Southern shield., 1851-03-22
@The Left Handed Duel.
ANEcDoTE OF BRANCH T. ARCHER, OF TEXAS.

In the Fall of lS40, Mr. Archer was a young Virginia lawyer of some note. Co., ing to Powhattan Courthouse on business, he accidentally met Gen. Crump, small, sharp-featured gentleman, with piercing dark eyes, t9in lips, and a nose like an ea- gle's beak, was cool, sarcastic and stinging as wasp. There might be read the his- .tory of dozen duels in the sheer that wrthed like a snake in its coil around the corners of his mouth, as every separate word issued through his teeth with a shrill and menacing hiss. He never seemed to forget that he was the most dead shot in Virginia. In conversation with CrUmp about suit in which they were opposing counsels, the latter made offensive remarks, or insinualions, of which Mr. Archer de- sired an explanation.
 'I have no explanation 10 make," said Crump, and he set his keen eyes upon the other, as if he would sav him with glance. The look was quasi murder.
 Archer threw his entire soul into one stern sentence
 "Then 1 shall demand of you to retract the insnuatons you have made against my motiver'
 "I shall add fifty more of the kind be- fore retract thatr' said Crump, with a sheer, and turning on his heel, he remark ed, ''l am going 10 my room at the hotel 10 wait for your communication, if you have any for me-"
 Col. Arcber's friends gathered in clus- ter around him, entreating him that he would not sacrifice his life to the bullet of duelist whose aim was sure and deadly. But he would not be persuaded-he would punish Crump, or perish in the attempt. A formal challenge was soon passed and ac- cepted, and the meeting was arranged to transpire the next morning at sunrise. on the summit of a hill two miles west of Powhatan Courthouse. At the time and place designated, great throng collected to witness the combat. Crump and Archer had both arrived at daybreak, and saluted each other coldiy through the pale haze of twilight. With the golden glimpse of the sun, the principals were stationed in posi- ton by their seconds, and all hearts in the multitude vibrated with strange feelings, almost fear, so determined and deadly were the countenances of the two foes, al- though the expressions on their faces, indi- viduaily, were very different. Crump's visage wore the scorching sheer of a devil, sure of his prey, but the blue eyes of Arch CT seemed surcharged with the lightning of manly wrath. The word being given, the two pistols roared simultaneously; Archer's bullet grazed Crump's left temple, but his own right arm fell shattered to his side.
 "Ha! have winged my gamer' cried Crump, in tones of mockng triumph.
 "Yes! but have still a wing remaining at your servicew shouted Archer, shaking his other arm in the face of his enemy, and demanding an additional round.
 Again the weapons of death were loaded, and the parties took their places. Archer must have been suffering an agony of pain. Beads of cold water rolled from his fore head: the blood streamed down from his arm, and stood in puddles about his feet; his features were white as marble; so white that he might have been mistaken for a ghost; and, indeed, there appeared every reason 10 suppose that he would really be a ghost at the next explosion of Crump's pistol. Yet he gave no evidence of fear. Looking his antagonist resolutely in the the face, he exclaimed
 "i' ho" yoo HdEo oEcty dd'dn- tage. l am forced, by necessity, to use my left hand, and if you were not a coward, you would do the same."
 Quick as thought, Crump changed the weapon from the right hand to the left, and mmediately the word 10 fire was repeated. Al the sound of the pistols both enemies fell. Archer had tainted from loss of blood the effect of his previous wound, but Crump was shot through the heart!
 A son of Erin who had just arrived in this land of plenty, being in want, ventur- ed tO solicit a little aid from 2 nerson whose