The New Orleans Democrat., 1876-05-10
CHuvALRy OF THE WAR.
4 Duel Between n Confederate ana a
Federal officer.

ITO the Editor Of the Chicago Tribuno.l
On the 18th Of June, 1863, | witnessed
q duel between q Capt. Jones, command
ing Federal scout, and Capt Fry
commanding q rebel scout. in Greene
county. East Tennessee.
These two men had been fighting each
other for six months, with the fortunes
Of battle in favor of one and then the
other. Their commands were camped
on either side OF Lick Creek. large and
| sluggish stream. too deep to ford, and
too shallow for ferryboat: but a
bridge spanned the stream for the con
venienoe Of tho travelling public. Each
Of them guarded this bridge, that com
munication should go neither North nor
South, as the railroad track had been
broken up months before.
After fighting each other several
months. and contesting tho point as to
which should hold this bridge. they
agreed to fight a duel. the conqueror to
hold the bridge undisputed for tho time
being.
Jones gave the challenge, and Fry &c
Ceptcd. The terms were. that they
should fight with navy pistols at twenty
yards apart. deliberately walking to-
wards each other and firing until the
last chambers Of their pistols were dis.
charged. unless ono or the other fell be-
loIe all INC ulStHaIGeS were HiHUC.
They chose their seconds and agreed
upon u rebel surgeon las he was tho only
ono in either command to attend to
them in case Of danger. Jones was cor
tainly u tine-looking fellow, with light
hair and blue cyes, five feet ten inches
in height looking every inch tho mill
tary chieftain He wns man that
soldiers should admire and ladies' re-
gard with admiration. | never saw a
man more cool, more determined and
heroic under such circumstances. I
have read of the deeds of chvalry and
knight errantry in the middle ages. and
of brave men embalmed in modern
poesy, but when ! saw this man Jones
como to the duelists' scratch. fighting
not for real or supposed wrongs to him
self. but. as he honestly thought, for his
country and the glory OF the flag. |
could not help admirng the man.
Fry was q man full six feet high. slen-
der, with long. wavy, curling hair, jet
black eyes, wearing slouch hat and
gray suit, and looking rather the demon
than the man. There was nothing fero-
cious about him; but he had that self
sufficient nonchalance. that said IL will 4
kill you" Without doubt he was
suffering from terrible flesh wound in
his left arm. received q week before, he |
manifested no symptom OF distress. but
seemed ready for the fight
The ground was stepped off by the |
seconds. pistols loaded, exchanged. and |
the principals brought face to face.
shall never forget hatmeeting. Jones. |
in his military. boyish mood, rs they |
shook hands. remarked that
A soldier braves death for fancifuI wreath.
When in gory's romantic career.
Fry caught up the rest of the sentence,
and answered by saying
Yet hn bonds DER the foe when in battle laid low
And bathes every wound with q tear.
They turned around and walked back
to the designated spot. Jones second
had the word Fire, and rs he slowly
said. Zone two three F. tirel" they
turned at the word
g One" and instantly fired. Neither
was hurt. They cooked their pistols
and deliberately walked towards each
other, firing as they went. At the fifth
shot Jones threw up his right hand, and.
firing his pistol in the air, sank down.
Fry was in the act Of firing his last shot,
but. seeing Jones fall. silently lowered
his pistol, dropped it to the ground and
5prang to Jones side. taking his head
INTO his lap rs he sat down and asking
him II he was hurt.
! discovered that Jones had been shot
through the region OF the stomach. the
bullet glancing around that organ aud
coming out at the left Of tho spinal col
Imn besides. he had received three in
other portions of his body. ! dressed
his wound and gave him such stimu
ANTS rs ] had. He afterwards got we'll.
Fry received three wounds. one break
ng his left arm. one in the left and the :
other in the right side After months
# suffering he got well. Neither of
hem asked for a discharge. butresumed
heir commands when they got well, and
ought the war ont to the end. and to- .
lay are partners in n wholesale grocery
business down South, doing good !
business, and verifying the sentiment OF
Byron, that " A soldier braves death. "
Trusting that the above truthful mar
'atve will be n lesson to some people,
North and South. that staid on tho :
outside and yelled Seek, dog!" and
till are not satisfied with tho results Of
he war, let me subscribe myself n
reconstructed
CONFEDERATE SURGEON