Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-10-04
THE LAST REBEL
He Never Surrendered to Any Yank
Alive.
Finally He Surrendered and the
Bloody War Forever Ended.

The last stopping place before des-
cending into the lowlands was at Gull
mans. There was quite q settlement
here, and IN ravine close by was one of
the largest Illicit stills in the south. Soon
after my arrival as the house Cullman
| took occasion to say:
Owe are going up to the still pretty
soon, and you'll meet five or six of the
boys. Al will be glad to see you, but We
have an old Elan who may be disagreeable
he was in the war for about three mont rs
and is always Dragging about it. He
claims to be the last rebel and that he
| never surrendered. Knowing that you
are Yank he may say something dis
agreeable. I thought I would post you
in advance so you would know how 10
take him.
san right replied" and thought no
more OF It until caught sight of him at
the still. He was curious looking old
fellow, about SO years old, having g long
white beard which made him look wonder
fully like q billy goat, and keeping his
jaws constantly working on his tobacco.
He was the last one to be introduced and
he looked me ali over and refused to take
my hand.
'sI swo;e that I'D never shake hands
with Yank until the south was on top"
he exclaimed, "and I spit to sputter if I
go back on my word"
"Just as you feel about it old man."
replied, and he sat on a log and tried TO
look very savage. In about five minutes
he suddenly jumped up and cracked his
heels together, orowed like rooster and
yelled out:
"Whoop! was thar! Yes, was thar
in the thick Of if, and you'uEs got fits
that day."
"Where was that?"
CAT Chicamaug! Whoop! I was right
thar, and We'uus did lick yon;ons fur skill
Ietsu'
"Come, Uncle Bill, It's too late in the
day for that" said Cullman.
mo faint too late-never will be too
late! Didn't we wallop the hull passle of
ZEN from Dan to glory!"
"Did you kill anybody?" asked.
ibid I! Listen to he'un! Did I! Dan
to glory, but hear him talking! Way, sir,
I cum right at 'em with the bayonet! I
walked right up TO one of 'em an jabbed
my bayonet right through him!"
"What part of the field was that on?"
''fD the centre, just across the creek.
kin shet my eyes an see it now. He was
about your size. Oh! how he holleredw
"My friend, I am sorry to spoil your
story, but am the Yank you bayonetted
that day"
"You? You cans be. He'un was kill
ed"
Il am the very one. L knew you in
moment"
San you'un wasn't killed."
No. Your bayonet went through my
coat and never touched the skin. Then I
grabbed your gun and you ran away. I
have the gun home now, and I'll send it
to you. Why didn't you stop when I
called to your"
He stood there with his mouth wide
open for half minute, and then cat down
without word Il wasn't long until he
broke out again, however. He was nettled
at the laughter OF the men, and he sprang
up and yelled:
"Whoop! I'm the last rebel left alive!
kin lay any Yankee On sirtb on his
tack"
The mon winked at me to tackle him,
and pulled off my coat and said:
mo, you can't, old man! Come out
here and try it on!"
10 IudO0 d TuSu dIO S6lZoU u1e, OUT iio
was ell wind. I had him on his back in
90 seconds. He got up and went back to
his log, but he had scarcely recovered his
wind when he yelled:
give never surrendered, and / never
Wilt Wboop! kin outrun any Yank on
top the airth!"
Cullman placed as on a line on level
spot aid announced the goal, and Uncle
s3ilJv cc M ont eoannI host
''See here, uncle," said one of the men
after we got back. 'you might as we'll
give in. The Yank's way ahead"
''Give in! Give in to he'un! Lower
my flag to g Yank-never! 1 can beat
he'un all to flinders on jump, and he'un
knows it."
I thought SO, too, but when we came TO
try it beat him by ten inches. His old
legs had lost their springs. When he sat
down this time he had tears in his eyes,
and there was lump in his throat as he
walled out:
t'Drat the burned Yank! Ee'un wasn't
killed at old Chickamaug! He'un laid
me on my back. He'un outrun me! Is
he'un going to put his foot on my neck?
Never! I kin wallop he'un from skiIps
TO skilIets in five minutes''
The men were winking as q signal, and
when Uncle Bill made his rush, arms
going like windmill, I was ready. I
seized his collar, laid him on his back,
and holding him down sternly observed:
''See here, you internal old rebel, you've
got 80 surrender"
"To the No'th?"
eyes"
'sTo the YaRks?"
eyes,