Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1853-07-13

conversation took place between us; The prep
aratoIs for Inc duel were finished; tic parties
went in their places; and | went forw ard to a
piece of rising gro1nJ, from " hicl could see
what passed and heal what was said. The
faithful Johnny followed me close, speaking
nor word but evincing the deepest anxiety
for hrs beloved master. The place WIS thick
forest and The immediate spot a lille depres-
sion, or BASIN in which the parties st, cd. The
principals saluied each other contleously as
they took their stands. Col. Tatlal had won
the choice OF position. which gave 10 General
Jesup the delivery of the word. They stood
on line east and west a small stump juzi
behind Mr. Clsy;a low gravelly NIX rose just
behind Mr.. Randolph This latter asked Gen.
Jesup TO repeat the word as he would give il:
and while IN the act Of doing 50, and Mr.. Ran
doph adjusting The butt OF the pistol to his
hand, the mUZzle pointing downwards and al
most 10 The ground, it fired. Instantly Mr..
Randolph turned to Col. TatnalI. and said: Il
protested against that hair trigger" Col Tat.
nall took blame 10 himself for having sprung
the hair. Mr.. Clay had not then received hi.
pistol. Mr.. Johnson, (Josat) one of his ST.
conds, was carrying it 10 hIm.and still several
steps from hun. This untimely fire, though
clearly an accident, necessarily gave riso to
some remarks, and species Of inquiry which
was conducted with the utmost deicacy, but
which, in itself, was Of nature 10 be mex
pressibly painful 10 genteman's feelings
Mr. Clay stopped it with the generous remark
hat the fire clearly an accident, and it
was so unanimously declared. Another pis-
to was Immediately furnished; an exchange
of shots took place, and happily. without ef.
feet upon the persons. Mr.. Randolph's bull
let struck the stump behind behind Mr.. Clay.
and Mr.. Cay's knocked up the earth and gray
81 lehind Mr.. Randolph and in a line with
the level of his hips, both bullets having gone
so true and close that il was marvel how
they missed The moment had come for me
to inierpose. | went IN among the parties
and offered my mediation, but nothing could
be done. Mr.. Clay said with that wave oil
the hand with which he was accustomed lo
put away a triAe' "THiS IS child's play!' and
required another fire. Mr. Randolph also de.
manded another fire. The seconds were di.
rccIed to reload. While this was doing pre-
vailed on Mr. Randolph to walk away from his
post, and renewed to him. more pressingly
tllan ever, my opportunities to yield TO some
accommodation; but found him more deter
mined than | had ever seen him, aud for the
frat time impatient and seemingly annoyed
and dissatisfied at what was dong. He was
indeed annoyed and dissatisfied. The acoiden
tai fire OF his pistol preyed upon bis feelings
lie was doubly ohagrined at II, both as. a cir.
cnmstance susceptible in itself of an unfair In
terpretation,and as having been the immediate
lie regretted this fire the instant it was over
lie lelt that il had subjected him to impu,a.
tons from which he knew himself TO be free;
desire TO kill Mr.. Clay, and contempt for
and controlling cause of his firing at Mr. Clay
The laws Of his beloved State and the annoy.
anceS which he felt at these vexatous circum-
stances revived his original determination and
decided him irrevocably to carry il oul.
| 1t was in this interval that he told me what
he had heard since we parted, ard 10 which he
alluded " hen he spoke to me from the window
of the carriage. 1t WIS 20 This effect: That he
had been informed by Col Talnall that it wa:
proposed to give out the words with more de-
llberaieness, so as TO prolong the til e for ia
king aim. This information grated harsh,y upon
his feelings, 1t unsettled his purpose, anc
brought his mind to the inquiry las he now toc
me-, AID as | found it expressed in the note
which he had immediarly witren in pencil Il
apprlze me OF his possible changc) wether I'm
der these circumstances, he might not "disa
bic" his Adversary This note is so character
stlc, and such az essential part Of this affair
that here give lis very words, SO far as relates
to this point 1t ran thus
Information received from Col. Tatnallsinct
got into the carriage ray induce me to change
my mind, Of not returning Mr.. Clay's fire.
seek not his death. would not have his blood
upon my hands-it will not be upon my soul
II shed in self defence-for the world. He ha.
determined, by the use ola long preparatory
caution by words, TO get time to kill me. May
| not, then, disable him? Yes, III please"
1t has been seen by the statement of Gen
Jesup. already given that this Conformation
was misapprehension; that Mr.. Clay had not
applied for prolonga,ion of lime for the pur
pose OF getting sure aim, but only to enable
his unused hand, long unfamiliar with the pis
to, to FIRE within the limited time; that there
was no prolongation, in fact, either granted OF
insisted upon but he was in doubt, and Gener
al Jesup having won the word, he was having
hun repeat II in the way he was to give it ou
when his finger touched the hair-trigger. How
| untpIluuata that Iia y,ot Il II; in, tim,