The Planters' banner. [volume] (Franklin, Attakapas Co., Lou.) 1849-1872, 1851-01-09
SggsGgGg A190U
CRACK SHOOTING.


centric officer in the United States ar
my, than Gen. R Over forty year.
he has been in active service-in the
wars of '12, in the Indian wars and the
skrimmages in Florida, upon the from.
tiers and in Mexico. He has never
been court martialed nor has he ever
worn any other dress than the blue OF
green since he entered the army, and
perhaps has been in more engagements
than any of his living contemporaries.
During and after the last war with
Great Britain the subject of my sketch
was stationed upon the frontier, and in
the neighborhood of Plattsburg particu-
1arly. He ewas at the time of the Incl
dent | am going to relate, lieutenant
in one of the crack shots with the dead
ly western rife.
Though the most civil and kind
hearted man in the world, the ieuten-
ant became entangled in an affair of
honor with brother officer. All at.
fempts at a settlement of the difficulty
proved Of no avail, and at last pistols
were al length agreed upon. NriIileI
of the parties were da fat in the line
pisfolic-iR fact, a respectfully dimen-
stoned barn door would have been per-
fectly safe at. a long distance.
1t was on freezing cold morning
that the combatants went out 10 finish
their difficulty with powder and lead,
The thing had been SO quietly man.
aged that none but the two seconds and
the surgeon knew any thing of it. The
ground selected was a clearing, cover
ed with stumps and felled trees-the
snow four feet on level, and a piercing
northwest wind. Zero had risen so far
above the temperature of the atmos-
phere, that man would have to climb
to reach it. s
The hero of my sketch was as cool
as the weather, while his opponent was
a hasty, fire-eating gentleman, full of
pluck, and as brave as any officer in the
corps. The ground, or the snow. that
covered il, was measured off accord
ing to, the then-existing rules of the
code" and the pistols were loaded in
the presence of the opponents. A bag,
containing sixteen bullets and rifle
mans powder-horn, was the sum of the
ammunition. 4, 49, -.- a
The combatants were duly stationed,
and, awaited the word-the (now) Gen
'eraf enveloped in warm overcoat,
while his adversary had forgotten that
indispensable accompaniment.
Are-you-ready ?p
"Ready,n by both. .s.s
Fire !-one-two-threem m
Both discharged their pistols at the
word two, and both without effect.
a Another shot p exclaimed the quick
tempered officer. $500. s..-5.z=. y
"a Agreed replied the other, without
waiting to consult his second.
The weapons were again loaded, and
discharged with the same effect as be-
Another shotp demanded the fire.
Agreed
And another shot it was, with like
result, Shot after shot was given and
taken, until the sixteen bullets put an
abrupt stop to the deadly strife.n
What IS to be done now p. asked
our hero,s second. {. s..ssT Is@..s /.
Any thing you please was the re-
& parIsy vas called and consulta-
ton was held between the two seconds
and surgeon. The principals were
sounded, and the result was, that the
challenger would hear of nothing but
an apology. s. .sssss..s -. -..s..s.s
81 won't give one" said R -, en-
phatically. e $1,000
Then we viii fight it out,v was the