Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1877-02-17

enlisted by the United States Govern
ment which were disbanded after its
close. One of these was the Third
Dragons, commanded by Col. K. G.
w. Butler, of Louisiana, with Major
Lewis Cass, jr., SON of General Cass.
One half the regiment under these
officers, was stationed on Gen. Zachary
Taylor's line at Mier, % miles from
Camargo, and the other portion, under
the lieutenant colonel, was attached to
Gen. SCOTS command at the city OF
Mexico. The regiment was considered
one of the most effective in the service,
all of the officers being noted for both
soldierly bearing and their social stand
ing as gentlemen. One Of the compan-
les was raised in Maryland, and two OF
its lieutenants were Maddox and Nc
Pherson. Both officers were fast
friends, and highly esteemed for their
gallahtry and prepossessing appearance:
AT Mier a sudden quarrel occurred
between the two while spending the
evening in the officers quarters, over an
offence given in a heated controversy.
Lieut.. Mcpherson became greatly sx-
cited and exasperated, and challenged
Lieut.. Maddox to fight duel. Maddox,
on his part, insisted that the quarrel
was the result of a misunderstanding
and could be settled without meeting
Mcpherson refused to listen to any
overtures whatever, and insisted that
there should be meeting and that
blood should be shed. Maddox yielded
a reluctant assent, and the meeting
took place at an early hour in the
morning, near Mier. Maddox won the
choice of weapons and selected a pair
of regular dueling pistols. The distance
was ten PAGES, The first shot was ex-
changed and neither party injured. The
friends of Maddox, at his instance, then
asked the seconds OF Mcpherson that
the duel should end, but Mcpherson
positively refused. A second shot
was exchanged without effect. Nc
Pherson was excessively angry at his
failure in both trials and blamed the
weapons used. He demanded not only
another shot, but that they should take
their cavalry pistol carrying a full
ounce ball, had just been improved by
the addition ofpercussion locks, making
it a very dreadly. weapon. Maddoxs s
seconds objected positively to this, as
altogether irregular, and for some time
would not allow their principal to ac-
cept the proposition. Finally McPher-
son declared that Maddox had taken
dueling pistols only because no one
could use them. Maddox then said,
''Let him have his way" and the weap-
ons were brought Before the firing
Maddox said that he would have TO
wound Mcpherson, orthere would never
be termination of the affair, but he
did not wish to kill him. At the third
fire Mcpherson fell, and died in few
hours afterwards.
The bearing of both men on the field
was brave in the extreme, although Nc
Pherson's excitement probably interfer-
ed with the accuracy Of his aim. The
circumstances were so favorable to
Maddox, in his endeavors to avoid the
fatal result, that, although placed under
| arrest for violation of the articles of
war, Gen. Wool, who was in command,
never brought the case to trial. His
general conduct was so good, too, that
all the higher officers were indisposed
to force an issue which, under the ar
ticles of war, would leave no alterna-
tive but dismissal from the army. Al
ter the Mexican war Maddox resided
for some years in Louisiana, where be
married, aud was engaged in editing
the Crescent newspaper.