Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1855-04-12

SroKT OF A BRAvE MAs.-The tele.
graph briefly announces this mornino
!. the suicide at Jackson, Miss, of Coloue
Alexander X. MeClung. Our manu-,
script dispatch reads, "Col. McClung
the Duellist;;" but be was otherwise dis,
tinguisbed, in a very eventful life in tn,
Southwest, than for his prowess undei
the boody "Code of Honor" and de
serves, in death, to be remembered a
4 well for the good which he did,, as fol
The evil which the telegraphic RECORD
would cause to live after him. He wa
a brave man for his country in war, a:
well as a desperate one in defence Of hi:
own perhaps too sensitive, honor, in
peace. He was prompt, gallant, and
distinguished in the Volunteer Service
in Mexico, in 1847, under General Tay.
lor. He was the first to scale the Black
Fort at Monterey, and for his intrepidi-
ty in placing the Stars and Stripes on
its captured walls, was marked and
pierced by the enemy with wounds
under which he suffered the most ago.
nizing pains for FIVE or six months, and
chafed that he could not be rid of them
to bear his part on the field of Buena
Vista, within few miles Of which he
was inyalided. hf
The personal story of Colonel Me-
Chung, though sanguinary one, is not
without its reliefs. He was called a
desperate duellist; not that he was by
nature blood-thirsty, or loved the prac-
tice for the poor renown it brought him,
but because when he did fight in this
way, which was not often, he made no
compromises for the chances of life;
and exacted as well as granted, the ex-
treme terms of the code, as practised in
Mississippi fifteen or twenty years ago,
when extravaganza and desperation in
every department of life, appeared for
season to run riot. His first meeting
was in 1888 or 1884, with man by the
name of Allen. The weapons, pistols,
TO be fred at ten PAGES, or while ad
vancing nearer to each other, and then
the use of the bowie knife. Allen fell.
The second meeting was FIVE years after
wards, or more, with young Mennifee.
at Vicksburg, the brother of Richard
H. Mennifee, Member of Congress from
Kentucky in 1838-'39. The weapon,
the rifle; both parties excellent shots,
but Mennifee fell at the second fire
There may have been other alterations
in which he was engaged, but they are
not now remembered. These two fatal
transactions gave notoriety to the man
which be was far from being proud of,
and the public recollection of which he
endeaYored to efface, in his ripper years,
by political and military service, first as
the head Of the Wing press in Missis-
sippi in the Presidential campaign of
1910; then as Marshal of the United
States for the Northern District of the
State, and afterwards as volunteer to
Mexico, the Lieutenant Colonel of his
regiment. After the war he was the
political friend of General Taylor, not
to the exclusion of Mr.. Clay, of whose
neighborhood in Kentucky McClung
was native, but in default of his nomi-
nation at Philadelphia. Under his Ad-
he was appointed to a di
plOmatic station as Charge d. Afaires to |
South America, the Capital of
which, far in the interior Of the country,
he no doubt had too much difficulty to
find to i've impressed by its greatness or
captivated by its social or political at
fractions. He returned to the United
States after two years residence near
the Bolivian Government, in the year of
1851, since when we had heard little of
him until the present dreadful announce
ment of death By his olCn hand. His
age must have been about As years.
~ y. Times, March 27.