Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1864-03-04
A Southern Duel.

v
periority Of Southern manners and char
acter, but an insight into their social sys
tenn rarely fails to awaken horror and re-
pugnance. Is there any civilized com
munity in any other part Of the worlc
where such an outrage as ia related b,
Mr.. Parton in his life Of Gen. Butler
would be tolerated?
The principals of the duel we're Col
Augustus Aston, a graduate of Wes
Point, and Col. Lee Reed lanters
both chief men of their county poll
licians, of course; long-siandng bitle
feud between the families, aggravated by
political aspirations and disappointment
the whole county sympathiziog with ont
or the other-esgerly, wildly sympathiz
ing. AT length one of the Aston party
on slight pretex, challenged Reed, which
challenge Reed refused to accept; M
man but Aston for his pistol. Another
Alstonian challenge, and yet another de
clined. Then Aston himself sent chal
lenge-Alston, the best shot in the State
whose citizens cultivated the deadly ar
with tie saints toiling after perfection
This challenge Lee instantly accepted
Weapon, the rifle, hair trigger, ounce
ball. Men to stand at twenty pac+s,
back TO back to wheel at the word one;
to fire as soon as they pleased after the
word the second to continue counting
as far as five after which no firing.
Lee was a slow, portly mana good
shot if he could only fire in his own way
without this preliminary wheeling. lie
regarded himself as a dead man he felt
that he lad no chance whatever Of his
life on such terms, no; one in thousand.
He bought coffin and n shroud, and ar
ranged his affairs for immediate death.
The day before the duel, his second,
Captain in the army, took him out OF
town and gave him long drill in the
wheel and .fre.exercise. The pupil was
inapt could not get the kDack of wheel
ing. If he wheeled quickly his aim was
bad; if he wheeled slowly there was no
need of his wheeling at all, for his an
Iagonist was as ready with wheel as trig
ger, from old practice al West Point.
Lee" said The captain, you must wheel
quicker, or you've no chance" Stimu
ated by this remark, Lee wheeled with
uch velocity, and fred with such success
Is TO bring down neighbor riding along
he road.
Lee sent his coffin and shroud TO the
ield. Mrs. Aston accompanied h
Il have come, she said to see
Lee Reed shot
The men we're placed, and the seconds
counted ono. IN swiftly wheeling, the
light cape of Alston's coat touched the
air-trigger, and his ball whisiled over
Reeds head, who stood amazed, with
his rife hair presented. The word tao
recalled him to himself he fred and AL
ston fell pierced through the heart. Mrs.
Aston flew TO her fallen husband, and
found the ball which had slain him. In
the sight and hearing of all the witnesses
OF the duel, her dead husband bleeding
at her feet, she lifted the ball, and with
loud voice and fierce dramatic gesture,
swore that the ball should kill Lee Reed
In the afternoon, ten Of the Aston
party, headed by Lewis Aston, the bro.
Their of the deceased, drew themselves
up, rifle ia hand, bowie-knife and pisto
in belt, before the hotel in which the ad
herents of Reed were assembled, con-
graduating their chief They sent 10 1
message challenging ten of the Lee par
ty to come forth and fight them in tn,
public square. Much parleyng ensued
which ended in the public dining room
at which also sat men, ladies and child
dren--a large number-Dr. McCormicl
among them. Willis Aston entered
took bis stand opposite Lee, drew a pis
tol and shot him through the liver. Tn
wound was not mortal. A fter som
months of confinement, Lee was wei
sgaiD, and went gu Il as usual, tn
bloody minded Aston still loose anon;
the people. They met at length in thu
streets Of the town, aud Aston shot hin
again, this time infliciing a mortal wound
Then there was the bideous iuce Of
trial. Every man in the court room, ex
cept two, was armed TO the teeth. Thes,
two were the judge and the principa
witness-Dr. Mccormick. The jury
men all had a rife at their side in tn,
jury-box--,wclve men, twelve i fl e S
The prisoner bad two enormous horse
pistols protruding from his vest. Tn
spectators were all armed; the Lees t.
prevent a rescue in case of convition
the Alstons, to protect their man in cas-,
Of aquittsl. That night, the trial no
yet concluded, the prisoner deemed i
best TO escape {, ON prison. He want I,