The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1867-05-24

nuttons OF MS coat. then tylng. WIN ln-
stock TN hand, aud waiting until the
column was sufficiently near for his deadly
salmagundi TO take effect, he leaped up and
discharged the piece. II moved q swsth
] through the entire column, and threw il
into confusion, during which the garrison
inside, astouuded at his daring, rushed forth
again, overwhelmed the enemy and saved
the tort Gen. Miller, who arrived day or
two after, on hearing of the exploit com.
| plimented its author at parade, and bre
vetted him first lieutenant on the spot.
ln all the operations of that wear Shell
don bore his full share, and at its close
while the army was in winter quarters,
took furlough and visited my father
among other friends. On the formers's ex.
| poslulating with him concerning tho duel
at Greeuln,sh, Sheldon disavowed any NAL
ice against Bloomfield, but said that at the
time he thought himself obligated as a mil
itary man, to satisfy the code of honor. lie
confessed however, to a change Of opinion
| in that regard, an adherence Of the practice
of duvlhng. and his determination never
again to.be engaged in it /; aud in proof. of
his sincerity showed several challenges he
had since received and declined. " They
know me now, said he, "and that IL is not
cowardice that Influences me, aud | care
! little What they say"
On returning to the border, he found
! Lake Ontario frozen over and u very pleas.
ant intercourse established between the
officers of the opposing armies, who met
daily in skating parties on the lake. Invi.
| tatious were also given to our men to come
over and attend theater which had beer
improvised at Lutte York, now Toronto
where the British were lying for the win
ter. Accepting Que of these proposals, Shell
don Mas present one evening in . box with
several OF the enemys officers, when dur.
ing an iuterlude of the play, the orchestra
played the air F" Sod Save the Ki G." the
audience accompanying tho words OF the
chorus, swinging their chapeaux. Sheldon
did hot Join, but continued sitting and
wearing his hat. On being chided therefor
by British ollicor, he explained by saying
that lie was nothypocrite enough to huzza
for man with whom his nation was a
war, and with whose representatives he ex
pected OH the opening Of the spring, to he
engaged in mortal strife. The reply was
when in Rome you should do as Romans
do" 80, we'll, said he, " if you will have
me halloo, have it; but perhaps you may MOI
favor my version of tho chorus. II viii
at least, have the merit Of sincerity" Al
|
cordingy swung his cap, but changed the
tenor OF the line, God iSuUe the King" bN
the substitution of a word expressive o.
the farthest possible discrepancy of mean
! ing This was followed by n blow from Q
cane in the hands of the officer aforesaid
returned by one from Sheldon's fist, When
a melee was prevented by the interference
| of others. OF course, a challenge was the
| uh nod
transgresscd the bounds of propriety, de
termined to give his opponent an opportu
nifty to satisfy his honor, without he him
self endangering the others life.
1t became known that the challenger was
an elderly officer and dead shot, who had
left his reputation for skill with the pistol
| in the record of four fatal duels in which
| he had heeu u principal. while on the Wes
India station. OF course, Shelllon expected
to tall, aud made all his preparations Tor his
last hivouac on the frontier. But up to the
moment of meeting his adversary, and ever
Later, he adhered to his determination no.
to attempt deadly return.
1t was hitteily cold January morning
when they met TO settle the matter. The
words, alter taking position, were to be
Are you ready? One. two, three, fire J.
| Sheldon stood and calmly looked his oppo
nent in the eye, while the latter cOolly took
deliberate aim and fired Us the word wae
pronounced. His bullet winged some ot
the abundant locks above Sheldons ear
who then raised his pistol and fired into
the air, remarking that he hoped his ad
versaiy was satisfied. A prompt and suler
negative was the reply. A second trial
followed, when the Briton's ball penetrated
| Sheldon's cap and grazed his scalp. The
latter repeated his aiiEless shot, and once
more expressed his desire that his opponent
might feel content. Maddened by the fail
ure of his boasted skill, the Briton growIed
curtly that nothing would satisfy him ex
cept an inability of one or the other ia
leave the ground uhassisted. "If that be
your sentiment said Sheldon, now fairly
reused, {" | shall not again waste my fire.
The fact was, the unusual cold the morn
ing had deranged the usually infallible ain
of the professed dnelist, who always SEN
his bullet through the head of his opponent
and had been essaying hitherto the same
practice in the present instance, Now
| however. he changed his tactics and at the
third rOnnd, both fired simultaneously, his
antagonists ball grazing Shedon's breast tc
the ribs ard sternum, while the latter's sho
was buried in the forehead Of tho other
causing him TO fall forward on his face, dead
without a motion.
Sheldon's hurt being a flesh wound
merely, required only care and attention for
awhile to effect his complete restoration.
But with his usual carelessness he persisted
in treating it as a "mere scratch which
by his taking cold, became inAamed and
began to affect his lungs. When General
Miller visited the frontier in the spring, ht
noticed change in Sheldon's health, and
learning the circumstances said, Young
man, your case requires prompt attention
where you can have rest aud tue best med
ieal skill" He accordingly made immedi
ate arrangements and sent him to Fort In.
dependence in Boston harbor for proper
treatment But he had neglected himself
too long consumption had taken too deep
a h Id upon him to be nnseated, and affer
few lingering months, he succumbed, re-
grotting only that he conld not die on the
battlefield, facing the foes of his country.
The moralst will exclaim. " He died as
the fool dieth," and would not gainsay it,
| My object in this sketch has been, not to
Justify the man or his practices, but simply
to claim niche for him in the temple OF
valor, among the many who in our own dey
have won the admiration of their country.
men for soidierly qualities crowned at
length by a characteristic death, which,
while it cannot make saints OF them, yet
in charitys eye, hides a multitude OF
sins" f-,t
How CoRALs WoRK.-Prof. Agassiz, in a
recent lecture thus described the manner