The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1851-05-14
0The Left.handed Duel"


TO tho Editors OF the Crescent. ..g
In the Weekly Crescent of April l9, find, under
the head of "The Left-handed Duel-Anecdote OF
Branch T. Archer, of Texas "-what purpors to be
an account of duel between DR.. B. I. Archer
and General Crump" As know not that Dr.
Archer will ever see or hear OF this fancliul anec-
dote, /, his near relation, cannot permit 1t to go
uncorrected. DR.. Archer is one OF the most benev-
olent and humane Of men, free from vndictiveness,
and too truly brave to make display of courage
He never sought duel with Mr.. Otway Crump,
nor with any other person. He never was wounded
in any duel. He was, in 1926, forced into a duel
with Mr.. Otway Crump, whom he had known
from early childhood. (their fathers lived in the
same neighborhood, in Powhattan county, Va.,)
and to whom he had no hostile or unkind feel
ing, and which duel DR.. Archer made every endea-
vor to avoid.
As an act of Justice, will give a brief statement
of all the facts, Ito the best of frail memory,)
they were detailed to me by DR.. Archer himself
will premise that at the time this duel was fought,
Mr.. Sam. Swami, Of Powhattan. was under indict.
ment, on a charge of assault to kill Colonel James
Clarke, of Powhattan, whose daughter he had
married. DR.. Archer and Mr.. Otway Crump had
married nieces of Col Clarke-Dr. Archer, daugh-
ter of Col John Clarke, and Mr.. Otway Crump
daughter of Mr.. William Clarke. Great eXersions
had been made to excite the public mind against
Mr.. Swami and DIR. Archer, who was very popu-
lar in Powhattan, and believed that Swami had
been greatly outraged, and was not guilty, wished
that he should have fair trial. Crump, who had
just returned to Powhattan, from Alabama, where
he had acquired the reputation of duellist, was
poor and had large family, and his uncle, Col.
James Clarke, was very kind to him. This, it was
supposed, was the real cause of Crump's challenge
to Dr. Archer to fight him. DR.. Archer asked to
know the grievance, and assured Mr.. Crump that
he would make atonement if he had wronged him.
His reply was that he had injured him, and that
was sufficient. DR.. Archer then reminded him
that they were both poor, and had large families
assured him, that in all his misfortunes he had
sympathized; and again professed his readiness to
make atonement, if informed wherein he had in.
jured him. He still refused the information, and
insisted on the duel. They were at this time alone
in the garden. DR.. Archer called to his attention
the severity of the anti-dueng laws of Virginia,
and said, 81 know you are armed; | too am
armed-(he DR.. Archer, had small pistol in his
pantaoon's pockeD-let us fight here, if nothing
but fight will satisfy you" Crump replied that
he gentleman, and would fight in the regu-
lar way. They then returned to the hotel, lin the
village Of Scottsve, Powhattan ourt-house,) and
on the way met Crump's son, whom DR.. Archer
had not seen since he child Crump intro
duced them, and invited the Doctor to join them in
drink He accepted the invitation, and they
drank together as friends. To avoid the challenge,
DR.. Archer then repaired to the Jail, and sat with
Mr.. Swami. While sitting in Jail, through the
window he saw Col. James Clarke take Mr..
Crump aside, and they held an animated conference
Immediately after, DR.. Archer received from Mr.
Crump peremptory challenge.
This challenge he accepted, and, unwilling te
involve any friend in the serious consequences O.
duel, requested his nephew, Chastain Saunders
then only 16 years of age, to act his second
They repaired Immediately to thicket of under.
wood, within few hundred yards of the Court.
house, (the Court then sittng) and the preparation
was made for the fight. DR.. Archer's nephew
wished him to practice shooting, but he declined
though it had been many years since he had fired
pistol. While loading, Crump looked on with
apparent interest. DR.. Archer's second won choice
of pistols, here was but one pair,) aud on making
choice, Crump expressed his preference for the
pistol selected. DR.. Archer told him to take it
He then conceded him the privilege of having the
word given by his friend, and then asked him tt
fix the distance. This last Crump refused to do
saying he had already conceded SO much, that h,
was ashamed to accept other privileges. Dr. Archie
stated to me that if Crump had fixed the distanc'
so remote as that he could have hoped to escape
| he would not have shot him. DR.. Archer appoint
ed the ordinary distance of ten PAGES. When the
took their stands, DR.. Archer again appealed t
him not to insist on fight, and assured him h
l aEa info vu,ha
had injured him. Crump made the same reply
DR.. Archer then, for the first time, became exas
perated, and told him, You have received you
wages. and you shall earn them-I will shoot yo
through the heart" Crump replied, 81 suppos
you will, if you can" He replied, Yes, by Goo
will shoot you through the heart" Crump place
his left hand his right side, opposite the heart
the ring finger and little finger touching, and tn
middle and forefnger also touching, with spac
between the middle and ring fingers This pre-
sented a mark. DR.. Archer fired at count ont
cutting the middle and ring fingers, but breakin
no bone-and his ball passed through Crump
heart Crump's ball grazed the Doctors brsas
and carried away part of his flannel undershr
Crump sprang forward, and exclaimed, I" / am
dead mani" and fell dead
DR.. Archer Immediately walked into Cour
and surrendered himself. The report of the pi
tolls was heard by the Court He was put on tr
next day, and, though Crump's body was displaye
before the public, and his wife and children pre-
snt in violent lamentation, the jury acquitis
DR.. Archer, without leaving their seats. He the
asked the Court to allow him to make statemen
and they adjourned to the hotel to give him q
opportunity of doing ! have heard that D
Archer said that he believed, if he had gotten
his knees to Crump, he would have been ineIorabl
am the first cousin of DR.. Archer, and resd,
in Mississippi at the time of this duel. am, po
sibly, not free from the influences of friendship al
consanguinity but have endeavored to recall Il
facts, as stated to me, by DIR. Archer himself, al
by others. ! have never known DR.. Archer 6
gagged in any other duel RIcH'D T. ARCHER.
IL The Attakapas.
, NEw ORLEANS, May IL. 1851
n Messrs. Editors-On a visit to your city fro
that most lovely portion of your State, the Alta
. | apas country, l have thought letter from my p
d would not prove unacceptable. To do justice
1t | the above mentioned regions should have bet1