Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1876-01-15
ANINClDENT OF THE WAR.
A REMARKABLE DUEL BETWEEN THE COM
MANDERs or 4 FEDERAL AND A REBEL
SCOUT.

REMARKABLE DUEL BETWEEN THE COM
MANDERs or FEDERAL AND A REBEL
SCOUT.
To the editor of the Chicago Tri-
bune; On the 18th day of June, 1868,
| witnessed duel between Capt.
Jones commanding a Federal scout,
and Capt. Fry commanding rebel
scout, in Greene county, East Tennessee.
These two men had been fighting each
other for six months, with the fortunes
of battle in the favor of one and then
the other Their commands were
camped on either side of Lick creek,
large, sluggish stream, too deep to ford
and too shallow for ferry boat; but
there bridge spanued the stream, for
convenience of the travelling public.
Each of them guarded this bridge, that
communication should 90 neither north
or south as the railroad track had been
broken up months before. After fight
ing each other for several months, aud
contesting the point as to which should
hold the bridge, they agreed TO fight
duel, the conqucrer to hold the bridge
undsputed for the time being. Jones
gave the challenge, and Fry accepted.
The terms were that they should fight
with navy pistols at twenty yards apart
deliberately walked forward each other,
and firing until the last chamber of
their pistols were discharged, unless
one or the other tell before all the dis
charges were made They chose their
seconds, and agreed upon rebel sun
geon (as he was the only one in either
command) to attend them in case OF
danger.
Jones was certainly fine looking
fellow with light hair and blue eyes,
five feet ten inches in height; looking
every inch the military chieftain. He
was man that soldiers would admire
and ladies world regard with admira-
ton. Ee"er saw man more cool,
determined and heroic under such cir
cumstances | have read of the deeds
of chivalry and knight-errantry in the
middle ages, and of brave men cmbalm-
ed in modern poetry; but, when | saw
this man Jones come to the duelcst
scratch, fighting, not for real or sup,
posed wrongs to himself, but, rs be
honestly thought, for his country and
the glory OF the flag, | could not help
admiring the man, notwithstanding be
fought tor the freedom OF the negro,
which | was opposed to.
Fry was man full six feet high,
slender, with, lorg, wavy, curling hair,
| Jet black eyes, wearing a slouch hat and
gray suit; and looking rather the demon
than the man. There was nothing fero
ciuns about him:but he had that self
sufficient nonchalance that said, i will
kill YOU. With doubt, he was bra9,
cool and collected and, although suf
fcring from terrible flesh wound il
his left arm, received a week before he
manifested no symptoms Of distress, bu
seen ready for the fight.
The ground was stepped off by The
seconds, pistols loaded and exchanged
and the principals brought face TO face
l shall never forget the meeting, Jones
in his military, boyish mood, as they
shocked hands, remarked that
A soldier braves death for fancifu
wreath,
When in glory'S romantic career.
Fry caught up the rest of The sen
tcnce, and answered by saying:
Yet he bends Ger the foe when in bat
ties laid low.
They turned around and walked back
to the point desi gnated. JoEe s second
had the word Fire; ard, as he slowly
said, 'One-two-three-ire! they
simultaneously turned at the word
One, and Instantly fired, neither was
hurt They cooked their pistols, and
deliberately walked toward 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
sprang to Jones side, taking his head
in his lap as he sat down. and asked