The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-04-24
DUELS AROUND AUGUSTA.
The Codes Campus Martias Sixty Years
Ago.

The Codes Campus MartIas sixty Year
Ago.
1t may not be generally known tina
opposite the old Arsenal, on the 9th
er side side OF the rivcr-the site o
Camrbcllton-scorcs of hostile meeting
used to take place. 1t was the Sand Ba
Ferry of sixty years ago, and it's rougl
gullcys are said TO have echoed rs offer
with the dual snap of the pistol and tn,
twin crack of the rifle as the phantom
: ten pin balls once rcvcrberatcd through
the ravincs of the Catskils. 1t was at ,
time when Southern gentry hourishc,
Ill the finely-strung age of wealth ant
case, and the Code of Honor, unmoestec
by law and tolerated in public opinion
operated rs corolary to the highly or
ganlzcd state Of society. 1t was thcr
that every gentleman owned his horses
his dogs and his brace of pistols, anc
with an inherent love of sport and wor.
ship OF courage, preserved keen, wiry
sense of honor. The duel existed. moi
as relic of barbarism, but as a martial
landmark for let it be remembered, that
the wild ardcr Of the Revolution had
scarcely cooled upon the American mind
and the excitement of the war of 1872
was still upon the people. To be sure
laws were enacted against duelling; the
Church and the State were its nominal
enemies, but our forefathcrs seemed to
have cherished an instinct which promp.
ted to the field of honor, rather than
lmpelled to private broil or sped to vii
lage vendetta. "To this custom" said a
venerable man the other day, "may have
been due the infrequency Of the bloodshcd
and murder which now checker every
locality with the r0ngc CT noire of crime,
and fill even our high places with deadly
strife" "The Code" said he, "was real
conservator of society; for men met like
men, face TO face, under the sky in
open cambat." Here, then, on the banks
of the quiet Savannah in the secluded
hooks more fit to welcome the trapper
with his bag or the angler with his rod,
lay the old battle ground, and oil these
grassy knolls, guarded by stately pines
and skirtcd with willow bushes, many
form sank down in blood.
PACE AND DENT.
Very few persons now living rccollect
the duel between Thomas Pace, of Col
umbia county, and Columbus Dent. 1t
was sixty-scven years ago, sprang from
n political quarrel and was fought Mt
Campbellton. Dent is said to have chal-
lcnged Pace and upon the latter's rcfus-
ing to meet him, published him. Subsc-
buently, Dent remarked that if Pace
would now challenge, the duel might be
made up. This reached PAGES ears, who
concluded to send the bantcrcd billet, and
bloody meeting resulted. Dent, who
is remembered to have been cripple.
first stood his ground in a bad position.
and was killed at the fire.
STRING OF STRIFE.
Pace, the survivor Of this affair, subsc-
quently made some rcmraks about Lieut..
Bee, United States Army, who took it up
and challenged the former. Pace was
likewise successful in this meeting.
shooting his antagonist through the
knee. Bee recovered, however, and
received, many years later, the rank Of
Captain. The next meeting was between
Dr. Millcdge Golphin and DIR. Saxton,
of Abbeviilc. These gentlemen, while
medical students, engaged in boxing
match, in the course of which Golphin
knocked Saxton down, whcreupon Saxton
challenged. Golphin accepted, and shot
his adversary in the shoulder, wounding
him painfully though not mortally.
This was in 1915. The year following,
Mr.. James Steward, n resident of Colum-
bia county. and Mr.. Goodwin-a Virgin
ian-came to Augusta to fight. Good
win, who was abont to engage in bust
ness, Nas offended by some letters, de-
rogatory to his financial standing, and
challenged Steward rs their author.
The utmost coolness prevailed among
the combatants, Goodwin walking to the
battle ground with dressing gown on.
and Steward deliberately pulling of his
coat, and hanging it upon limb prepar-
atory to taking position. lie was woun-
ded in the shoulder on the first fire. In
1919, another duel was fought in
Campbcllton, between John Howard, Of
Nlilledgeville, and Richard I. Easter, of
this city. The difficulty originated from
some remarks made by one concerning
lady to whom the other was engaged
to be married. The duel WIS fought at
twenty PAGES, and the agreement was
that each person should fire as quick and
as rapidly rs possible, but were allowed
to man9uvre in the field as they pleased.
Easter was dropped at the first fire, a ball
perforating his hip. Sinking upon the
ground, he lost his pistol from the jar
but quickly recovering his weapon, he
took deliberate aim aud snapped. With
the utmost interpidity he then lowered
his arm and shouted to Howard, "Pro-
ceed, snap is q fire." Seeing that his
adversary was wounded, however, How
ard fred into the air, and each antago-
mist, overcome by the fairness of
the other, shook hands and ended
the duel. Sometime during the
next year bloodlcss meeting also took
place between Seaton Grantand. Sr., a
Millcdgcvile editor, and Chas. Aber-
crombie, q citizen of Hancock county.
This dispute was of political nature,
aud each ball found blooiess pads.
Two Augusta carpenters, Middleton and
Handley were the next TO forsake the
handsaw and jackplane for derrin.
| ger. One of them tried dermine
the other in business, and ,er arriving
on the field TO which their quarrel drove
them, they fired off their pistols and iovi-
ally reloaded for the fray, in which
Handley WAS slightly wounded.
= .=.ME or CARDS
The unfortunate meeting between
Mitchell, of Twiggs county, Georgia, and
DIR. Woodbridge, of Abbeville, S. c.,
showed upon what trivial causes serious
matters may rest. A question arose in
a game of whist rs to whether n player
failing to follow suit lost three tricks by
default, or forfeited the entire hand. 4
quarrel arose challenge followed
a fight ensued. and Mitchell fell dead at
the first fire: shot through the heart. Ga
complete was the execution that he new
er closed the eye with which he was tax