Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-09-21

Y been slower to FIRE and uncertain in aim
Ergo, Peasants would have killed Rit
$ cnie stone dead before Richie coul,
: have fired at all; aud on this we ar,
9 ready to bet two to one. But, happily
: or unhappily, perhaps-luckily for AnnI
Q Cora Mowatt, at all events-the due
. never was fought. s,5a.uD.... +.
| General Pegram, President Of tn,
: Bank Of Virginia, who subsequently
went up from an exploded Mississippi
, steamer and was killed, and james
Lyons, an eminent lawyer, lately great
rebel, and probably one still in Rich
, mond, elected themselves mediatorial
J committee, and worked persistently un-
til they found the honorable salve re-
. quired for such difficult cases.
The Richie party was at the house OF
, Ritchie and Peasants was at the Office
of the Wing, with his brother, Hugh
Peasants twho was Hampden's second
in the affair the night before the duel
came off-aud that was TO be at Clark s
spring, woody spot near Richmond, the
hour six o'clock am. Hugh afterward
got into an "onpleasantness" with John
Tyler, jr, and they went down to North
Carolina to do duel--but they didn't
do it.
The stumbling in the way of an
honorable settlement of the difficulty
was one Washington Greenhow Wash
ington was pleasant young gentleman,
of the first responsibility, who found
much satisfaction in cultivating honor
able muses. between other people. He
was a full type of the Hector Mac Turk
school, and was much sought after when
pistols, shotguns, and like effective arbi-
traitors were in request. al
He was punctilious on all points
to excess; and his refinements in this
degree were so persistent, that at half
past three o'clock am, an attendant
was ordered to go to the Wing Office and
notify Pleasants to get ready, for no ac-
commodation could be reached. This,
however. drew word from Greenhow-
the messenger was called back-the pow
WOW assumed new life and interest; and
by the time the duel was to have been
fought the whole thing had added in the
handsomest possible manner. After
which all parties drew long breath,
"took something" and retired to the
peaceful calm of Morpheus realm.
The sore between Peasants and the
Ritchies was far from healed by the set
tlement of the affair with William. On
the contrary, duel once admitted, and
the sons thus coming into the area of
controversy, blood was sure to flow
sooner or later An affair between Hugh
Peasants and John Tyler, jr., son of
President Tyler, and which had its origin
in the Enquirer, only fed the eager flame.
About four or five years after the diff
Guilty with William, John II. Peasants
became involved in quarrel with Thos.
Ritchie, jr., which eliminated in a
bloody and fatal fight In an intemper-
ate article, Pleasants was grossly in
suited by the younger Ritchie, who called
him an abolitionist and coward, with
sneer at his course in the affair with his
brother William. Such an outrage could
have but one result-bloodl For several
days an encounter in the street was i'm
minent, for Peasants would not admit
the duel to wipe out such an insult. A
street fight was his settled purpose, but
friends came forward, and fight in form
was agreed upon.
The encounter took place in Manches-
ter, across the James river from Rich
mond. AT 6 o'clock, on a calm, soft,
sweet and sunny morning, the combat
ants, seconds, surgeons and few friends
Of each, were assembled in a secluded |
spot, for one or two to be murdered |
Peasants was placed sixty PAGES distant
from Ritehie, armed with sword-cane,
two dueling pistols, revolver in his
pocket, and bowie-knife. Ritchie was
armed with seven dueling pistols in a
belt, and short strong, sharp Roman |
sword He also held light cane, using
it as rest for his pistol when firing.
Peasants made no use OF his bowie, nor
of his revolver in the fight. He had
also drawn the ball from one of his duel
ing pistols the night before, as he de-
clared afterward.
The combatants were placed in posi-
tion-the terms being that Peasants
should advance upon Richie and make
the assault-and some negotiations were
in progress; but Washington Greenhow
was there, as Ritchie's friend" and 20
peaceable settlement could of course be
made.
The signal was given-Pleasants ad-
vanced-Ritchie commenced and con-
Iinued firing until his seven pistols we're
emptied. Peasants fired but once while
advancing; was wheeled nearly around
by one shot which struck him-pushed
IN under the murderous fire until he
came face to face with Ritchie--fred his
till loaded duelling- pistol directly at
lunge with his cane
word which was parried--and then fell
o the ground with five pistol wounds,
me fatal in the groin.
He died within three days.
Young Richie took to violent drinking
md died in about two years, leaving his
property Of some S25, 900 TO Peasants |
laughter, who refused to accept it. A
PISTOL ball had killed one but remorse i.
nd whisky were no less fatal to the {
,ther. Both were estimable, amiable /
md generous men and had been cordial :
|