The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1875-05-20
A Florida Vendetta.
Cor. Atlanta GA Herald.

, ran, evidently amD:1ng down lOng-WOrf
groove of conversation, "Colonel Graham
commanded a crack regiment. One morn
ing he received a message from his wife
announcing that she was on the eve OF
confinement. He at once repaired to hel
bedside. The day after he left the camp
a battle took place. Shortly afterward
an article appeared in the Augusta Chron-
icle and Sentinel rejecting upon the cour-
age of Colonel Graham, and intimatin9
that his reason for leaving camp was not
so much fondness for his wife as for him
self. The paper containing this cutting
and cruel alticle came into the camp be-
fore Colonel Graham's return, and at once
became subject of conversation through
out the camp. Captain Henry splendid
young fellow, who was an aid upon Colo
mel Graham's staff, felt that an insinuaton
against his Colonel was an insult to him
self, and he at once repaired to Augusta
determined to protect the honor OF his
absent friend with his own lite, if neces-
sary. He demanded from the editor of
the Chronicle and Sentinel the author of
the offensive article. 1t turned out to be
General Fitzgerald. of Florida, u warm
and devoted friend Of Captain lIenry's
Still feeling that it was his duty. disre-
garding friendship Just as he had disre-
garded fear in the defense of his Colonel,
he sent peremptory challenge to Gen
eral Fitzgerald
He received a reply, stating that Cen
eral Fitzgerald would be pleased to an
swer the demands Of Captain Henry if he
should be so fortunate rs to survive the
duel he was just about to engage in with
Captain Williams, who had also maGe the
article against Colonel Graham a cause of
complaint. Upon inquiry it transpired
that Captain Williams, another aid upon
Graham's staff, had preceded Mr.. Henry
in his trip to Augusta, and determined
himself to defend the imputation against
his commander
Captain Henry had no alternative but
to await the result Of the encounter be
ditons of which were that they should
| fight with bowie-knives. The meeting
came Off The left hands OF the combat
ants were clasped together in a firm and
dead-gamc grasp. and the keen, long
knives, the most terrible weapons before
which Il man can be brought, Were placed
in their hands At signal the knives We're
perpendicularly along their legs At the
next words they were raised into the air,
and the terrible fencing began 1t is i
brief but terrible struggle The knives
cut, and gashed, and whizzed through
the flesh of the combatant, pressed and
sparkled against each other; now buried,
and now whipped out with blush moist
ure on the blades, until Captain Williams
fell, hacked almost to pieces General
Fitzgerald escaped almost without injury.
He then turned his attention to Captain
Henry. He choose as the weapons for this
second combat a murderous weapon, now
happily obsolete, but then known as vac
gers 1t is broad d-mouthed, funnel
shaped, smooth-bore gun, that will carry
a handful of shot, and will hit every thing
in the neighborhood Of its aim AT the
meeting, Captain James, Ileury's second,
was to give the word. AS he called
"Whcel " the two men turned, but Henry
stumbled, and his Gun went oft into the
air. General Fitzgerald took cool aim,
fired ut the word, and Captain Henry
dropped dead Now two gallant young
fellows had fallen in defense Of chiyalric
spirit, being led to their death in defend
ing the honor of comrade And vet
the terrible vendetta was hardly opened.
Colonel .Iunius lIeary, the brother of the
slain man, was then in Louisiana. and
heard Of his brothers death lie claimed
that lie had been Wantonly killed holding
that General FITZGERALD should not have
fired when he had seen his brothers, Gun
shot, by accident, aimlcssy into the ain
He started AT once for this place, for the
purpose of avenging his brothers death.
He came at once to this hotel. Gov
| ernor Brown, who kept the house, met
him at the door, and. at once divining the
purpose with which he had come, begged
him to be cool and quiet about it.. On the
very night he got there, he was sitting
near the fireplace yOndcr, with Il large
cloak around him and his head bowed
down upon his hands. In Il few moments
some one brushed by him rather roughly.
Raising his head quickly, he saw that it
was General Fitzgerald.
In an instant he was ablaze with excite
ment, and, rising, exclaimed: "lou have
murdered my brother, sir, and now do you
presume to insult me? Draw and defend
yourself, sir"
AS quick as thought Fitzgerald drew a
siX-barrelcd pistol and fired, tearing away
Colonel Ilenrys third finger, Just as the
latter poured II broadside into him from
horsemans pistol, lodging u ball in his
side. The fire was repeated, each time
hitting its mark. Colonel Henry was then
out of ammunition, being armed only with
two horsemans pistols. lie threw back
his long cloak, however, drew his bowie
knife, and closed with his antagonist In
= few seething strokes General Fitzgerald
was cut to the floor, and his opponent
pulled off by the crowd. In that melee
that bullet-hole was made up there. Gen
eral Fitzgerald was taken home, and grad
ualy recovered Colonel Henry, embit-
tered by the conflict he had had, sent him
word that he would kill him on sight
In about three months Fitzgerald recov-
cred and appeared on the streets. Colonel
Henry loaded his double-barreled shot
gun, it is said, putting in 4 bullet which
had been cut out of his brothers body by
Mrs Gailard whose husband had been his
second, and who had himself since been
killed on account Of his participation in
this duel. Going to town he met Fitz-
gerald, and calling on him to defend HIM
self, drew down and fired. The first bar
rel tore away Fitzgerald's shoulder, and
the second was lodged in his heart, killing
him outright
Colonel Henry shortly after went to
Texas. lie had been there but a short
time when he heard that a man named
Stewart had made some disparaging re-
marks concerning his action in the Fitz-
gerald matter. Meeting Stewart on the
prairie one day, he handed him letter
containing the offensive language. and
asked him if he was the author of it.
Stewart at once drew and fired upon
Henry Hpnry'S pun was leaninU apainSt
tree near by. Before he could reach it,
he was carrying four of Stewards balls.
jerking up his gun, he fired twice at Stew
art, killing him instantly, putting nearly
forty buckshot in him. Colonel Henry
was shortly afterward killed himself by
the friends of Mr. Stewart He was be
ing carried from the scene of his conflict
with Mr.. Stewart in blanket. being too
badly wounded to walk, when he was set
upon by party Of Stewards friends, and
his hOdv literally rildlel with bulIatS