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Re: Skirmish Near Wetumpka
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From my research for a map Civil War events in Alabama --

124. WETUMPKA -- Skirmish Apr. 13, 1865. Members of

the 4th Ky. (U.S.) Cav. seize three steamboats following

a fight with troopers of the 8th Confederate Cav. John

Peacock of the 1st Fla. (U.S.) Cav. dies here on May 4,

1865, the last soldier killed in this state during the war.

Fom the Official Records, we learn that on April 13th Major John F. Weston of the 4th Kentucky (U.S.) Cavalry led a detachment from his regiment to Wetumpka. There are no indications of casualties, but the Federal report describes this conflict as a "heavy skirmish" with members of the 8th Confederate Cavalry, who were driven from their camp. Three companies of that regiment came from east central Alabama.

According to a letter written Mar. 15, 1865, by Lt. John A. Vaughan of Co. "I", 8th Confederate Cavalry, as many as seventy-five members of that regiment could be assembled to act under orders of Governor Watts. Major John T. Wright of the 8th Confederate then being home in Tallapoosa County on sick leave, Vaughan suggested that the two officers might also collect and organize county militia for defense. No other organized Confederate troops being in the area, I have no reason to doubt that Lt. Vaughan's command exchanged shots with the Kentucky Federals.

A related report of operations by the 4th Iowa Cavalry state the following --

A detachment of the Fourth Kentucky Cavalry, surprised three steam-boats belonging to the enemy and ladened with cotton, bacon, corn, and salt. The boats were respectively named Henry J. King, Milliner, and Augusta, and their cargoes consisted of about 60 bales of cotton, 12,000 pounds of bacon, 1,100 sacks of corn, and 50 sacks of salt. The boats and cargoes were taken to Montgomery and turned over to the post commander.

O.R., Series 1 - Vol. 49 (Part I), pp. 433, 497-98.

Company records don't provide any detail to explain to explain how Private Peacock might have been killed. He may have been shot from ambush by a citizen, the war being over by this date.

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