The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1874-01-22
(For The CEi.f)
AN ANTE-BELLUM REMINIsCESCE.
SQCEEBO5.


The old rcsidrnts of Painted Post New York. will rcco
lcct yolnG gallant looking fnw, who for months
honOred their little burg with hi, presence. keen
brigtcyed boy Of twenty years Of slender proper
tons erect carriage and aress presence he remained
there short time the guest Of his kinsman Harvey Bis
SELL at that time of the lumber kings Of the Sus-
quehannab looking for situation. Tho prospect not
being very faterng be wended his way westward bring
ing mp in young and vigorous town in Illinois, WHERE
after short experience school teacher and law
dent be graduated furlfedged lawyer.
Endowed by nature with fine personal appearance 4
strong mind and inomitabe will and copious vocabua-
ry he made his mark in his chosen profession and
achieved position and competence
AT the Breaking nut of the Mexican War William II.
Bisse was commissioned Colonel Of the Second Regiment
Of Illinois Infantry and accompanied his tn the
seat Of hostities with his gallant nosans Col Bisse
made his presence felt the bloody field Of Buena Vista
and rendered little aid General Taylor in achieving
his memorable victory.
Upon his retun home after the close of the war his ad
mirng feowctizens sent their Representative to
Congress- where he met among others Col Jefferson Da
Wis. who had commanded regiment Of Mississippi rifle
men at Buena Vista Col. Davis afterwards achieved
some notoriety leading spirit in the rerolt against the
Federal Republic
Col Bissell elasse among the Aboltonsts and hi.
commanding abilities made him the mark at which the
ehvary proposed To fling their sharpest arrows and II
possible to bring 'o~n. Tho object crush him
To accomplish this Co.. Davis put forward Educated
By the GovernpeTf At West Point Davis wa, profes-
sonal soldier sscusomed to tho Of arms Born and
reared In Keutncky and after credtabe career in the
army Sighting Indians taking up his residence in Mssss
sipp he became successful lawyer and politician in
community where in that line Of required nerve
and readiness. In word, he practical ducIlist
Jefferson Davis accordingly to make the sting keener
sssaed the conduct Of the Illinois Regiments In the Mexi
War and charged that their account the Battle of
Buena Vista would have been inevitably lost but for hs
AssissPpians Who snstched victory from the laws of
defeat"
Col Bissel needed promper but a. soon as the fire
eater had resumed his be sprung to his feet and in
ringing tones tnld the raducer who tear the aur.-
from hs gallant llnossns that his charge was fal..t
that his Illinois Rngineat held twenty thousand Mari
cans in check and snatched victory from the law, a. A.
feat when Col Davis with his brave Missipo,,,. -,
not 'rithis t,co miies Of tks soene Of eonfit
Then, turning towards the seat Of the fery sufh.r,.
and fixing h keen eye upon the Of the cbv,Ir
he pointed his long fore.snger To the east and ,,h
smile which none who witnessed can ever forget
ne "'-but the southerner- are bravei They showed
t here and almost on this very spot The ed If Bi.d
ensburg aitests their courage and their-,p..dr,
The house electrified and amazed Al ,h ,.,.., =,
the Northern born nsn who had dared to b.ard IN.
linn In his den-the Douglas In his hall"
Col Davis object was to provoke duel and he had sue
eeeaee. challenge was promptly forwarded and ~
promptly accepted by Col Bissell Hi. friend. sr. a..
thOrized to make all necessary arrangemeuts su, %
name The 'eepoas and daAe which right was reserved
to himself Judge DOuglas then Senator from nlnols
drew up his will
reply to remonsrznces from hi. antduell;ng friend,
argued the mmoray Of the code and the certainty
nf o.. .Aeree under the unerring Of the practical
dueist- he said ~ have done nothing but defend nv
from caiumny my State and her brave dead from
reProaehes They stood heroicay around me a. Buena
Vista, and can't desert them now"
The weapons chosen were United States mu.kets load
ed with buekhot-distanoe thirty PAGES The duel was
fought did Col Blsse make retractons Of the
ruth Of history Col Davis had reason to believe in
subsequent war In the courage and fidelity Of Illinois
Troops.