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notes and comments. The copies in the Congressional Library appear to have been well thumbed, and are evidently esteemed to be of some importance to history. He was the originator, moreover, of a wonderful theory of making tobacco a cure-all for all the ills of human flesh, and during many of the years when he was in Washington, it was a souce of much chagrin to him, that his friends seemed to grow tired of his expatiations relative to the virtues of the immortal weed as a panacea. Much of the remnant of his fortune was spent upon the publication of a pamphlet upon this subject, but it seems to have gone the way of Pleasanton's blue grass cure, and whether the theory of Clingman was good no one can tell.

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Clingman was a man of intense self-appreciation. His desire to be remembered as a great factor in the affairs of the nation was something stronger than even that which is felt by most men of ambition. As a young man, and as the aged companion of the "colonels, majahs" and "Judges," of that genus which was for a few years so plentifully represented, but which is now well nigh extinct. Clingman was of handsome and commanding appearance. He was always dressed with fine care until his purse gave out, and even then his threadbare and shining coat set on him so nicely, that anyone would know it was the coat of a gentleman, and that the gentleman was inside.

He and the late W. W. Corcoran were intimate friends, and it was through the friendship of the latter that Clingman's portrait, painted with his favorite pose when speaking in the Senate, was placed in the Corcoran Gallery of Art. Frequently the old man would walk into the gallery and remain for a long time in front of the painting, while the passing crowd would stand agape in wonder, recognizing that the original of the portrait stood there, and wondering why this gentility run to seed, should have been so honored with a place in one of the great art galleries of the land.

For years it hung in the gallery of portraits, among canvasses of Presidents, Senators, Judges and great generals of the war on both sides. At one time in the shifting of the pictures, that of Clingman was placed much above the "line" in one of the corner rooms. The writer happened to be passing when the ex-senator entered. He had missed the portrait from its accustomed place and had sought until he found it.

"Why do you suppose they placed it here, in this dark room?" he inquired in plaintive tones.

"Oh, it's probably just a temporary change," was the answer. "I do hope it is," he murmured, his lips trembling and the tears springing to his eyes. "I want that portrait to remain always among

the portraits of my friends."

Reference to Mr. Corcoran brings to mind what is probably the only genuine affaire de cœur of Clingman's life. It is a romantic story, known only to a few of the old man's friends, and may be referred to now without offence to any one. When the ex-senator entered the House he was a suitor for the hand of Corcoran's only daughter and the heiress to the great estate of the philanthropist, which estate, however, was a very small one in those days compared to the millions comprised in it at this time.

Young Clingman was a gallant and persistent suitor, and as the father stood aloof there was a good prospect that Miss Corcoran would honor the brilliant North Carolinian with her heart and hand. Another figure intruded in the way, however. Senator Slidell, afterwards a famous prisoner of war, had for his private secretary a young man named Eustis, of Louisiana, a brother of the present ambassador to France. The private secretary was not in the least disheartened by the rivalry of the popular representative. He belonged to one of the first families of his State, and admitted no superiority. The struggle between the two Southerners was long and generous, and when the lady finally decided in favor of the Louisianian, the North Carolinian was generous and hearty in his congratulations.

That Clingman's disappointment was keen and lasting was not to be discovered by any outward display, but that the wound was too deep to be healed was proven by the fact that he remained and will die a bachelor.

It is said that this affair had much to do with the recklessness exhibited by Clingman in the war, and which led to his rapid promotion to the rank of general.

'Let us make this a Thermopyla," said Clingman to Joe Johnston, when they were surrounded by Sherman's army.

"I am not in the Thermopyla business," retorted Johnston, and surrendered forthwith.

[From the Dallas, Texas, News, December, 1896.]

LAST BATTLE OF THE WAR.

It Was Fought on the Rio Grande in Texas.

The Last Volley of the War Said to Have Been Fired by the Black Boys in Blue.

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In the November, 1896, issue of the Confederate Veteran, W. J. Slatter gives an interesting and well-written article on the battle of West Point, Ga., which occurred April 16, 1865, and which he says was really the last battle of the war between regularly organized forces." With all due respect to the brave heroes of that battle, history does not bear the writer out in the fact that the West Point battle was the last battle of the war. The last battle of the war between regularly organized forces was fought in Texas May 13, 1865, and called "the battle of Palmetto Ranch," near the city of Brownsville, Texas, on the Rio Grande. This battle was fought between the 3d Brigade, 1st Division, 25th Army Corps, United States Troops, commanded by Colonel Theodore H. Barrett, of the 62d United States Colored Troops, and the Southern Division, of the Western sub-district of Texas, commanded by Brigadier-General James E. Slaughter, C. S. A. The United States troops actually engaged were as follows: 34th Indiana Veteran Volunteers (Morton Rifles) Infantry, under Lieutenant-Colonel Robert G. Morrison; 62d United States Troops, under Lieutenant-Colonel David Branson; 2d United States Texas Cavalry (not mounted), Lieutenant James W. Hancock. Colonel Barrett, in his official report-Vol. 48, Part 1, page 266, Official Reports, Union and Confederate Armies-says the above regiments were engaged and under him, but fails to give the whole number of his troops engaged, while Colonel John S. Ford and Captain W. H. D. Carrington, Confederate officers and both participants in the battle, say the Federal force was between 1,600 and 1,700 strong.

