The National tribune., 1881-10-08
HAPNER, THE LAST REBEL.

HAPNER, THE LAST REBEL.
Elyis Hapner, a Tennessee guerrilla. who will
live in local tradition if not in history, was the
last rebel leader who laid down his illegitimate
arms. At the beginning of the war, Hapner a
wild, reckless fellow, joined the Confederate
army, but his spirit was too restless to be gov
erned by military discipline. There was some
thing about his bearing that was soldierly. His
tall, commanding form was military, but his
restless gray eyes. that seemed to turn on pivOts-
one revolving at some special object. while the
other miscellaneOusly surveyed-beonged more
to the bandit than the soldier. After serving a
few months in the ranks and having been several
times arrested for revolutionary exhibitions
HapneT returned home and raised an indie
pendent company of wild young men. His name
soon became a terror Scouting parties of Union
soldiers riding along with that careless air
which a sight of camp inspires were attacked,
surprised, and routed.
One morning a wagon train left Gallatin. ac-
companied by guard of cavalry in command
of Captain Bunch, an officer whose daring had
won the admiration of the entire division of
which he was an honored 0ttache. On either
side of the road arose almost perpendicular cliffs
covered with vines and illustrated with wild morn
ing-glOries. The songs were hushed; every man
looked above, scanning the rocks. When the
breeze stirred flower soldier had his carbine
pointed i'll the direction of the floral agitation
'All right exclaimed the captain, as the troops
emerged on the level plain.
Il guess Hapner and his gang have gone TO
church somewhere Another cut was entered:
the same vines and the same flowers. A large
pink flower hanging from rock attracted the
captains attention.
There's beauty he remarked. The flower
fell the report of gun rang out and the captain
lay dead upon his horses neck In an instant
hundred .carbines rang. Another flower fell and
another soldier dropped. The men, infatuated.
dismounted and climbed the crags. Noone could
be found They climbed higher and higher Sud-
denly vOlley from the other side of the road
was poured down among the men left in charge
of the horses. The soldiers on the cliff hurried
down and climbed up tie opposite wall. Cling
ing to roots and struggling over rocks, they
reached the top, only to receive whitening fire
from the guerrillas. The fight was desperate A
sudden stampede among the horses below would
announce that some brave fellow had fallen and
rolled down among them.
The guerillas left their cover, advanced. and
fought like mad men. Hapner with two revoI-
vers one in each hand shooting with death deal
ing rapidity, urged his men. The Union soldiers
had no commander, unless every man was a
leader, for they fought with determination that
would have awakened the admiration of Napo-
leon. Hapner fell, and his men, Selling him.
dragged him down a steep declivity. The soldiers
followed, but were unable to Overtake the skill
full guerillas, who knew every inch of the broken
ground. For long time after this engagement
Hapner lay wounded in cave. An old farmer
once attempted to pilot the soldiers to the place
but was shot dead by bushwhacker
When Lee surrendered, Colonel Gilfilin COM
mander OF the post at Gallatn, sent word to
Hapner that the war was ended. Hapner replied
by letter, stating that the war was not over. and
that it was only scheme to capture him. Ex-
rebels returning home were surprised to find
Hapner still in the field and told him that the
contest was over, but he could not be convinced
that the reports did not result from desire to
work his destruction He became so bold that
he would dash into town, and on one occasion
captured fort (empty, however,, within the
Union lines. Finally, he agreed that if the
United States would grant pardon to all his men
he would surrender The day was appointed
Hapner and his men rode to the surrender the
worst lot of horses that could have been mustered
by such poor institution as the COnfederacy.
Hapners horse was poor that he had TO ride
him like bIcycle-One inch from the center of
gravity would have toppled him over. After the
surrender, the murderers who followed this dar-
ing, independent espouser of blood-thirstness
rode the finest horses in the country. After
peace spread its wings the land-ss well as
the water -Hapner bought an Ohio threshing
machine, and went about the neighborhood
"gettin' out wheat" Some one on one occasion