The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1863-11-12

On the old stage route leading from
Washington to Baltimore, short half
mile beyond the boundary of the District
of Columbia, and within mile of Bladens-
burg, few years ago the traveller might
have observed on the right hand side of
the road-just where he crossed little
bridge-a small patch of low, unreclaimed
land, thickly overgrown with tree. and
tangled vines. There may have been ten
or fifteen acres of it. 1t was one of those
neglected corners where everything had
so lung been permitted TO have its own
way, that even a bold cultivator might
well pause before it in despair. A rauk
vegetation had overspread the place in
savage exuberance, apparently defying all
human efforts to penetrate it. Great
groups of alders radiated their stems in
every direction. Willows innumerable
clustered aloog the margin of the brook.
Occasional sycamores displayed their un-
mitigated ugliness with impunity, white
here and there the dark cone of cedar
crowded its way upward into the sunlight,
rejoicing in its thrift. and looking down
| upon the cmacilted 6e!ds in its
vicinity with an expression of uidisguised
contempt. A heavy growth of brsi"bles
wound themselves in imrenetrable masses
| underneath while overhead. the long
| vines clambered from tree to tree in wild
luxuriance, and seemed to revel in the
enjoyment of weaving their fantastic
draperies undisturhed. Altogether, it was
az forsaken looking a spot, and one a.
little likely to be sought by man, for any
purpose Whatever, as would probably be
encountered in summer days journey.
Apart from its wildncss, however, there
was nothing about the place to attract the
attention of the traveller and unless it had
been specially pointed out to him by some
one acquainted with its history, he would,
in all likeliho God, have passed it wholly
uhobserved. But yet that dark looking
jungle, apparently8o VOID of interest, is
locality known all over America. Il is the
celebrated Blodeasbuy Duelin4 Ground
The ground usually chossh for the
combat was that portion of the path which
ran along the west margin Of the brook, at
right angles to the road.
One of the most desperate of those
melancholy encounters which have made
this place so memorable, was that Of the
9th of February, 1919, between General
Armistead I. Mason, previously Senator
in Congress, from Virginia, and Colonel
John NJ. M'Carty, a citizen of the same
State. The difficulty between them had
existed for some time. 1t originated in
that most prolific source of personal enm-
ty, politics The parties were second
cousins but notwithstanding this, their
quarrel appears to have been prosecuted
with an animosity as unsparing as their
relationship was intimate. Several months
previous to the fnal meeting, violent
alteration had taken place between them
at the polls at Leesburg, IN consequence
Of Mason's having questioned M'Carty's
right to vote. M'Carty at once challenged
Mason, but in his challenge he prescribed
the terms and conditions of the duel This
dictaton of terms Mason would not submit
to; and consequently by the advice of his
friends. he declined the challenge. a.
the same time, however, he sent word to
M'Carty that he was ready to accept
regular challenge in pre- per form. NJ
Carly paid no attention to the message,
but forthwith published Mason as
coward. Mason then sent a challenge to
M'Ca-ty, which M'Carty declined, on the
ground of alleged cowardce ia Mason, as
shown by his refusal to fight in the frs,
instance. At this jupcture number Of
Mason's friends united in letter. begging
him to take no further notice of NJ 'Carty.
Although Mason was burning under
sense of the wrongs he had received, he
yielded to their entreaties, and the affair
was, 20 all appearances, at an end
Some months aiterward, however, while
riding to Richmond in the stage. with
gentleman of high military and political
standing, GGeneral Jackson he vas told
that he ought to challenge M'Carty again
This he decided to do as soon as he reached
Richmond. 1t was iu vain that his friends
now endeavored to dissuade him He
would not listen to their appeals. In the
language of the card subsequently, pub
lished by them, "he had resolved on
challenging Mr.. MCarty in opposition to
all the advice which they gave, and all
the efforts which they made to dissuade
him." To free himself from the embar-
rassments and restraints imposed by the
laws of Virginia in regard 10 dueliag, or
perhaps, by determination
not TO violate her statutes while holding !
her commission, he resigned his commits
sion as General of Militia, made his will,
and addressed M'Carty an invi:ation to
the field. In this note, which better than |
any description, portrays the spirit in
which the controversy was conducted, he