by Edward Ellis, Special Correspondent
On Saturday, February 25, 1865, fifty-nine horsemen of the Confederate 6th North Carolina Cavalry voluntarily surrendered in grand fashion at the Union stronghold of New Bern. Weary from long years of strife, they rode all night from their base in Kinston and put an end to their service just over a month before General Robert E. Lee would lay down his arms to Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox.
Here’s how a newspaper told the story.
“Extract from a letter from Newbern, N.C. dated Feb. 26, 1865 – relative to the surrender of North Carolina cavalry: The Confederates in North Carolina do not seem to have too much hope for the south, — at least we judge so from the manner in which they come into our lines.
“On Saturday morning (yesterday), a full company of the 6th N.C. Cavalry, numbering about sixty men, with their first and second lieutenants, came into Newbern. They left Kinston on Friday at midnight. Some of the men of the same company were on picket a few miles from Kinston, and these they picked up as they came along.
“They came in with their horses and equipment, formed a line in front of the Provost Marshal’s office, in good style, had their horses put into the stables attached to his headquarters, and today they all took the oath of allegiance. It has been talked up among these men for about a year, so the officers say; but in consequence of the company being somewhat scattered, and not wishing to leave a part behind, they have waited until now.
“A deserter here and there does not amount to much, — but when they come in by companies, bringing with them their horses and equipment, it assumes a more serious appearance. The Confederates cannot afford to lose men or horses in that manner.
“It looks very strange to see this company of rebel cavalry drawn up in line, just as they would be if they were opposed to us in battle. They were very well mounted, and well dressed.”