The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1877-03-10
Maddox as a Duellst.
l'a|tinu' e Snn.]

An episode in the early life Of NJ.
Maddox, which is we'll rrmcmterr''
bv many citizens of Baltimore; is H.
participation in fatal duel 1Hrin!:
the Mexican wa, with Lirutena"f
Mcpherson, of FREDERICK County NJ"
The account given ny gcnt|rmr'|
who were familiar with the "details O.
the affair, is substantially rs follows
Dun y the war ten regiments OF reg.
ular troops were authorized I" DC e"
listed by the United States Gov.
eminent, which were disba"drd aft'i,
it's close. One of these was the lh'l'
D,acoons. commanded by Colonel l.
G. ". Bn,ler.iof Louisiana with Ma)"'
Lewis CaS>, ,jr., son OF General ta>>.
Owe half the regiment, under thr>':
officers, was stationed on Gene'
Zachary Taylor's line at Mier, TWEEN:
ty.twu miles from 'ararE"; aud Il"
other norton, under the Lie"tenan';
Colonel. was attached to Genera
Scott's command at the city of Mex,
leo. The regiment was c"nS'dcie'
one Of the most effective in the Ser:
vice, ali of the officers icing n"tc'
forhoth Sollery Tearing and their :"
, cial standing as gentle"rn' Cne OF
/. the companies VAS raised III Mary:
land and two Of its liru;tnauts WEI,
Maddox aud Mcpherson. Both OF
. tircrs were fast friends, aud highly
{ esteemed for their gallautry ana pre-
D possessing appearance. At M'er !.
sudden quarrel occurred between ti':
two while spending the evening !"
Z the officers quarters, over an oiienS'
e given in a heated controversy. Len
If tenant Mcpherson became greatly eS
IS a<peratvd, and challenged Lieutenant
" Maldax to fight a duel. Maddo$
&c Welded 4 reluctant assent, and the
ze meeting took place at an early mont
ID in the morning, near Mier. Maddox
no won the choice Of weapons aud &C.
~ lectel a pair of regular dnelIing r's-
us tolls, the distance was ten PAGES
ut The first shot was exchanged an'
lis neither party injured. The tnen"i
". of Maddox. at his instance, then asNc'
~ the seconds of Mcpherson that tl''
he duel should end, but McPhers"" pos
to ;,iyely refused: A second shot wa'
~, exchanged without effect. McPne r.
son was excessively angry at his fail
, ure in both trials and blasphrmtd IT,
II weamns used. He demandrd n"
'ue only other shot, but that they s|'onl'
ION take th.i, cavalry pistols: AT tina
H.. time the old "horse pistol" carryl"
W. full ounce ball, had just been IN
ira proved by the addition OF percuss'"
d l locks, making it a very deadly veal
md on Maddox's seconds objected p"'
as itivc,y to this as altogether irreg"!a
"' aud fol some time would not an"
). their principal to accept tile propos
!. lion, Finally McPht's"n declare
That Maddox had taken auel|ing p'
\. tolls only because II" one c"''Iu u
" Them. Maddox then said, "Iet III
OK have his way" and the weapons wei
MA brought. Before the firing Madd'
cx- said that lie wonld have t" w"n'
Mcpherson, or there would never be
'e"' termination of til" affair, b"t he d
reg not wish to kill him. At the tn
ing fire Mcpherson fell, and died in It
nri- l,,nrs afterwards: The bearing
tied both men on the field was brave
as the extreme; although McPherso!
e. Of excitement probably interfered vi
the accuracy of his aim. Ihe c
comstances were SO favorable to Ma
dox. in his endtavors t" av"'1
fatal result, that although placed Il
Sc der arrest for violation of the artlc
ices of war, General Wool, VINO was
hair command, never brought to case
isla mill