The pilot and transcript. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1840-1841, 1840-10-29
ZEN. HARRISON ON DUELLfNG.

. gencer, letter from CTen Harrison, winch we
hope will do great good. This plain, candid and
eloquent account of his ''own experience" Sn the
subject will go far to sustain those who, from an
= apprehension of the worlds opinion, may be
tempted to do what their own judgment con
, dennis, while the modest declaration that hi:
opinions and actions are now regulated by a
higher than mans authority, will endear his au
thority still to the present and future gene
rntions
For this letter alone is he entitled to be called
his country's benefactor.
GEN. HARRISON ON DUELLING.
NORTH BEND, April 9th, 1888.
n You ask my opinion ''of the code of honor
which decides controversies by resort to the
duel" l comply with your request, and would
do so more readily, if l could suppose that any
thing could say would have any influence in
putting end to practice which IS the cause
Of so much individual distress, and violates so
many obligations of the most sacred character.
The arguments which may be used against
duelling are So obvious, and have been so often
urged by persons much more able to do them JUS
tice than am, that shall content myself with
giving. YOU what may be termed my experience
in matters of this kind. And as this certainly
does net exhibit the practice in very fascinat-
ing light, it may perhaps have better effect
l can adopt.
| | believe that there were more duels in the
| Northwestern Army between the years 1891 and
1895, inclusive, than ever took place in the same
length of time, and among SO small body of
men as composed the commissioned officers of
the Army, either in America, or any other coun-
| try, at least in modern times became an Off
Ger in the first mentioned year, at so early an
| age that it Is not wonderful that implicitly
| dopted the opinions Of the older officers, most of
| whom were veterans in the Revolution, upon
| this as well as upon other subjects connected
with my conduct and duty in the profession |
| had chosen. ] believed, therefore, in common
| with the larger portion of the officers, that no
brave man would decline challenge, nor refrain
| fro m giving one, whenever he considered that
his rights or feelings had been trespaSsed'upon.
must confess, too, that | was not altogether
free from the opinion that even honor might be
acquired by a well-fought duel. Fortunately,
however, before was engaged in duel, either
as principal or second, which terminated fatally
to any one, I became convinced that all my OPT
MONS on the subject were founded in error, and
none Of them more so than that which depicted
the situation of the successful duellist either
honorable or desirable. 1t could not be honora-
BILE, because the greater portion of that class of
mankind whose good opinion of an individual
confers honor upon him were opposed to it. And
| had the best evidence to believe that in the
grave of the fallen duellist frequently bur
ried the peace and happiness OF the SURVIVOR
the act which deprived the one of existence plan
ting thorn in the bosom of the other which
would continue to rankle and tester there to the
end of his days. The conviction that such was
the case with men of good feelings and princi-
pies, was produced by my witnessing the men
tai sutferings of an intimate and valued friend,
by whose hand worthy man had fallen. Sew
eral years had elapsed from the date of this af-
fair before l became acquainted with him.
We were soon after associated in the general
staff of the army, and for the greater part OF two
years we shared the same tent or barrack room,
and often the same pallet. | had, therefore, the
opportunity of seeing the agony he often felt
| when his mind required to the event which had
| deprived society of a worthy member, and him
| self of an esteemed and cherished acquaintance.
Like the unhappy hermit in the tragedy of Doug
| las he appeared, in his sleep, 'to hold dialogues"
with the ghost of the victim, Of his superior skill
in the use of arms, more perfect sefpossession,
and witness to them might have adopted the
opinion of the youthful Noryal, that the happier
lot was his who had fallen Taking the rules
which govern such matters as the criterion, my
friend had nothing wherewith to accuse himself
The quarrel was indeed "lastened Oh him.
t Geaerous as brave, he had done every thing to
: induce a withdrawal of the challenge, and when,
by first fire, his adversary was wounded, he
anxously desired that the affair might there ter
is inmate. His proposition was rejected; his Sc
r cond shot was fatal. What instructive les.
=; son does this story present to him who would
" resort to this mode of settling a personal diff
y, Guilty, and who possesses common sensibiliy ant
the principles of humanity and honor! the sat
r. alternative, his own death or a subsequent hf
of bitter regret and sorrow. A short experienc
ND in the army convinced me also that fighting
NY duel was not an undoubted test of true courage
l know instances of duels, and desperate duel:
being fought by men who would not have bee
do selected, by officers who knew them, to lead
rty forlorn hope. On the contrary, | possessed I'll
ing most positive testimony to prove that of IL
10, bravest men would not be engaged in an affair
~ the kind under any circumstances.
ark present you with a Renaissance of my earl
re- military life. introduce it not only to sustai
e my position, but from the respect entertain {,
the memory of gallant brother officer, lor
IAN since called to receive in another world his
emit ward for having preferred FEthe praise of God
lev the praise OF men,"
In the summer Of the year 1893, Lteutena
Drake, of the infantry Of the I'd sub legion, +
ceived a marked insult from another officer
-, Manifesting no disposition to call him to an a
- count, some of those who wished him wei
We amongst whom was one, spoke to him ON Il
he subject, expressing fears that his reputaic
in officer would greatly suffer, il he permittC
such an insult to pass unnoiced. The answ
7n' that he gave me was, that he cared not VIII
H. opinions the officers might form of him, he w;
1T determined to pursue his own course. Th
: course was so novel in the army that it lost hin
~ as supposed it would, the respect of nearly
lie the officers. The ensuing summer, howeye
to gave Mr.. Drake opportunity Of yindicatu
he most triumphantly his conduct and principle
He had been stationed in small fortress, wlic
u had been erected by General Wayne during I'll
d. wi:ter, upon the spot in which they had the pr
.ir vious day deposited quantity of provisions
h. which had been rendered remarkable by the d,
feat of Gen. St Glars army, three days befor'
ar The garrison consisted of a single rife cempan
and thirty infantry, and of the latter Drake wa
u the immediate commander. In the beginning {
July, 1894, detachment of the army, consist
e. ing of several hundred men, under the comman
II of Major Mcmahon, being encamped near tn
fort, which they had escorted from the canton
ment of the army at Greenville, were attacke'
early in the morning by upwards of three thou