I am afraid I did not pick out that avatar. It is one of Subsim's standard ones given to people who don't have a real life. :)

Buchanan:up:. But, if we are considering their final rants, we could include Lincoln as he ended his military service as a Private.

I guess it comes down to Highest Rank or Final Rank. :yep:

Lincoln indeed ended his career in the Blackhawk war of 1832 as a private; but initially he was an elected captain of the 31st Regiment of Militia and then 4th Regiment of Mounted Volunteers. When these were musterd out he reupped as a private. In 1852 by act of Congress he received 40 acres of land for this service and in 1856, another 120 acres; altogether a considerable holding. He made much political hay of his service in later years. He participated in no battles in the slow paced but vicious war, arriving at the battles of Stillman's Run and Kellogg's Grove to help bury the scalped dead militiamen. Black Hawk's thousand man foray into Illinois must have made a lasting impression... as any native Minnesotan knows, Lincoln ordered the largest mass-execution (by hanging) in American history at New Ulm MN when the Santee Sioux rampaged, not without cause, in 1860 under Inkpadutah and Shokopee.:arrgh!: