The Last to Surrender

Gen. Parsons’ Brigade Stacked Arms on 8th June 1865

To the Editor of the Republic

Jefferson City, Mo.
March 24, 1892

I have noticed in the Republic this claim of Captain A. J. Johnson, as to his being the youngest in the Confederate Army; also that his was the last company to surrender. It is against this latter that I must protest. I have always thought that M. M. Parsons’ brigade was the last to surrender. It is a fact that our regiment (the Tenth Missouri) was doing garrison duty at Shreveport until the eighth day of June, 1865. That day, above all others, is stamped so indelibly on my mind that it seems but yesterday.

We were encamped near town, and on that day about noon were formed on the color line, where we stacked arms and received our paroles. The scene that presented itself no pen can well describe, as the sad truth was forced so relentlessly upon us. With few exceptions, the gravity of the situation was depicted on every face. Brave men, whose cheerfulness under the most trying circumstances had never deserted them, broke down and wept like children.

The old battle-flag, pierced with scores of bullets, and upon which was inscribed the name of the lamented Steen, was taken from its splintered staff, torn into little bits and distributed among the men. I hope the Captain will succeed in establishing his other claims. It is certainly something to be proud of to have been one of those peerless – the officers of the Confederate armies. I wish this sincerely, as I am a native of the grand old State that sent him forth. As a cavalryman, of course, my friend was at the outposts, but was two days after his capture that we of the Tenth Missouri Infantry and others were found in “the last ditch.”

Private Jack Geatley
Late Co. I, Tenth Missouri

Blue and Grey Chronicle 7 (August 2004):13.