The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1878-02-15
rAMoUs soUrHERN pUELs.

FAMOUS SOUTHERN DUELs.
Fighting on Horseback Pfentss and Tom
MarshaIl.--A Personal "reminiscences,
The sun has recently published some
interesting reusihiscences of noted duels
in the south, but the record "a By no
means exhausted. Far be it from me to
say that any of them are apocryPhai, al
thottgh the account of the young Missls-
sippian, contained l. lost sunday
edition, bears singular resemblance
the affair related Of an Eoglish otiicer
with noted Bonspartist bravo, when
is said to have occurred at the Cafe toy
during the occupation of Paris by the
allies. in IS14-I5. a long residence 10
the sauth and west has made me familiar
with the history q tnsny Of these en-
counters. One of the most singulaf, which
happened at New Orleans, was fought
between gentleman recently before the
public in q suit to maintain or recover
his commission aud emoluments in the
United States army, Captain schemberg,
end a Mr.. ssheEalieE. Ths e2mhat - 80 81
pface at lie Tacs-t tracs, fie:sT View tsffe:a-,
on horseback, with sabers Schembergs
horse, a fine animal, was killed, and,
l believe, suit was brought by its
owner to recover damages. No other
harm was done.
The duel between the grest orator,
Sergeant S. Prentiss, of Mississippi, and
Ex-Governor Henry $. Foote, occurred
near Vicksburg. A large crowd was
present, aud after one or two harmless
shots had been exchanged, Prentiss, with
his inimitable humor, calleI out to some
youngsters whc we're pershed in a tree
near by; Take care, boys, the gov
ernor is firing very wild to-day" Foote
was finally wounded. Prentiss was one
Of the coolest and bravest, and as well as
the most magnanimous men I ever met.
He was one of the counsel for the de-
Tense for the celebrated Wilkinson and
MuIdaugh trial for murder in Kentucky.
The case was removed to Harrodsburg,
on account of the prejudices against the
accused at Louisville, where the killing
occurred. When Prentiss arrived at the
Gait house, on his way to the court,
some one warned him Of the bitter feel
ing existing against his clients, remark
ing at the same time "They will be
hunting you, AIr. Prentiss, il they find
out you are in the city" All :" said he,
reaching over the counter for bis travel
ing bag, and taking out a pair of pistols
which he placed ia his pockets. Well, 1
am a hunter mysel. when there is game
around" No ore molested him, how
ever.
The celebrated Thomas F. Marshall, of
Kentucky, fought several duels; that
with Colonel Jsmes Watson Webb is
familiar 10 most northern readers. Tom
once told the writer that If Webb had
not stood cross-legged and diverted his
aim be would have killed him; that he
had meant to have another fight with
him, but the colonel unfortunately took
thepledge to Governor Steward. Another
of Toms duels was with John Rowan, Of
Kentucky. a crack shot, but one OF the
most amiable and gentlemanly OF the old
&" fire-eaters." Tom received bullet in
the leg, and as Rowan, who did not wish
to kill him, walked up to express his
regret, Marshall, lying on the ground,
-, NJ Rauvor,
shoot fellow and apologize for it with
more grace than any man in Kentucky"
With one of these Kentucky affairs,
which occurred in 1845, was unfortu-
nately connected, and the course took
may illustrate the state of feeling on the
subject at that time. The principals
were DR.. T, of Harodsburg, and
Counselor Ii, brothers-in-law. The
cause of offense was q family affair
1 resided in Lexington at the tine, and
was induced to interfere, in the interest
OF peace, on behalf of DIR. T., who was
stranger to NE. After several days dis
cussion on the part of the doctors friends,
anG canvassing as we'll as / could the
views of the other party, ! found an
amicable adjustment impossible, and
having gone so far, there was nothing
left for me but to carry challenge. The
elder brother OF the doctor, himself an
eminent lawyer, the brother-in law of
the latter, and even the venerable
mother-the last two strict members of
the church-were consulted by me, but
the feeling among them all was that their
relative had been grossly insulted and
must vindicate his honor in the usual
manner. The meeting was appointed to
take place at a retired spot in Boyle
county, but was prevented by tbs au-
thorities, and l remember well we had to
scamper to get beyond their jurisdiction
and avoid arrest. In the meantime l
received a request from reverend gen.
tlemen, whose death ] saw noticed last
year, to withdraw the challenge for an
accommodation which he hoped to
bring about. l gladly agreed 10 comply
provided the opposite party consented TO
the arrangement without prejudice TO
my friend but the overture was piumply
rejected by them. The meeting took
place next morning at wild, romantic
spot on Dick river. The law officers were
on the hill above us, but an old boatman
and his sons, whom we were compelled to
take into our confidence, and who had
the Kentuckian's instructive love OF
fair fight" kept them at bay. The
weapons were the old fashioned dueliiDg
pistols, those used by the opposite psrty
belIg a pair belonging to Henry Clay
Counselor H. fell, mortally wounded, at
the first fire, and, as there was but one
boat to cross the river, the constab!es
waiting for US on the side, we occupied