The 14th Tennessee Regiment continued serving in Archer's Brigade, Army of Northern Virginia, until surrendered at Appomattox. The news account makes it clear that Phillips had become a "noted guerilla and bushwhacker". Certainly by this date he had no connection to his former regiment.

We can learn more about the transition of Capt. Phillips from Confederate officer to "noted guerilla and bushwhacker" by reading entries in his service file and Union Provost Marshal files, both on microfilm.