The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-05-12
A NATCHITOCHES DUEL
THE DUEL BETWEEN GEMS. ROsssEH
AND GsIESNsE.
A Political difference That Resulted IN
the Death Of One 0f the Whig
Leaders of Louisiana.

Leaders of Louisiana.
[Natehitoches Yindcatorl
81 There appeared not long since in tn,
& columns OF the PutdicntOr an account O
] the famous duel between Houston ant
LeBranohe, written FIR and published
In the New 0rleans DEMOCRAT by dis
tinguished journalist ot that city.
That account contained a reference &c
the noted duel which occurred in the
same year and about the same time be
tween Gen. z. T. Bossier, member o
1 / Congress from this district at the time
and Gen. Gaiennie, distinguished citi
zen of large Influence and popularity
as was also Gen. Bpssier. Both these
gentlemen were residents of Natchi
toches parish, and as all the nrincipa
parties to that sad aud fatal affair have
+ been called to their final account, w.
believe statement of its causes and
tragic results would not be reniss
i while 1t will no doubt be interesting &c
our readers.
i The year 1897 was one Of violent and
virulent political agitation. The press
\ teemed with vituperatiun. and the pas
Hions of political opponents were
/ wrought to the highest pitch. Gen.
Gaiennie was the leader of the Wings
OF this parish, then. in area, at least
embracing large scope of territory.
[ ocratic hosts under his banner. This
then, can be saii, now that passion has
calmed with time and we can form en-
lightened Judgment on the transactions
OF the past, to have been the cause
which ended go tragically, and at the
time moved society in our parish to its
very foundations.
The events Immediately preceding
! the duel, and which may be said to have
precipitated 1t, although sooner or later
1t must have occurred. appear to have
/ been the publication Of a paper by Gen,
Gaiennie in the Natchitoches Herald,
August 3D. 1889. in which he stated that
Gen. Bossier had represented a certain
hostile conversation, which took place
at the house OF Mr.. =. Rachal. in such a
manner as to impress the public with
the belief that he <Gen. Gaiennie) had
been the insulted party. The publica-
ton, Of course. drew a reply from Gen.
Bossier, reiterating the substance Of his
conversations relating to the meeting at
Mr.. Rachals. and stating that be (Gen.
Bossier) was on the point of person
ally chastising Gen. Gaiennie on the
spot, but desisted at the request Of his
son, Mr.. V. Gaiennie. and several ladies
present. A rejoinder from both Gen.
Gaiennie and MIR. V. Gaiennie was i'm
mediate, in which they stated that they
"had reluctantly procured certificates
from the ladies, that would be pub
lished In good time. showing conclu-
sively that Gen. Bossier was the insult
ed party, and he must in consequence
seek that redress he had held himself
ready to accord to Gen. Gaiennie, or
ELSE assume that odium to which death
lis preferable to gentleman.
Whereupon Gen. Bossler promptly
sent the following peremptory chal-
lenge to Gen. Gaiennie:
NAToHIToGHEs, La, September H. 1889.
S9-The unprovoked and slanderous at
tack which you have lately made on my char
acter induces me to demand of you personal
satisfaction. This note will be delivered to
you by my friends Messrs. Sylvester Bos-
sier, Victor Sompayrac and T. A. Morse who
are authorized on my part to make the neccs-
sary arrangements.
- p E. Boss1ER.
To Gen. Francois Gaiennie, Coutiervlle.
This was as promptly accepted by
Gen. Gaiennie, in note bearing a later |
late whieh, unfortunately we have not
been able to procure, borne by Messrs. I
"a. G.. DeRussey, L. B Sherburne and J. /
|G. Campbell, and rifles were named as
The weapons.
We thus see that politics, then at q
for while the gentlemen named by Gen.
EBossier as his friends were prominent
Democrats, the seconds Of Gen. Gaien-
nAe were also prominent Wings.
Intense excitement prevailed through
put this whole section at that time, as
Is was morally certain by the public
mat, as both were gentlemen OF char
fcter, chivalrous and hon orable, moth
Lhg could wipe out the stain or news
PAPER elimination and recrimination
Tive blood.
h In the account of the Lee Branche.
n euston duel, to which we referred at
q outset, 1t was stated. or minated
lat Gen. Bossier was "noted duel
Est. Such does inl Justice to the char
heter of that gentleman, for he was, on
te contrary, person of Very phleg-
Eatic disposition, calm, studious and
ry peaceful. Gen. Gaiennle also was
law abiding man, aud neither Of the
tntlemeu had ever been engaged in
affair OF honor. as principal or Sec
d, until they Appeared as the chief
kFsons in the fatal encounter we now ,
late.
saifles were regarded in those DAYS as I
Il, deadliest Of weapons, and by mu- /
4l agreement between the immediate
70 acting friends OF the parties the
eting was postponed for a few DAYS,
horde il possible. to induce Gen. {
ienn1A to name some other weapon y
80 Necessarily fatsl as the then i
Saded rifle. These gentlemen felt.
very properly, that the wounded g
Dor OF their respective principals e
I'D be assuagea by something less +
p life. and to that end they con-