Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-03-08
BLADENsBURe DUEL,Ns GROUND.

BLADENsBURG DUELING GROUND.
The March number of Harper's Magazine
contains history Of this fatal dueling ground,
from which We take the following account of
the Mason and McCarty duel, which occurred
In 1918:
Mason and McCarty.
One Of the most desperate of those melancholy
encounters which have made this place so mem
Orabls was that Of the 9th of February, 1913,
between Gen. Armistead T. Mason. previously
Senator in Congress from Virginia, and Col
John NJ. McCarty. citizen Of the same State
The difficulty between them had existed for
some time IL originated in that most prolific
source Of personal municipalities The parties
were second cousins; but notwithstanding this,
their quarrel appears to have been prosec uted
with an aaimOsity Us unsparing as their rela-
tiOnship was intimate. Several months preyi-
GUS to the final meeting, n violent alteration
had taken place betwee them at the polls at
Leesburg, in consequence of Mason's having
questioned McCarty right to vote McCarty
ut once challenged Mason; but in his challenge
he prescribed the terms and conditions of the
duel. This IictItiOn of terms Mason would not
submit to; and consequently, by the advice of
his friends, he declined the challenge. At the
same time, however, be sent word to McCarty
that be was ready TO accept a regular chal-
lense, in proper form. McCarty paid no at
tontion to the message, but forthwith published
Mason as coward. Mason then sent a chal-
lenge to McCarty, which McCarty declined on
the ground of alleged cowardice in Mason, as
shown by his refusal to fight in the first in
stance AT this Juncture, number of Mason's =
personal friends united in a letter, begging him
To take no further notice of McCarty Though
Mason was burning under a sense of the wrongs
hs had received, he yielded to their entreaties
and the affair WAS to all appearances at an end
ha aft arH hnx 4
ing to Richmond in the stage, with a gentle-
man Of high military and political standing he
was told that be ought to challenge McCarty
again. This he decided to do as soon as he
reached Richmond 1t was in vain that his
friend. now endesyored to dissuade him. He
would not listen to their appeals In the Ian
guage of the card subsequently published by
them, - he had resolved on challenging Mr..
McCArty, in oppOs itiOn to all the advice which
they gave, and all the efforts which they made
to dissuade him To free himself from the
embarrsssments and restraint: imposed by the
laws OF Virginia in regard to dueling, or in
huenced, perhaps, by a determination not to
violate her statutes while holding his commits
SION, he resigned his commission as General of
Militia, made his will, and addressed McCarty
sn invitation to the fold In this note, which,
better than any description portrays the spirit
In which the controversy was conducted, he
says: have resigned my commission for the
special and sole purpose of fighting you; and
am now Tree to accept or send q challenge
and to fight duel. The public mind has be-
come tranquil, and all suspicion of the further
prosecution of our quarrel having subsided,
we can now terminate it without being arrested
by the civil authority, and without exciting
alarm among our friends" 81 am
extremely anxious to terminate at once and
forever this quarrel Ny friends and -
are fully authorised to act for Inc in every par
tcuIar Upon receiving from you a pledge to
hght, they are authorised and instructed at
on:e to give the challenge for me, and to make
immediately every necessary arrangement ior
the duel, on any terms you may prescribe"
This note. which fully betrays Mason's in
fexiblllty OF purpose, and which. it is stated,
was never read by McCarty, was written before
any Interview had taken place between Gen
Mason and his seconds, and was inclosed to
them In letter containing positive instruc-
tions for their government
He writes them . You will present the en-
closed communication to Mr.. John McCar,y,
and tell him at once that you are authorized
by me to challenge him, in the event Of his
Pledging himself to fight. If he will give the
pledge, then L desire that you will instantly
challenge him in nay name to fight a duel with
me Agree to any terms that he
may propose, and to any distance-to three
feet, hIs pretended favorite dstance-or to
tnroe inenes, should bis impetuOus and rash
courage prefer. To any species of fire arms
pistols muske:s or rifes-agree at once"
Aeung under these instructions, Mason's
seconds called on McCarty, as the bearer of his
challenge. McCarty again refused TO receive
any communication from Mason, for the same
reason as before. A violent personal aIterca-
tion then took place between McCarty and one
of Mason $ seconds, the latter insisting strong
iy that the challenge should be received and
accepted and The former Obstinately declined
10 receive 1t. The quarrel became so violent
teat the parties were near fighting. At last
Aason's seconds having threatened to post
AeCarty as coward unless be aeee pted the
challenge, McCarty agreed to fight 1t would
appear from this, that though Mason's friends
IN general and even one of his seconds stroye
% prevent the duel, il was forced upon McCar-
y by the other.
III the spirit which animated Mason in this
unfortunate controversy was headlong and un-
compromising, that which impelled McCarty
was apparently none the less 50. 1t is said he
would consent TO no meeting that afforded any
possibility for the escape Of either. Reckless
nis own life, he determined that if he fell his
antagonist should fall with him. He therefore
would oDly consent to meet Mason on such
terms "a must, In all probability, result in the
destruction Of bouh.
With this object in view in accepting the
challenge his FIRST proposal is said to have been
mat De and Mason should leap together from
the doLns OF the capitol This was declined as
wholly nnsans TONED by the Code lie next
proposed - to fght Gr barrel of powder"
-Ehich vas objected to- cay the seconds, '.as
not according with established usages, as being
~ithout example, and as calculated 10 estab-
hsh dangerous precedent" lie peyt pre-,
posed to fight with dirks, in a hand to hand
encounter This was also declined for a like
reason His final proposition was to fight s0itS
nr"'EetS, charged s-iM GHck-shOt, al ten. feet
aiSf3"o,. These terms were hardly less calcu-
lated ~ insure a fatal result to both than those
which had been previously objected to but,
desperate as they were, since they were clearly
within Mason's letter Of instructions, and per-
maps were not considered "as calculated to es-
tablish dangerous precedent" thew were 4.
nally, with some notifications, accepted. The
distance, II was agreed, should be twelve feet.
instead OF ten, and a single ball was substituted
for buck shot
In sxieauatiOn of the unusual terms O. com.
bat proposed by McCarty, it is said that be was
exceedingly averse to fighting his cousin, and
desired u escape the acceptance Of the chal.