The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1869-11-25
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DAILY PRESS.
Thursday Morning, Nov. mber 90, } 869
[From the Milwaukee Sentinel
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ADVENTURES OF THE DISTINGUISHED REBEL.
WHEN SERVING IN WISCONSIN.
SoRI'L4AND .

ADVENTURES OF THE DISTINGUISHED REBEL
WHEN SERVING IN WISCONSIN.
1t is probably known to but very few OF the
present citizens OF our State that " isconsn
has the high distinction OF having given Alr.
Jefferson Davis, ex-PleSident OF the eX-COn-
federate States, his first public whipping.
IL should be remembered that Master Jell.
was educated for the army at the expense Of
tue government he so ngratelully betrayed,
ana entered the service as a lean, lank, impe-
rlous, overbearing Lieutenant, aud was sta
toned at Fort Howard and Fort Wipnebaqo
about the years 1879 to 1881. In 1S3O or
1851 lie was stationed at the latter post, where
the circumstances we are about 10 relate oc-
CURED. For a year or two previous, Buck
eye boy named Stewart-a iull-Sized, well
built, muscular man, and as goOd-Datured as
an eephant-had been in the employ OF
Judge Arhdt, of Green Bay, in building what
We're called bIackinaw boats, with which most
of the river transportation was done At The
time we are speaking OF, Stewart was engaged
in the mechanical work at Fort WinnebagO,
where Davis was stationed.
JEFF, i'll the meantime, had become cnam-
ored OF pretty young woman Of semi aborio-
inal origin, or in plain English, halfbreed,
and was very jealous of any attention be-
slowed upon her by others. For some cause
or other the monster within him fixed his
green eyes upon Stewart and he swo!e by all
the buttons on his coat that he would cow
hide the miserable Yankee out of his skin.
The idea Of such a miserable wisp Of skin and
bones attacking such built man as Stewart
was preposterous enough, and his threats
were regarded as mere Southern gasconade.
But JEFF. evidently calculated, as he did on Il
latter occasion, but would crouch and take all
he might see fit to lay on, and so, providing
himself with good cowhide he watched his
opportunity.
The desired occasion was not long delayed.
One evening, after the days work was ended,
as Stewart was walking in front of The tort,
Davis came out, and without ceremony, be-
gan to lay it on. But he found, as he did in
the rebel ion, that there were two parties to
the controversy.
A blow or two was sufficient to arouse the
lion, and Stewart as he turned upon him,
planted his lett dgts under Jef7s right ibis,
and his right ones under his left ear,and knock
ed him end over end. Stewart was not a plo-
fessional pugist, and did not wait for his ad-
versary TO rise, but pounced upon him like
tiger, and, laying Jeff7s wrists side by side on
his chest, held them both as in a wise with his
| left hand, and kept his right hand ready for
further action. Poor Davis, half dead from
the two sIedee hammer blows he had received
squirmed and twisted in vain There be was,
just as il he was in the iron arms OF guilotine
and at the mercy of his adversary. BY this
time Stewart bad become quite cool, and told
Davis he deserved good pounding. "But'
said he, " if you will take back what you have
said about me, and agree to lei me aloEe,
will let you up without Iurther injury"
No, he never would do any such thing. Then
Stewart began to slap Jeff7s face, first Oh this
side and then on the other, and then repeated
his demand for the pledge, and JEFF again re-
fused. Then he pulled his nose and twisted
it, and slapped his face some more. In the
meantime, the garrison was all astir, General,
then Major Twiggs, the same that went over
10 the rebellion with his whole command of
United States troops stationed in Texas, gi-
ant of man physically, standing about six
feet six, and OF full proportions, but confess
ed coward withal, came out and peremptorily !
| ordered Stewart to let Davis up, an order
which, as commander of the fort, he could
have executed summariy it he had had the
pluck to do it, Stewart replied that he would
| not let him up an inch till he apologZed and
| promised to keep the peace, and, said he,
major you can't make me do it; and if YOU
want to take hand in the fight. just try it On,
| and I'll whip you and your whole garrison 1t
| you will bring out your men in squads OF not
more than six at a time." And then he went
| on manipulating Jeff's cheeks, nose and ears,
| and repeating his demands for indemnity for
the past and security for the future while
| Twiegs looked en- III mute astonishment at
| the audacious pluck of the Yankee boatbuild
er. Finally, the embryo rebel President,
seeing no way Of escape, either by buster,
main strength, or the interference of the Ma
| jor, concluded to accept the situation, took
| all back, and promised to treat Stewart as
a gentleman, and was let up, remarking as
| he went away that he never received such
| blows from man or hOrse-and probably be
never did again till another Buckeye boy met
| him in another wilderness. He said he felt
as it he had been kicked by mule. JEFF.
should have remembered that lesson, and
| never again presumed as he did in getting up
the rebellion, upon Yankees holding still TO
| be kicked.
| The writer of this article did not witness
| this interesting fight, but was well acquainted
| with Stewart, and received the foregoing ac-
| Count OF the affair from his own mouth soon
| after the occurrence, as well as from the lips
| of others who Witnessed it; and the narrative
we have given may be relied upon as suostan-
| TALLY correct