George W. Kirk was responsible for organizing the 2nd and 3rd NC Mtd. Inf., USV.

The last man killed East of the Mississippi, was Pvt. James Arwood, 2nd NC Mtd. Inf., USV, killed at White Sulphur Springs(Waynesville), North Carolina on May 6, 1865, in a skirmish with Lt. Robert Conley's Company of the Thomas Legion. Gen. James G. Martin surrendered his District of North Carolina, Dept. of East Tennessee forces on May 10, 1865 at Waynesville. The Thomas Legion was the last organized Confederate unit East of the Mississippi to lay down their arms.

His forces consisted of:

Palmer's Brigade
62nd NC Inf.
64th NC Inf.
69th NC Inf.

Erwin's Bn. of Senior Reserves

MacBeth South Carolina Light Artillery

Thomas Legion
Love's Regt.
McKamy's Bn.
Indian Bn.
1 section of Barr's Virginia Battery---The remainder of Barr's Battery had been in the trenches at Petersburg/Richmond since Dec., 1864 and as part of Crutchfield's Brigade, G.W.C. Lee's Division, ANV, was captured at Sailor's Creek, Virginia on April 6th.