The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1876-04-14
An Incident of the war.


On the 18th day of June, 1868, L
witnessed a duel between a Capt. Jones,
commanding federal scout, and Capt.
Fry, commanding a rebel scout, i'll
Green county, East Tennessee. These
two men had been fighting each other
for six months, with the fortunes OF
battle i'll 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 shall
low for ferry boat; but there bridge
spamned the stream for the convenience
of the travelling public. Each of them.
guarded this bridge, that communica-
ton should go neither north or south,
as the railroad track had been broken
up months before. After fighting each
other for several months, and contesting
the point as to which should hold the
bridge, they agreed to fight duel, the
conqueror to hold tile bridge undisputed
for tie time being. Jones gave the
challenge, and Fry accepted. The terms
were that they should fight with navy
pistols at twenty yards apart, deliber-
ately walking towards each other, and
firing until the last chamber of their
pistols was discharged, unless one OF
the other fell before all the discharges
| were made. They chose their seconds,
and agreed upon rebel surgeon (as he
was the only one In either command)
to attend them in case OF danger.
Jones was certainly a fine looking
fellow, with light hair and blue eyes,
five feet ten inches in height, looking
every inch the military chieftain. He
twas man that soldiers would admire
and ladies regarded witt, admiration.
l never saw a man mere cool, determin-
ed and heroic under such circumstances
| | have reati of the deeds Ot chiYalTy
and knighterrantry IN the middle ages.
and of brave men emba med iii noderl
puesy; bnt, when saw this man Jones
come to the dueIist's scratch, fighting
not Tor real or supposed wrongs to him,
self, but, as lie honestly thought, for
his country and the glory of the fiag,g
could not help admiring the man, not
withstanding he fought for the freedom
ot the negro, which was opposed to
Fry wassa man full six feet high
slender, with long, wayy, curling hair
jet black eyes, wearing a slouch hat and
gray suit, and looking rather the demon
than the man. There was nothing Zero
cious about him but he had that self.
, sufficient noncllalapce that said. 81 vii
kill you" Without a doubt he wa:
brave, cool and collected, ard, although
suffering from terrible flesh wound il
his lett arm, received a week before, he
manifested no symptoms OF distress, but
seemed ready for the fight.
. The ground was stepped off by tn
|, seconds, pistols loaded and exchanged
and the principals brought face to face
/ shall never forget that meeting, Jones
in his military, boyish mood, as the.
. shook hands, remarked that
t A soldier braves deathfor fancifdi wreath
When in glory's romantic career.
Il Fry caught up the rest of the sen
4 tenee, and ended by saying
Yet he bends Ger the foe when in battle lai
: And bathes every wound with a tear.
n They turned around ard walked bac
) to the point de. igsated. Jones' secon
had the word sssire,n aud as he slow1
said, s.One-two-three-fire % the
e simultaneously turned at the Gone,
9 and instantly fired. Neither was hur
They cooked their pistols, and delibe
!. ately walked towards each other. frln
=
n threw up bis right Land, and, firing II
e pistoIilirthe air. sank down. Fry WI
: III the act of firing his last shot; bu
= seeing Jones fall, silently lowered b
i pistol, dropped it to tile ground al
j. sprang to Jones side, taking his hea
= in his lap, as be sat down, and aske
him il be was hurt ] discovered tn
= Jones was shot through the REGION OF Il
\ stomach, The bullet glaneing around th
organ, and coming ont at the left OF u