Year: 1869

w AoOSAbAh w


1t is probably known to but very
few of the present citizens of our state
that Wisconsin has the high distinc-
ton of having given Mr.. Jefferson
Davis, ex-president Of the ex-confed-
crate states, his first public whipping.


1t should be remembered that Mas
ter jeff was educated for the army at
the expense of the government he so
ungratefully betrayed, and entered
the service as a lean, lank, imperiouS,
overbearing lieutenant, and was sta
toned at Fort Howard and Fort Win
nebago about the years 1929 to 1881.
In 1880 or 1881 he was stationed at
the latter post, where the circumstan.
ces we are about to relate occurred.
For year or two previous Buckeye
boy named Stewart-a full sized, we'll
built, muscular man, aud as good ma
tured as an elephant-had been in the
employ of Judge Arndt of Green Bay,
in building what were called Mackin-
aw boats, with which most of the riv-
er transportation was done. At the
time we are speaking, Stewart was
engaged in mechanical work at Fort
WinnebagO, where Davis was station
ed.


JEFF in the meantime had become
enamored of pretty young woman
of semi-aboriginal origin, or in plain
English, halfbreed, and was very
jealous of any attentions bestowed
upon her by others. From some cause
or other the monster within him fixed
his green eyes upon Stewart, and he
swore by all the buttons on his coat
that he would cowhide 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 evil
IDENTIFY calculated, as he did on later
occasion, that the low born plebeian
would never dare resist high born
southerner, but would crouch and take
all he might see fit to lay on, and so,
providing himself with a good cowhide
he watched his opportunity,


The desired occasion was not long
delayed. One evening, after the days
work was finished, as Stewart was
walking in front of the fort, Davis
came out and without ceremony began
to lay it on. But he found as he did
in the rebellion, that there were two
parties to the controversy. A blow
or two was sufficient to arouse the H.
on, and Stewart as he turned upon
him. planted his left digits under Jeff7s
right ribs, and his right one under his
left ear and knocked him end over
end. Stewart was not professional
pugilist, and did not wait for his ad-
versary to rise, but pounced upon him
like tiger, and, laying Jeff's wrists
side by side on his chest, held them
both as in vice with his left baud,
and kept his right hand ready for fur
ther action. Poor Davis, half dead
from the two sledge hammer blows he
had received, squirmed and twisted
in vain. There he was, fast as if he
had been in the iron arms of guilo-
tine and at the mercy of his adversary.
By this time Stewart had become
quite cool, and told Davis he deserved
a good pounding; "but," said he, "if
you will take back what you have
said about me, and agree to let me
alone, | will let you up without fur
ther injury"


No, he would never do any such
thing. Then Stewart began to slap
Jeff's face, first on this side and then
repeated his demand for the pledge,
and Jeff again refused. And then he
pulled his nose and twisted it, and
slapped his face some more. In the
meantime the garrison was all astir,
and General, then Major Twiggs, the
same that went over to the rebellion
with his whole command of United
States troops stationed in Texas, a
giant of man physically, standing
about six feet six and of full proper
tions, but confessed coward withal,
came out and peremptorily ordered
Stewart to let Davis up, an order
which, as commander of the fort, he
could have executed summarily if he
had had the pluck to do it. Stewart
replied that be would not let him up
an inch till he apologized and prom
ised to keep the peace, and said he.
Major, you can't make me do it; and
if you want to take hand in this
fight, just try it on; if you want to,
aud | will whip you and your whole
garrison if you will bring out your
men in squads of not more than six at
a time" And then he went on man.
ipulating Jeff-s cheeks and nose and
ears, and repeating his demands for
indemnity for the past and security
for the future" while TwiggS looked
on in mute astonishment at the auda-
cious pluck of the Yankee boatbuild-
er. Finally the embryo rebel presi-
dent, seeing no way of escape, either
by buster, main strength, or the in
reference of the major concluded to
accept the situation, took all back and
promised to treat Stewart as gen.
tleman, and was let up, remarking as
he went away, that he never received
) such blows from man or horse; and
probably he never did again till an
other Buckeye boy met him in anoth-
er wilderness. He said he felt as if
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 a
Yankee holding still to be kicked.
The writer of this article did not
witness this interesting fight, but was
well acquainted with Stewart, and re-
! ceived the foregoing account 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 substantially correct
MiIDaukee Sentinel.


aAt what hour do you dine, my
dear ?" asked lady of little girl.