Are you sure you have the right man with this story? What is the source of your information? The story you posted describes the action a cavalryman with the Army of Northern Virginia would have seen. Specifically, he probably would have been part of the ANV cavalry sent south in late 1864 and early 1865, under the command of Wade Hampton, to try to help stop or slow down Sherman's northward march through the Carolinas to join forces with Grant against Robert E. Lee in Virginia. Incidentally, it's Monroe’s Crossroads, NC not Montoe's Crossroads, SC and the Confederate army under the command of Joseph E. Johnston in North Carolina did not surrender just because they heard about the Army of Northern Virginia being surrendered by Robert E. Lee.