Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1838-09-13

neileve there were more dmcIs in the
north western army between the wear 1901
anu tI95' inclusive, than ever took place
I'D tne same length of time. amongst Sc
small body OF men as composed the com.
missioned officers of the army. either i'm A.
meriea' or any other country, at least in
modfrntimes. became an officer in the frs
men Tohed year, Il, so eaIely an age. that it i,
no! wonderful that adopted implicitly tic
opin!ohs ofShe old officers, most of whom
were veterans of the Revolution. upon this
as wen as upon other subjects connected
WIN my Conduct and duty in the prores.
sion had chosen. believed, therefore
III common with n large portion of the Off
GERS, that no brave man would decline a
chaiiengc or refrain from giving one when.
ever ne considered that his rights or feelings
had been enirespassed upon must confess,
'oo' mat l was not altogether free from the
opinion That even honor might he acquired
ny a;well fought duel. Fortunately, how
ever, before was engaged in duel, either
lis 'riucipal or second, which terminated ia
tally 10 any one, became convinced tba,
all my opinions on the subject " ere founded
III error, ami nonc of them more so than
that winch depicted the situation of the
successful duellist rs either honorable or de-
siraoie. ii could not he honorable. because
Inc greater portion of,hat class of mankind
whose good opinion of an individual con-
ters aonor 'lpoE him. were opposed to it,
Ana had the best evidence ro believe that.
IN the grave of the fallen due list, was lrc
q"eniiy buried the peace aud happiness of
tne sssrvivor; the act which deprived the one
oi existence, planting a thorn in the bosom
Oh 'Ie eotlitr, which would contnue to ran
Kie aAa lester there to the end of his days.
ineGonvIclIon that such was the case,
"itnmen ol good feelings and principle, was
l''uNxsed ny my witnessing the mental slC-
'eiMfs OF all Intimate and valued friend, by
wfiosss hand worthy man h d fallen.-
several years had elapsed from the date
"i ~ 3:aiiair. before ! became acquainted
witlfs5im.
fhnre soon after associated in The gen
cra5attii oi the army, and inr the greater
pagtkf Two years. we shared the same tent
| ortayack room, and often the same pallet.
| aSs&.n opportunity Of seeing the auouy he
~, I, ,,r
event ~hirl, had deprived society of a wor
ibS member and himself of an esteemed an,,
cherished l,quaIntancc. Like the unhappy
hermit IN the tragedy of ! uuelas, hr an
peaIed. in his sleep to 'hoId DIALOGUES.
with the ghost Of the victim Of hi, superior
skill IN the use Gf arms, or more prrfcct self
possession, and Il wincss of them miubt
have adopted the opinion Of the Youthful
Norval. hat the happier lot was his who
had fallen. Taking the rules which govern
SUCH matters, rs The criterion, NV friend
lahss0th'nS herewith 10 accuse HIMSELF
he quarrel was indeed '.iastencd Oh him ~
generous as brava, he had done every
thine IN his power to induce Il withdrawal
oi the challenge, and when, by first fire,
MS adversaT, was wounded, he anxiously
desIredthat The affair m,iglr there terminate
Ills proposition rejected, his second shot
was ialal. What an instructive lesson
does tilS story present To him who woud
resort to tins mode uf setting n personal
difficulty. who possesses common scnsih,litv
and the principles of humanity and honor.
lhe sad alternatives, his own death. ar 8,
subsequent life of bitter regret and sorrow.
short expcrien e in the arm, convinced
me, also, that lighting duel was aot an
uhdonhted test of true courage | had
known Instances of ducls. aud desperate
iuels, being fought by men hn would not
li"Ve been selected by officer, who knew
them. to lead forlorn hope. On the con
irary' possessed the most positive tcsti-
ihony to prove that some of the hravcst of
N
thai KIND under any circumstances.
C"'ni"rmahly I" my plan as stated in the
commencement ofmv letter, 10 give you
'acis ra'her Than arguments, present you
with another rcmimsccncc of nv early Mill
'hry iie. introduce it moi ouly to sustain
my position. Out from The res pect cutertoi
| for the memory of II gallant brother officer
long since called 10 receive. in ,no,h.r
! wnrlI. his r. ~ rt fr,rI
| praise of Cod to the praise nf men" I'm the
summer of the year 1893, Lieut. Drake ot
the infantry of the 2l sub-legion, received
| Il marked insult from another brother officer
Manliesting no disposition To call him 10 an
account, some Of those who wished him
well expressed our fears that his rcrnta.
Iion as an officer would greatly suffer. if he
! permitted such an insult TO pass unno,Iccd.
The answer he gave me was that he cored
not what opinion The officers might form M
him; he was determined to pursue his own
course. That course was so novcI in tho
army, that it lost for him, rs | had SIM.
| dnsed 1t would. the respect Of nearly all ,hc
officers. The ensuing sumner gave Mr.,
Drake an opportunity OF vindicating, most
lrInmPt',ntly, his conduct and principcs.
| tie had been stationed in II small 'ortrcss
when had been erected by Gen. Wavnc,
dnH"g The winter, upon the spot which had
been rendered remarkable, by the defeat o
81 Glars army, three years before. The
garrison consisted Of singh" rifle compa-
n.y. aud thirty infantry. and of the latter
Drake was tn" Immediate commander. Ia
the beginning fully. 1904, a dc,achmen,
of the army. consisting of several hundred
men, under the command OF Mai McMnhon
belng rncnmped near the fort in which
they bad the prcviOms alay dennsitcl nnan