Old Yaller
A previous post transcribed an article from the March 22, 1887 edition of the Atlanta Weekly Constitution concerning General Levi J. Knight’s Berrien Minute Men and the execution of Elbert J. Chapman during the Civil War. Here is an earlier Constitution clipping on the same topic, published January 4, 1887:
1887 recollection of “Old Yaller,” Elbert J. Chapman.
The Atlanta Weekly Constitution
January 4, 1887“Old Yaller”
Sometime ago THE WEEKLY CONSTITUTION published an article about the execution of a deserter who was known among the soldiers as “Yaller Jacket.” A member of the 26th Georgia, who claims to be familiar with the facts, says the soldier was known as “Old Yaller,” instead of “Yaller Jacket.” Yaller was a member of the 29th Georgia, and his real name is given as Chapman. When Yaller overstayed his time and was put in the guard tent for a term of days he decided his sentence was too sever, and he accordingly “lit out.” The member of the 26th Georgia who claims that his is the true story says Yaller went to Mississippi and joined a cavalry company where later on in the war he was found, a deserter, it is true, but still fighting for the confederacy. Yaller was put under arrest a second time, but instead of trying to escape, would stick to the guard all through the skirmishing, retreating and marching. One night in a severe rain all the guards were lost, but next morning old Yaller turned up smiling. The member of the 26th, who writes to set history straight, says:
“We continued the march to Brandon and Norton station, some ten or twelve miles east, and here took up camp again. Here it was made known that “Yaller” had received a death sentence and was to be shot. Near this place, out in an old field, the army was marched out to witness his execution. These are the facts, according to the best of my recollection of twenty-three years ago. “Yaller” was a member of the 29th Georgia, and not of the 30th.”
If “Old Yaller,” or “Yaller” or “Yaller Jacket” has any friends living I would be glad to hear more about him. It will be noticed that while he was late in getting back from his trip home and skipped out from the guard tent while under a light sentence, he still stuck to the army and never deserted the guards when the finding of the court-martial hung over him.
About three weeks later, a response appeared in the Constitution:
1887 clipping about a friend of Old Yaller.
The Atlanta Weekly Constitution
January 25, 1887 pg 3A Friend of Old Yaller
Mr. Moses Williams of Thomasville, Ga., says that old “Yaller” of “Yaller Jacket,” the soldier who was shot for desertion, lived near hi before the war. Mr. Williams says of “Old Yaller:” “He was a good man, but was poor. He fought right on for the confederacy and was a good soldier, too. There were twelve men to shoot him. I hope he is at rest.
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Related Posts:
- Old Yaller’s Widow Was Denied Pension
- Old Yaller’s Widow Was Denied Pension
- More on the story of Old Yaller
- Elbert J. Chapman Was A Victim of Military Discipline
- A Friend of Old Yaller
- L.E. Lastinger and Captain Knight’s Berrien Minutemen
- Berrien Minute Men and Civil War Stories
- How Old Yellow Was Killed
- Thomas M Ray Founded Ray’s Mill in 1863
