Cousin Cephas Bell--a Costner Cousin but Maybe a Bell Cousin Too

Cousin L. M. Hoffman tells this story about Cephas Bell, a grandson of Uncle Thomas Costner, who fought at King’s Mountain: “Cephas Bell was a Confederate soldier; enlisted Mch. 15, 1862, in Co. B. 28^th Regt. (N. C.). He was discharged Sept., 1862, for disability. His comrades say of him that he was not unusually bright but that he was unusually brave. On one occasion his command was ordered to charge the enemy entrenched on a hill. The Federals scattered in confusion and Bell leading in the rush did not notice that his command had halted in the enemy’s abandoned position but went on after an officer in the rear of the rout. He overtook his man and ordered him to surrender. The officer said he couldn’t surrender except to an officer. Bell swore at him and said he’d blow out his d----d brains if he didn’t surrender quick and proceeded to execute his threat. He took his prisoner back and meeting some officers as he approached headquarters they told him they’d take the prisoner. He said, ‘No you won’t; if you want to go get you one, there’s plenty of them over there [pointing in the direction the enemy had gone]. You shall not have mine.’”