Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1873-01-09
SELECTED STORY.
A TERRIBLE DUEL.
CONTRIBUTED BY AN OLD RESIDENT.

CONTRIBUTED BY AN OLD RESIDENT.
The story which we shall relate is q
true one. The facts occurred in the
earlier part of this century few years
before the last war with Great Britain
We have often heard them narrated by
one who was conversant with all the
circumstances, which we shall give as
nearly as we can in the words Of the
gentlemen from whom we received
them, and who died in our city during
the pestilence Of 1855.
In the days to which we refer, the
fightful "code of HONOR as it was
misnamed, was acknowledged every
where by all persons of distinction in
civil life, and OF course, by all officers
of the army and navy of the United
States Its universal sway is evident
from the number of duels that took
place among eminent citizens, and es-
pecially in the two services. Terrible
was the penalty inflicted upon the ci-
william OF the officer who dared to re-
fuse to subscribe to it's most absurd and
bloody behests. If a PAINTER, law
yer OF politician, he was ruined for
life; if an officer he was driven to re-
sign his commission. Happily for the
people of this age, they cannot realize
the fate Of man who had 80 much NOR
al courage as to decline from conscien-
tious scluples, to meet hi. insulter in
the '.field of honor" Snubbed and re-
viled by all his former friends, his
name uttered only with contempt,
Stunned and despised by even his
his relatives, and loAthed by the wo
men, the existence Of such an outcast
was worse than death itself
The common law of society being
such as we have described it, wonder
should not be excited when we read
that many ofthe best and purest men
of the period to which we refer, were
forced, against the dictates of their
conscience, to acknowledge the william
GUS ':code," which now bears sway on
ly in the least civilized portions Of ON
country-though at the period (which
we are writing, it prevailed in full force
throughout the Union.
Lieutenant Midnight was an officer
of the United States Navy, and the
most famous duelist of his day. His
shot was unerring, and to stand before
his pistol at ten PAGES was to die. Like
most protested ''men of honor he was
well versed in the "code' and knew
how to take advantage Of its provisions
in reference to time, weapons and dis
lance. At the period of our story many
of the officers Of the navy had killed
more than one man but Midnight had
excelled them all-for he had killed
six. Whenever he went on ship, her
cruise was not expected to terminate
without burying one, at least of her
officers on foreign shore, hurried to
his account by the pistol that never
mi ssed its aim. His presence at a mess
was looked upon with terror, and when
it's was known that he was ordered to a
ship, his messmates whispered among
themselves, (which Of us is to be muir
dered by that man."
In the year 18-one Of our national
yes els was ordered to proceed from
Norfolk to the Mediterranean. Among
the officers detailed for the cruise was
Lieutenant Midnight. A few days be-
fore the ship sailed,he came on board,
and when he appeared upon the deck a
sudden gloom came over the faces of
those who behe him. He was re-
ceived by all with cold military polite
ness and no more-everyone avoided
conversation with him, for each man
feared that he himself would be the
victim whom the dread duelist would
send to his last home before the end
of the cruise.
Before sailing, the ship dropped
down to the narrows between Fort
Norfolk and Nelson = the latter at that
time fertilization on the site of the
Naval Hospital. For the first time
since his arriva at the station Midnight
appeared at dinner, and such was the
effect produced by his presence that a
chill seemed to have been cast over the
whole party.
Among the officers assembled around
the table was Lieutenant Richard Law
son, young Virginian from Princess
Anne county. He was a young man
of very unassuining manners and Of ex-
treme modesty that approached even to
pashfulness. His frame was slight, the
hue of his face was pale, and h BE- seemed
to be If a rather feeble constitution ;
there was nothing remarkably Wit
his appearance except cold sFsy
eye. = - A :
The conversation proceeded at the
mess IN rather formal maprlef upon
the ordinary tapics Of the day, then ex,
snectad cruise. &c. Lawson sat client,