PONCA, May 21. Ponca's sole remaining Civil war veteran is a confederate soldier, Cummings Gilmer, who celebrated his eighty-eighth birthday at his home here recently. Mr. Gilmer has outlived all the union veterans of this community who at one time numbered more than seventy-five.

Hale and well at 88, Mr. Gilmer carries with him memories of the war of the rebellion. He is a native of Virginia, having been born near Lebanon, March 4, 1844. He grew up there. On his eighteenth birthday he enlisted in Company G, Twenty-ninth regiment, Virginia, in Pickett's division under General Marshall. Not long after, General Marshall was sent to Kentucky with several divisions of Virginians to aid General Bragg.

Fought Under Lee.

Later, Mr. Gilmer's regiment was transferred back to Virginia and fought under Gen. Robert E. Lee. He also served in campaigns in North and South Carolina and Tennessee, and participated in the battles of Cold Harbor, Petersburg and Five Forks.

At the siege of Petersburg, Mr. Gilmer's company was stationed near Fort Howlett. Between engagements, Mr. Gilmer relates, the "Johnnies" used to trade tobacco, of which they had plenty, to Yankee soldiers for coffee and newspapers. A "Yank" or "Johnnie" would wave in the air the article he had for barter. If the opposing side signified willingness to trade, each climbed from his pit and they met half way between the lines and completed the transaction. Sometimes an argument would arise and if not agreeably settled, woe to the laggard who was slow in reaching his own lines.

Never Missed a Day.

During his more than three years service, Mr. Gilmer never missed a day from duty or was wounded and was ill only once. His company surrendered at Five Forks after it had been without food for five days because supply wagons had been cut off. The next day General Lee surrendered his army to General Grant.

Mr. Gilmer saw General Lee many times. Democratic and a fine general, the men loved him he says. General Pickett was a fiery and flashy man, he recalls. He saw Jefferson Davis, confederate president once, when he came to inspect the southern army and confer with Lee. Shortly after their surrender the confederate soldiers were transferred by ship to Hart's island New York. Mr. Gilmer although he fought valiantly for the southern cause, never owned slaves. He is an early settler of Dixon county.