The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1878-03-07
FAMOUS SOUTHERN DUELS.
Prentiss and Tom MarshalI-A Personal
"Reminiscences.

FAMOUS SOUTHERN DUELS. $3.50
Prentiss and Tom Marshan-A Personal
"Reminiscences.
[From he New York SUM-
The duel be Jween the great orator,
Sergeant s. Prentiss, of Mississippi, and
ex Gov. Henry s. Foote, occurred near
Vicksburg. A large crowd was present,
and, after one or two harmless shots had
been exchanged, Prentiss, with his In
imitable humor, called out to some
youngsters who were perched In tree
near by, "Take care, boys; the Cover
nor is firing very wild to-day. Foote
WAS finally wounded. Prentiss was one
of the coolest and bravest, as well as the
most magnanimous men 1 ever met. He
WAS one of the counsel for the defence In
the celebrated Wilkinson and Murdaugh
trial for murder in Kentucky. The case
was removed to Harrodsburg on account
OF the prejudice against the accused at
Louisville, where the killing occurred.
When Prentiss arrived at the Calf House
on his way to the court, some one warned
him of the bitter feeling existing against
his clients, remarking at the same time !:
"They will be hunting you, Mr.. Prem
t1ss, if they find out you are in the city. !"
ter for his travelling bag and taking out
a pair of pistols which he placed in his
pockets. Well, am hunter myself
when there is game around" No one
molested him, however.
The celebrated Thomas F. Marshall,
of Kentucky, fought several duels; that
with Col. James Watson Webb is famil-
lar to most Northern readers. Tom once
told the writer that if Webb had not
stood Cross legged and disconnected his
aim he would have killed him that he
had meant to have another fight with
him, but the Colonel unfortunately took
the pledge to Gov. Seward. Another of
Toms due1s WAS with John Rowan, of
Kentucky, crack shot, but one of the
most amiable and gentlemanly of the
I'D " fire eaters" Tom received a bullet
n the leg, and, as Rowan, who did not
wish to kill him, walked up to express
his regret, Marshall, lying on the ground,
exclaimed: "By-, Mr.. Rowan, you
shoot a fellow and apologize for it with
more grace than any man In Kentucky"
With one of these Kentucky affairs,
which occurred in 1916, I was unfortu-
nately connected, and the course it took
may illustrate the state of feeling on the
subject at that time. The principals
were DIR. T, of Harrodsburg, and
Counsellor H, brothers-in-law. The
cause of offense was family affair. [
resided III Lexington at the time, and
was induced TO interfere, in the interest
of peace, on behalf of DIR. r, who
was stranger to me. After several
days discussion on the part of the doc
tors friends, and canvassing, as well as
[ could, the views of the other party, [
found an amicable adjustment impossi-
BILE; and, having gone so far, there was
nothing left for me but to carry a chal-
lenge. The elder brother of the doc
tor, himself an eminent lawyer, the
brotner-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 lnsulted and must vindicate his
honor in the usual manner The meet
ing was appointed to take place at a re-
tired spot in Boyle county, but was pre-
vented by the authorities, and [ remem-
Der we'll we had a scamper to get beyond
their jurisdiction and avoid arrest.
In the meantime / received request
from reverend gentleman, whose death
L saw noticed lust year, to withdraw the
challenge for an accommodation which
he hoped to bring about. I gladly
agreed to comply, provided the oppo-
site party would consent to the arrange
ment without prejudice to my friend !;
but the overture was plumply rejected
by them. The meeting took place the
next morning at a wild, romantic spot
on Dicks river. The law officers were
on the hill above us, but an old boatman
and his sons, whomiwe were compelled to
take into our confidence, and who had
the Kentuckian's instructive love of a
" fair fight" kept them at bay. The
weapons used were the old-fashioned
dueling- pistols, those used by the OPP
posite party eng a pair belonging to
Henry Clay. Counsellor H fell,
MORALLY wounded, at the first fire and,
as there was but one boat to cross the
river, the constables waiting for us on
the side we occupied and only kept back
by wholesome fear of our friends, the
boatmen, we were compelled to wait I'M
til the wounded man had been transport
ed across. | never saw man suffer
more mental agony than the doctor did
during the time, having been informed
| OF the result. He had not wished to
Kill his oppoRent-only to inhict a
wound such as might end the affair.
We both left the State, going in differ
ent directions to Missouri. and I To
Louisiana.
From what I subsequently, learned of
his history, this affair wrought the most
singular change in the character of DIR.
r. Prior to the fight [ had found
him amiable, inoffensive and averse to
bioodshed. though truly brave but
afterward heard that he was frequent
ly engaged in desperate encounters, in
one of which, believe, he was killed.
This duel created considerable excite
ment at the time, and the Louisville
Journal, having published an account
derosatory to DR.. T., Mr.. Geo. D.
Prentice, the editor, was called on to
correct it, which he did. B.