Battle of Columbus (1865)

This article is about the American Civil War battle. For the raid on Columbus, New Mexico by the forces of Pancho Villa, see Battle of Columbus (1916).

32°28′01″N 84°59′49″W / 32.467°N 84.997°W / 32.467; -84.997

Battle of Columbus
Part of the American Civil War
DateApril 16, 1865
Location
Girard, Alabama /
Columbus, Georgia
Result Union victory
Belligerents
United States United States (Union) Confederate States of America CSA (Confederacy)
Commanders and leaders
Major General James H. Wilson Major General Howell Cobb
General Robert Toombs
Strength
Two cavalry divisions
(9,000 cavalry)		 3,250
Casualties and losses
60 151

The Battle of Columbus, Georgia (April 16, 1865), was the last conflict in the Union campaign through Alabama and Georgia, known as Wilson's Raid, in the final full month of the American Civil War.

Maj. Gen. James H. Wilson had been ordered to destroy the city of Columbus as a major Confederate manufacturing center. He exploited enemy confusion when troops from both sides crowded on to the same bridge in the dark, and the garrison withheld its cannon fire. Next morning, Wilson laid waste to the city and took many prisoners.

Several authorities claim Columbus should be classified as the last battle of the Civil War, while others point to a battle which occurred after the Confederacy was vanquished, the Battle of Palmito Ranch. The Battle of Columbus is also known as the Battle of Girard, Alabama (now Phenix City).