Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-09-29
A STORY or THE WAR.
sTRANGE AND DEADLY DUEL BIZ
TWEEN A "FED" AND "gEB."
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| FROM ihs 'bieARp InierOcean.
There occurred at Martinsburp. Va.
in the summer of 1864, one OF those
strange duels that sometimes take
place in battle, and which make a
lasting impression on the mind Of the
i0Oker.on. Ii was the 18th Of Sen
tember, the day before Early and
Little Phil fought their first pitched
battle. A force OF cavalry and in
fantry had that morning been sent to
capture the First brigade of Ayerill's
division at Martinsburg and turn Sher-
idan's right. Had the movement been
successful, the Union position at Ber-
ryville would have been rendered
somewhat precarious. But the troops
which had been intrusted with the
safety Of the point were no home
guards they knew the value Of the
prize contended for, and were prepared
to make the rebs pay dearly for every
inch of ground they gained. The
charging and counIer-charging were
disgustingly frequent, and many were
the deeds Of personal daring that
| transpircd a. the tide Of battle surged
from street TO street and out upon the
open field.
About the middle Of the afternoon
there came a lull in the struggle, a. if
each side had stopped "to pant lit
tie" before making some final and
desperate effort 10 crush its adversary.
II was during this interval of compar-
aiive quiet aud inactivity that the
duel referred 10 took place. In front,
and little 10 the left of the Union
/ line there was an elevation where once.
at the beginning of the war perhaps,
there had stood a goodly growth Of
forest trees, which had been cut down
and hauled away. The stumps were
still standing aud afforded good shelter
/ for skirmishcrs. 4 squad Of cavalry
/ belonging to a Pennsylvania regiment
were sent TO occupy this eminence a. a
sort of flank guard to the Union line.
The rebel sharpshooters at once open
cd fire upon them aud soon made the
[ position untenable for the Union
/ squad. which then moved further off
to get out of range, leaving behind one
Of their comradcs, whose horse had
been wounded by the sharpshooier..
| The Iank seemed to be in 10 hurry
TO leave his unfortunate horse and WAS
leisurely removing the saddle, bride,
etc, when be noticed rebel cavalry
man approaching with the evident
intention Of making him prisoner. 1t
was about EyIis stage of the game tba:
the attention OF those Of Us upon the
left was called TO witness what was
traDspiring.
The Nank took shelter behind a
stump and al once opened fire His
first shot killed the reb's horse, and
then he too got behind n stump. The
two men were not more than 200
yards apart, and each Of them seemed
10 realize the fact that he must either
conquer or die. The Iank placed his
hat on top of the stump. and immcdi-
ately the reb shot it of. Neither Of
them could expect to get away until
the other was either killed or badly
wounded. Neither could expect To
/ kill or cripple his adversary without
making what was called a close shot.
Tor both men we're careful not to
expose any more Of their persons than
was absolutely necessary while taking
aim. They fired perhaps a half dozen
ruse. lie remained quiet and in
active for some moments, carefully
concealing every part of his body
from his opponent The Union soldier
began to suspect that his last shot had
done its work, and growing inquisiiive
he gradually raised hi4 head above his
little fortifcation to see what had be-
come of the reb. The latter had plan
ned we'll His Sharp's carbine was
already in position, aud when the
Yank had exposed his head and part
of his chest the Johnnie fired. The
shot took effect in the Union soldiers
check, and he fell backward with a
shrek. We saw the reb 90 to him,
liit him up in q sitting posture, and
help to bathe the ugly wound then,
when he had rendered his fallen foe
all possible assistance, We saw him
take up his own gun aud trudge off TO
his companions. lie could have been
killed or captured, but We had seen
his noble conduct toward his unfortu.
nate adversary, and we greeted his
departure with rousing cheer. The
Union soldier had frightful wound,
but believe eventually recovered.
The Men Mhn Sucraed