Site of the last Union

Union (American Civil War)

During the American Civil War, the Union was a name used to refer to the federal government of the United States, which was supported by the twenty free states and five border slave states. It was opposed by 11 southern slave states that had declared a secession to join together to form the...

 officer killed in action during the American Civil War

American Civil War

The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...

, Boykin’s Mill also hosted the final battle on South Carolina

South Carolina

South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...

 soil. Brigadier General Edward E. Potter took command of the two Northern brigades—2700 men—recently landed at Georgetown. Colonel Edward N. Hallowell

Edward Needles Hallowell

Edward "Ned" Needles Hallowell was an officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War, commanding the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry following the death of Colonel Robert Gould Shaw at the Second Battle of Fort Wagner in 1863.-Early life:Edward grew up in a well-to-do Quaker family...

, former commander of the famed 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment and wounded at Fort Wagner

Fort Wagner

Fort Wagner was a beachhead fortification on Morris Island, South Carolina, that covered the southern approach to Charleston harbor...

, led one of the brigades including his former unit now consisting of over 700 men. Under orders to disable railroads in South Carolina, Potter’s brigades were forced to contend with Kentucky’s "Orphan Brigade

Orphan Brigade

The Orphan Brigade was the nickname of the First Kentucky Brigade, a group of military units recruited from the Commonwealth of Kentucky to fight for the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War. The brigade was the largest Confederate unit to be recruited from Kentucky during...

" of mounted infantry from April 9 at Dingle’s Mill through the 18th.

On April 18, 1865, Potter’s troops met again with the Kentuckians in the quiet town of Boykin, South Carolina. The Confederates held a strong defensive position in an abandoned fort which required an assault in single file. The 54th Massachusetts was given the job and sustained two killed and thirteen wounded before Confederate

Confederate States Army

The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...

 troops, heavily outnumbered, ran from the field. The dead men were Corporal James P. Johnson and Lieutenant E. L. Stevens, the latter being the last Federal officer killed in action during the war.

Union troops pursued the fleeing Southerners unsuccessfully, and the mill was burned to the ground according to Major General

Major General

Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...

 William T. Sherman’s "Scorched Earth" policy. The engagement proved to be the bloodiest battle of the campaign for the 54th which had had the highest casualty rate of the operation. However, the two opposing units (Potter’s and the Kentuckians) continued to skirmish through April 19 at Dinkin’s Mill where they fought the last major conflict of the Eastern Theater. The preliminary cessation of hostilities was announced to both sides two days later though Confederate General Johnston did not officially surrender until the 29th.

First Hand Accounts

Joseph T. Wilson of Company C of the 54th:

The heroes of Wagner and Olustee

Battle of Olustee

The Battle of Olustee or Battle of Ocean Pond was fought in Baker County, Florida on 20 February 1864, during the American Civil War. It was the largest battle fought in Florida during the war.-Background:In February 1864, Major General Quincy A...

 did not shrink from the trial, but actually charged in single file. The first to step upon the fatal path, went down like grass before the scythe, but over their prostrate bodies came their comrades, until the enemy panic-stricken by such determined daring, abandoned their position and fled.

Burwell Boykin, the 15 year old son of Confederate Colonel Alexander Hamilton Boykin, fought there:

After Sherman's departure, a small home guard, boys and old men, mixed with a few furloughed veterans, gathered in the vicinity of Camden in an effort to embarrass a greatly superior Federal force again threatening the town. Among the officers directing these defenders were General Stephen Elliot, Colonel W.M. Shannon, Captain Kennedy, Captain Conner and Captain Colcough. The Federals under General Potter entered Camden from the south about twenty-five hundred strong, Tuesday evening, April 18, 1865. They broke into the banks and safes, but were restrained from general pillage of the residences. They departed hurriedly the next morning because of the above mentioned home guards, who had been joined by some 500 Kentucky cavalry of Generals Lewis and Hannon, and who occupied the roads and crossings over Swift Creek along their lines of communications. This little force contested the ground at Boykin's Mill, nine miles south of Camden; but, after considerable firing, being outnumbered and outflanked, fell back to Dinkin's Mill, and on to Statesburg, where they dispersed.

Combatants	Commanders	Strength	Casualties
United States of America United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...  (Union Union (American Civil War) During the American Civil War, the Union was a name used to refer to the federal government of the United States, which was supported by the twenty free states and five border slave states. It was opposed by 11 southern slave states that had declared a secession to join together to form the... )	Edward A. Potter	2700	15 (2 killed, 13 wounded)
Confederate States of America Confederate States of America The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...	Stephen Elliot	Small Home Guard, 500 Cavalry	0