No Means No Government No Hope

May 1 1865: An accidental meeting between cadets and Federal troops resulted in the last land battle of the Civil War east of the Mississippi. Just a few hours later in the midst of Anderson SC's annual May Day festival over two thousand Federal troops invaded and occupied Anderson. For three days the town was held hostage as leading citizens were tortured buildings were ransacked and a supply of wine kept the soldiers' fires from burning the town. The battle and occupation claimed the lives of four men including one African-American.