From Lieutenant-Colonel David Branson's report, page 267, same official report mentioned above, I draw this fact, that at least 250 men of the 62d United States, fifty-two men of the 2d United States Texas, and 200 men of 34th Indiana Regiments were actually en

gaged, making 500, though from Colonel Barrett's report I would draw the fact that the 200 men detached and mentioned above by Branson were driven or had retired to a hill were the 34th Indiana had already taken position, leaving the impression that the entire 34th Indiana Regiment was in the fight. Colonel Ford, 'I think, was about correct in the number of troops engaged on the Federal side.

Confederate States Army troops under Slaughter engaged: Benavides' Regiment, five companies cavalry, Colonel John S. Ford; Carter's Battalion, three companies, Captain W. H. D. Carrington; Giddings' Battalion, six companies, Captain William Robinson; Jones' Light Battery, Captain O. G. Jones; Wilson's Cavalry, one company (unattached), Captain T. R. Wilson; Cocke's Cavalry, one company (unattached), Captain J. B. (?) Cocke.

If these companies were full, there would be about 1,500 men, but Captain Carrington, in his report of the battle, says that on May 1, 1865, there were about 500 Confederate troops of all arms on the Rio Grande, and Colonel Ford says this is substantially correct, and that Captain Carrington is also correct when he says that there were only about 300 Confederates engaged in the battle of May 13, 1865. Lieutenant-Colonel Branson says the attacking force was about 250. From the light before me, then, there about 300 Confederates to 500 Federals, and probably the latter were 1,700 strong in this, the last battle of the war. From the official records mentioned above I wish to quote partly from the reports of the Union colonels, Barrett and Branson.

Extract from the report of Colonel T. H. Barrett, 62d United States Troops:

HEADQUARTERS THIRD BRIGADE, FIRST DIVISION
TWENTY-FIFTH ARMY CORPS,

CAMP (near) BROWNSVILLE, TEX., August 10, 1865. General I have the honor to submit the following report of the action at Palmetto Ranch, Tex., May 13, 1865, the last engagement of the war. * * * (The report is a long one, and as the first part relates only to the battle of the day before I omit, and simply quote that which relates to the last battle.) "Nearly the entire forenoon (May 13) was spent in skirmishing. The enemy, though taking advantage of every favorable position, was everywhere driven back. Early in the afternoon a sharp engagement took place, which, being in the chaparral, was attended with comparatively little

loss to us. In this engagement our forces charged the enemy, compelled him to abandon his cover, and pursuing him, drove him across an open prairie beyond the rising ground, completely out of sight. The enemy having been driven several miles since daylight, and our men needing rest, it was not deemed prudent to advance further. Therefore, relinquishing pursuit, we returned to a hill about a mile from Palmetto Ranch, where the 34th Indiana had already taken its position.

"About 4 P. M. the rebels, now largely reinforced, again reappeared in our front, opening fire upon us with both artillery and small arms. At the same time a heavy body of cavalry and a section of a battery, under cover of the thick chaparral on our right, had already succeeded in flanking us, with the evident intention of gaining our rear. With the Rio Grande on our left, a superior force of the enemy in front and his flanking force on our right our situation at this time was extremely critical. Having no artillery to oppose the enemy's six 12-pound pieces our position became untenable. We therefore fell back, fighting. This movement, always difficult, was doubly so at this time, having to be performed under a heavy fire from both front and flank.

"Forty-eight men of the 34th Indiana Veteran Volunteer Infantry, under Captain (A. M.) Templer, put out as skirmishers to cover their regiment, were, while stubbornly resisting the enemy, cut off and captured by the enemy's cavalry. The 62d United States Colored Infantry being ordered to cover our forces while falling back, over half of that regiment were deployed as skirmishers, the remainder acting as their support. This skirmish line was nearly threefourths of a mile in length, and, reaching from the river bank, was so extended as to protect both our front and right flank. Every attempt of the enemy's cavalry to break this line was repulsed with loss to him, and the entire regiment fell back with precision and in perfect order, under circumstances that would have tested the discipline of the best troops. Seizing upon every advantageous position, the enemy's fire was returned deliberately and with effect. The fighting continued three hours. The last volley of the war, it is believed, was fired by the 62d United States Colored Infantry about sunset of the 13th of May, 1865, between White's ranch and the Boca Chica, Texas. Our entire loss in killed, wounded and captured was four officers and III men."

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The colonel says above that the Confederates were repulsed with

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