The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1870-10-27
sTAIJNTON VIRGINIA THURSDAY OCTOBER 81, 1870.

er than Ghoson-say about the twenty-ml-
lioneth part of half second ahead.
The recent death Of Mrs Anna Cora Now
at Richie recalls the facts OF a duel which
her husband almost fought, but which finally
ended and which not only created great
sensation in Virginia at the time, but became
interviewer with subsequent events, which
terminated in bloody encounter and the
death of one Of the principals in the affair at
tho hands of Ritchic's brother. The facts
never got more than casual notice in the
papers, and are here detailed for the first
time. To understand the whole case, 1t is
necessary to say that Thomas Ritchie-or
Father Richie, as he was generally called
was the editor of the Richmond Enquirer
aud welded about the whole power of the
Democratic party of Virginia John Hamp-
den Pleasants was the editor OF the Richmond
! Wing and the representative editor and wrl-
ter of his party in that State. He was the
son of Gov. Peasants, and bold, chlvalrous,
and generous hearted man, who held to the
code of honor" Richie was not fighting
! man. ........,.f
] For years hot antagonism progressed be
.uoo. .,...a two editors; engenderlng an in
."ee ', Us ',et as might have been
| expected. About the year lo>1' oo'ns'',nd
unusually heated arose in these pa" e.
/ 10 an editorial Peasants said, submiss.,. o'y ;
the following: "Wc have been engaged in
controversy with the editor of the Euqnirer
for twenty years, aud it sAames OUT manhood
! t, know that we have neSer. used anything
shor,. ar than pcn'' According to /" the
/ code this sarcasm wasa deadly insult, which
( noth;,o hnt ni.,tols, ten PAGES and blood,
could wipe out. ~ !,
Richie had two sons, il'a'll - ,,,, '''e q
der, WHO married Mrs Howatt, as2o ihoA'as'
jun. the younger-who Killed Pleasa1's y =, d
! fight about four years atterward. In,
mortal offence was taken up by William, and
challenge sent to Pleasants. Being prompt
" accepted, and the terms settled, everything
was lovely ns,ctween the two gentlemen, Per
| haps s would be as ,-All here to speculate on
""at ,"1 fesu'v ~ aecide
provided it had been fous..@, SO as to
how We would have been on the 1ssuc, IT We
had bet Oh it at all The terms we're shot
guns, loaded with twelve buck shots; laid
unlocked at the combatants' feet, muzzles out
ward; the parties to stand back to back, and
at the word, wheel, to seize their weapons aud
IRE distance, twelve PAGES. This was sure
death to somebody Who would it have been 4?
We put the interesting problem and solution,
thus: Rltchle was tall, near sighted, wore
spectaces, and was wholly unused to the
weapon selected Peasants was short of stat
ure, one Of the very best shots in Virginia,
ri IL
used SO much 50 that with double barreled
gun he was sure Of Il front and rsa. partridge
on a fair /" rising Hence it would have
taken Richie logger to get his gun into posi-
ton and he would be slower to fire. and un
certain in aim. Ergo. Pleasauts would have
killed Richie stone dead before Richie could
have fired at all and on this we are ready
10 bet, two to one. But, happlly-or unhap- |
PLY. perhaps luckily for Anna Cora Mowatt,
at all eyents-the duel was mover fought
The sore between Peasants aud Richie
was far from being healed by the settlement
Of the affair with William On the contrary
a duel once admitted, and the sons coming
into the area OF controversy, blood was sure
to flow. sooner or later. An affair between
Hugh Peasants aud John Tyler Jr., son of
President Tyler. and which had its origin in
the Enquirer" only fed the fame. About
four or FIVE years after the difficulty with
William. John H Peasants became involved
in quarrel with Thomas Richie, Jr,, which
culrninated in a bloody and fatal fight. In an
Incorporate article, Pleaaanta was grossly in
suited by the younger Richie, who called
him an abolitonist and a coward, with sheer
at his course in the affair with his brother
William. Such an outrage could have but
one result7-blood. For several days an en-
counter in the streets was imminent, for Pleas
ants would not admit the duel to wipe out
such an insult A street fight was his settled
purpose but friends came forward, aud a.
fight IN form was agreed upon The cncoun-
ter took place in Manchester, across the
James river from Richmond At six o'clock
on calm soft, sweet sunny morning, the
combattants, seconds, SURGEONS and a few
friends of each, were assembled in secluded
spot, for one or two to be murdered Pleas !
ants was placed sixty PAGES distant from
Richie. armed with sword, two dueling
pistols, revolver in his pocket, and bowie
knife RltclIie was armed with seven duel |
Ing pistols in a belt and short, strong, sharp |
Roman sword. He also held light cane
using it as "rest = for his pistol when fir
ing Peasants made no use of his bowie nor
OF his revolver in the fight. He had also |
drawn the ball from one Of his dueling pis-
tolls the night before as he declared after
wards. The comhatants wero placed in posi-
tlon-the terms being chat Pleasant should
advance upon Richie, and make the assault
l-and some negotiations were in progress
but Washington Grenow was there, as Ritch
les F" friend" and no peacabe settlement
could of course be made The signal was
glven-Pleasants advanced-Ritchie COM
mcnced ard continued firing until his seven
pistols were emptIed. Peasants fired but
once while advancing. was wheeled nearly |
around by one shot which struck him-push-
ed on under the murderous fire until he came
face to face with Ritchie-fring his duelins
pispo directly at Richie made lunge
with bis cane sword, which was parried-and |
then tell to the ground with FIVE pistol wounds
one fatal in the groin He died within three
days. Young Richie took to violent drink
ing and died in about two years, leaving his
property of some sa5 900 to Peasants
daughters, who refused to accept it. A pia
tot ball killed one but remorse and whiskoy
were no less fatal to the other Both we're
estlmahle, amiabc, and generous men, and