The south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1879-1883, 1879-08-12
THE CODE OF HONOR.
What Gen. Sherman says Of the
Old Time Way Of Settling DIFF
foulties amongst Army
Officers.
A Hint that the old wav lie the
Best.

A Hint that the old wav lie the
Best.
Washington Letter 10 the Army and Navy
Journal
Speaking of the Stanley Hazen DIFF
ficulty, Gen. Sherman remarked that
they used to settle those affairs diff
ferently in old times. And there are
those who still contend that a court
of law is not the best place to settle a
dispute of this nature. However
much we may weigh against the code,
there is a doubt that in the olden
times, whcn the officers-both mill
tary and naval-generally obeyed its
dictates, there was much more pune
iilio and more care for the nice points
of honor than exist at the present
day. Fifty years ago, when we were
regarded as rather rude people,
II would have been impossible for
any officer to remain in either the
army or navy who would permit the
slightest slur upon his character as a
soldier or n gentleman. Those were
our barbarous days, it may be said,
but barbarous or not 1t Is certain that
Gems. Jackson, Scott, Kearney, Hun
ter, Sumner, with Stockton and
host of others of both services, whom
the country has been proud to honor
to exalted positions, were at vari-
GUS times mixed up in those affairs
of honor, and they never recognize
any other way of settling certain
class of disputes. 1t is true that in
the carly part of this century the Of
ficers of both services were a pugna-
cious set of fellows, and there were
two causes that were the occasion of
many O duel and the stirring up of
bad blood in the army and navy.
The reduction of the army in 1872 and
the still further reduction in 1915,
threw out great many officers.
Those who were left out fancied
themselves wronged by those re-
tanned, and there were many hostile
meetings on this account. Our naval
officers were Justly proud of their
success during the war of 1872, and
the officers Of the English navy, who
were in many instances overbearing
and uncivil would pretend, in foreign
parts to make light of our ships and
aur officers. But they were always
sure to be picked up by some Of our
gallant sailors. Between 1907 and
1885 there were innumerable duels
fought py our naval officers. During
that period, one commodore, three
lieutenants, two surgeons and seven
midshipmen were killed in duels, and
one captain aud one lieutenant OF ma
rines met their death in the same
manner The affairs that terminated
fatally were but q small portion o.
, them. In the army duelling woult
break out occasionally as a sort of ep
, idemic, and it would be impossible t.
, describe all the hostile meetings tina
, took place years ago. Some like iha
of Maj. Thomas Biddle, paymastcr
near st. Louis, in l84l, were terribl,
bloody affairs. The affair between
J Captains Wright and Hook at For
J Hawkins Georgia, which took place
fifty years since was little remarka.
BILE as at the first fire Wright was SC
badly wounded lthat he could no
stand, but he insisted OH another sho
which, by all of the rules of the code
he should not have had. II wa
,. agreed to, however and at the mex
fire he crippled Captain Hook TO
life. The old officers will affection
ately remember Captain Hook, after
wards of the commissary department
who was so long stationed here, an,
who was, like Gen. Gibson, one o
the most genial gentlemen that III
army ever produced. About th
same time there was another remark
able affair between Gen. Brooke, o
the Fourth Infantry, and an officer Q
the regiment, whose name we d,
not recollect. This occurred at tn
port of Traders Hill, also in Goorgit
| Brooke had but lately joined his reg
s iment from West Point, and he foun
q pretty hard rollicking set offellow
! at the post, Brooke was an exceed
} ingly amiable young fellow, and h
! bore good deal of badgering froI
7 the officer, who had the reputation G
8 being something of hector, and {
9 last he could stand it no longer, an
y he called him out. They were to us
I musksts and to raise their pieces an
. fire at ihe word. Brooke's Opponei
Q tried 70 intimidate him by sendiu
him word that be would shoot hi
8 through a certain button of his Goa
Q But he did not scare at all. Whe
i the time was given he noticed thf
8 his antagonist had forgotten to coo
. his piece, and he sang out, "Hall
there, you have forgotten to cock yor
Q muskst," and so they commence
n over again. Brooke killed his advel
9 sary at tho first fire. He knew tn,
Q he was in the right, but the affa
s made such an impression upon hir
:, as he was of sensitive and retiriI
Y nature, that he left the army and die
u soon after near Washington.
l. 1t would be impossible to give
!. history of duelling in the army in
d small volume. The epidemic brol
70 out in mild form while our arm
o was idle in the city Of Mexico, but
g lasted only short time and no gre
y damage was done. We could NJ
ot perhaps, wish to see the code reviv'
" in all its rigor, that there are maj
& who think as the Emperor William
a Prussia did, recently, when he d
n, missed an officer of his army for
70 fusing TO fight man who had chaI
II enged him. "FNor," said the old III
n ser,""I can not trust the honor of t
to army in the hands of man who W
O. not fight for his own honor"
ns tS A Compliment to Dentists
Of oil nrofaesional men denti