Battle of Columbus

The Battle of Columbus took place during the American Civil War on April 16, 1865, in Columbus, Georgia. It was one of the last battles of the war, occurring just days after General Robert E. Lee’s surrender. Union forces, led by Colonel William E. Smith, aimed to capture the industrial city and its resources to disrupt the Confederacy’s remaining capabilities. The Union successfully seized Columbus, facing minimal resistance, and the event marked a symbolic end to Confederate power in the region as the war was concluding. This battle highlighted the dwindling Confederate military presence toward the war's end.