Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-04-25
A Russian Duel.

A letter from St. Petersburg, in the Prog
ress, of Lyons, gives the following details of
the death of General Gerstenweig, military
commander of Warsaw, which, 1t may be re-
membered, took place some months since:
Three of the aides-de-camp of General
Count Lambert, the Emperor's Lieutenant in
Poland, hearing loud alteration in the cab
met of the latter, between him and Gersten-
weig, entered for the purpose of respectfully
interposing, but the Count, without giving
them the time to speak, said: Gentlemen, l
have ust been grossly insulted;' and then
turning to the General, added: After the
word you have just uttered, one of us must
be dead tomorrow That should be So re-
piled General Gerstenweig, with the greatest
GOODNESS; and the three officers, who had en-
tered on friendly mission, witnessed the
most singular conditions. The laws in Russia
interdict and severely punish duelling, and
moreover, In the present state of affairs in
Poland, the effect would have been most dis
astrous, If any dispute was known to have
arisen between the two highest persons in the
government of the kingdom. it was, there
fore, decided that lots should be drawn by the
two adversaries to which of them should
put an end to his own existence. That sad
iormaEty took place with the greatest cool
ness-for both generals were models of bravery
and the lot fell on General Gerstenweig,
who, turning to Count Lambert, said, in firm
voice, Count, there are several matters con-
nected with the service to be arranged, and /
have also private papers to put in order; Will
1t suit YOU If do not execute the sentence
till tomorrow 1T is what / should have re-
quested,' replied Count Lambert. The two
bowed courteously to each other, and General
Gerstenweig withdrew. The three aides-de-
camp, pale and motionless, remained silent,
and the Count, with much emotion, said to
them Il can readily conceive, gentlemen, the
feelings which oppress you; but the fault of
this deplorable event does not lie with me-
And then, striking his forehead with his hand,
he added: What a fatality This will greatly
affect the Emperor. should have preferred
that the tomb were opened for myselfp
On the following day, General Gerstenweig,
standing before a looking-glass, discharged
two pistols at his head. The ball of the first
went round part of the frontal bone, making,
however, deep incision on the skull The
second was mortal, and the General fell
Two soldiers, hearing the report, rushed into
the room, and found him lying on the floor in
great agony. They placed him on his bed
when he soon recovered his senses. He re-
fused all medical assistance, but sent for his
aide-de-camp. The report of his suicide soon
became current, although every endeavor was
used to make it believe that he had been
struck by apoplexy. Count Lambert went to
him, and shaking him by the hand, expressed
his regret at what had happened, and retired
bathed in tears. The General lived for forty.
two hours in the greatest suffering, and then
expired lie was sensible to the last, begging
the officers who were near to him to conceal
the of his death as long as possible from
his wife. As TO my son. Ga young man OF
seventeen. now at st. Petersburg), 'let him
know that | have not died like coward, who
failed in his duty, or feared the responsibility
of his acts. but to obey the prescriptions OF
military honor. Let him know all that NAV
honor the memory of his father"