The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1869-05-20
The Graves and Cilley Duel

Geo. Alfred Townsend writes the
following interesting items OF the
noted Graves and Cilley duel:
You cannot cure the Bladensburg
and Washington villagers OF their
belief that this duel between Jona-
than Cilloy, of Maine, u Democrat,
and w. L. Graves, OF Kentucky,
Wing, was fought on any other spot
than tho regular dueilng ground AT
Bladensburg. 1t was IN truth fought
here in Marlboro, and one of its sur
vivors, Mr. Jones, OF Wisconsin,,
Cilleys second, walked over the
ground with IL newspaper reporter,
several years ago. He paced the
distance, if | am not misinformed,
placed the men in imagination again,
and related the story with the vivid
interest of an actor in 1t. In like
manner, Aaron Burr is said to have
exhibited the battle ground cn Vice.
kawken Heights, where he killed
Hamilton, and told with the last
minuteness the circumstances OF the
tragedy. More people live who fig
ured on this site Of Cilley's death
than survive almost any historical
combat
First, there is James Watson Webb
our late noisy Resident Of Rio janet
70, and the especial pet of Mr.. scw-
ard, who was the original challenger
of Cilley. He lives on in boisterous
vitality, and Cilley has been doad
more than thirty years. Wcbb's
quarrel was the cause Of Cillcy's
death as much as if had put sub
stitute into battle and he had been
shot in my place. The report o.
Congl ess extant upon this subject
says;
"The committee entertain no
doubt that James Watson Webb ha,,
been guilty OF a breach of privileges
of the IL ,use but they also concur
unanimously in the opinion that if
there be any real ground to believe
that conspiracy to assassinate Mr..
Cilley actually existed, as set forth
in an atrocious paper drawn up by
him, signed by his friends, sworn to
and published in the New York
C0W'er and Enquirer, he be left TO
the chastisemcnt OF the court of law
and of public opinion, and that the
House will consult its own dignity
and the public interest by bestowing
! on him no farther notice"
In this elastic world, however,
public opinion goes backward often,
and Mr.. Webb has had his full share
Of honors despite the opinion of Con
grcss. One OF our Presidents, Jack
son, and one of our Vice Presidents,
Burr, have killed people in ducIs. -
jackson was nevertheless raised to
the Chief Magistracy.
Next there lives OF the family of
the successful duoiiist, NJ. Graves,
his widow and several chiIIren. The
preseat writer has hal the pleasure
of being q visitor at thc house OF Mrs
Graves 50 ieccatl y as 1868. ii Is in
| Louisville. and is now the home OF u
n.Iaw, Mr.. OSBORNE, Il .l"nrnalist.
Said the latter to me o. that "cea.
sion:
"Mr. Gath, Mrs. Graves never
llne her husbands whereabouts on
the day otthat duel till hat duel was
done =
Next, there exists both OF The r.
!cs ascd on that field, aud the fatal
one is possessed by the heirs of John
c. Rives, who lived but mile OF
two from the place of cohtlic..
Aad lastly, Old Henry \. Wise, is
3 living, Graves second, himself hang
ing ON to life by the ears and eyelids
and soon to bc summoned into th'
, presence of Old John Brown. In THU
duel he was the industrious bag
pipe.
, | stood on this SPOT {. few day
D ago, rs | have said. aud though
, again how contemptihlc every MAJ
: in the atfray must have iclt, whe!
Cil!ey dropped his rifle with sroal
cried to the next man, g am shot,
g pressed both hands upon his woun'
Q aud feI! dead. The scene OF the beast
: ly tournament is not known to b'
Q such by any of the neighbors now
$ 1t is lonely rs if cursed, but tn
l "atfair of honor" Is an old barn. yar'
# tradition, long expired, at least il
: that neighborhood.
: shall send you in my next tall
: upon Decatur's fatal field of comba
Q at Bladensburg. GATH.
;,