I have recently finished reading Charles Misulia’s book, Columbus, Georgia, 1865: The Last True Battle of the Civil War and I commend it to all (especially to anyone thinking the war ended at Appomattox). However, a question I’ve had for a long time regarding the 19th Georgia band was not addressed.

The following men were regimental musicians captured near Columbus, Ga., on 4/18/65:

John T. Holmes

James M. Jackson

Jesse James Johnson

John W. Merrill

Joseph P. Tomlinson

James H. Velvin
Most of them were transferred to the U.S. Military Prison at Macon, Ga. on 4/23/65.
Another regimental musician, Henry Workman, surrendered in Columbus on 4/25/65.

On 18 April, Columbus was a smoking ruin as Union Maj. Gen. James H. Wilson and his cavalry corps headed for Macon. At the same time, the 19th Georgia Regiment was in North Carolina with the reorganized Army of Tennessee, awaiting results of the surrender negotiations between Generals Johnston and Sherman.

So my questions are: why were these men separated from their regiment, when did the separation occur, and how is it that they ended up at Columbus? In regard to that last question, the book makes it quite clear that the defense of Columbus was left almost entirely in the hands of state forces, the Confederate government being unwilling or unable to provide any assistance. This would make the men in question an interesting exception if they were under orders.

George Walker