indians to scalp your Yankee regiment!" The Chief added that "the men of his Legion will not surrender their arms and equipment." However, Thomas knew Union reinforcements would shortly arrive and he even received additional information about General Lee's surrender. Martin quickly intervened and acknowledged they could come to agreeable terms. Bartlett later replied that the "terms will be honored." However, Bartlett did collect some guns and it may have been a token gesture on behalf of Thomas to appease the Union generals. To state that Thomas was brilliant is an understatement. He understood if Bartlett and Kirk did not present some Confederate guns and rifles to their superiors, it could promote another Union raid through Western North Carolina. By presenting a few guns it appears his plan was successful since no follow-up invasion transpired (also see O.R., 1, 49, ii, pp. 754-755). Thomas' Legion of Indians and Highlanders is perhaps the only military unit to have captured an enemy occupied city in order to negotiate its own surrender. Where was Lt. Col. Stringfield? On April 25, 1865, Martin had sent written orders to Stringfield and ordered him to advance to Knoxville, with a flag of truce, and present General Stoneman with the “Western District of North Carolina's surrender terms.” 

Official Order of Surrendering Confederate Forces

On May 10, 1865, Union troops capture Confederate President Jefferson Davis near Irwinville, Georgia.

May 12, 1865, is the "The Final Surrender" for Thomas' Legion. The First Battalion's Company E soldiers signed the parole papers beginning on May 12, with the last signature recorded on May 14, 1865 (Thomas had surrendered on May 9, 1865). Captain Stephen Whitaker and Company E, First Battalion of Thomas' Legion were stationed at nearby Franklin, North Carolina. Whitaker and his company had recently Skirmished at Hanging Dog, Cherokee County, and were advancing toward White Sulphur Springs to reinforce Thomas when they were intercepted. General Tillson had ordered Colonel Kirk and the Union's 3rd North Carolina to Franklin (O.R., 1, Vol. 49, pt. II, p. 689), and, when they approached the battalion, Whitaker formed a skirmish line. Consequently, he received word of Thomas and Martin surrendering at Waynesville, and then Whitaker and his company also surrendered. On May 14, 1865, the Legion's soldiers finished signing the paroles and they viewed Whitaker roll them up, tie them, place them in a Haversack, and give them to Kirk's Courier. "And thus at 10 o'clock in the morning of May 14, 1865, our Civil War Soldier Life ended and our Every Day Working Life began," exclaimed John H. Stewart of the Thomas Legion. The soldiers surrendered to Kirk understanding that additional fighting was futile and senseless, and, finally, the aftermath embraced the region.

The Union forces never subjugated Western North Carolina, and, to this day, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians bestows honor and gratitude to their great white chief.