Enter a city

The Civil War may have officially ended with the surrender of General Lee on April 9, 1965, but the last battle was fought over a month later at a remote outpost called Palmetto (Palmito) Ranch at the southernmost tip of Texas (about 12 miles east of Brownsville along today's TX Hwy 4) and the Confederates won. On May 13, 1865, Union troops, coming inland from Brazos, aware of the surrender of the major Confederate armies and expecting no problem with their attempt to occupy Brownsville, encountered a body of Rebels, either ignorant of Lee's surrender, or still defiant; and the result was a battle. Most accounts of exactly what happened are vague. All that is agreed is that the Union force was beaten and retreated to Brazos Island after a four hour battle. Prisoners were taken, injuries were sustained, but only one man was killed, Private John J. Williams of Company B, 34th Indiana, the last man to die in the Civil War.