Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1881-09-02
The First Duel Of the Campaign.

xue EubC Uu6l VI tHc OdupdkEus
James c. Scott, son of the Common
weaIth's Attorney of Fauquier, is Dem
ocrat, and Robt. G. Campbell, son-in-law
of Col. John s. Mosby, is Readjuster,
and the nominee of his party in Fauquier
for the House, Both are promising
young lawyers. At political meeting
Scott intimated that Campbell had changed
his politics for gain. Campbell with an
epithet denounced it as false and followed
it by accepting challenge Scott sent him.
Both were arrested and put under heavy
bonds. Then their hostile correspondence
were renewed, Carter Scott acting for
Scott and Alex. Hunter acting for Camp
bell On Tuesday meeting was arranged
but with great difficulty, as the constables
of Warrenton were after both parties. A
telegram to the N. Y. Herald says:
The terms of the challenged party were
ten PAGES. pistols the combatants to ad-
vance and fire until one sank to the ground.
The time was seven O'Clock that evening,
and the place charming spot for such
business, known as the Double POptars.
some five miles distant. 1t was four O'Clock
now. and there Was but little time to he
wasted Mr.. Hunter telegraohed to his
principal, who was perdu at Warrenton
Junction, seven miles from the rendezvous
notifying him, and quickly getting bug
gy, rode just outside of town and waited
for Mr.. Scott and his second. Now, it,
happened that while be was still IN the
village several old gentlemen, who. like
the war horse of the Scriptures. shifted a
battle from afar, suspected something. and
waited and watched and directed the town
Sergeant to keep an eye on Mr.. James
scott and prevent his leaving town.
Being well mounted the official kept his
post and arrested both just as they were
starting off. They broke away from him.
however, and went flying out of town.
On the way they passed Mr.. Hunter. who
was quietly waiting in the buggy, and ne,
seeing the way things were going, lashed
his horse into gallop. and the singular
spectacle was the scene of asolitary horse
man pursuing, in headlong gallop, two
mounted men and one buggy. There was
more dust kicked up than an express train
could raise, but in the three mile race the
official was distapced, He still kept up,
however, until his horse had broke down
on the road far away from the designated
place, for it was all important that he
should be thrown off the track Never
such race was seen since the ''rebS'' and
Yankees used to chase each other in Wal
days.
The scene shifts to the place of meeting.
Mr.. Campbell was first on the ground. he
having nearly killed his horse and had
three-quarters of an hour to spare. Mr..
Hunter having pressed guide into ser
vice, was the second to arrive. Time pass
ed and the arrival Of the other party was
anxiously looked for. It was known that
they were chased miles out of their way
and were in a strange country, and the
question arose-wOuld they reach the
spot before dark set in, the shadows OF
which were beginning to fall. At quar-.
ter to seven hOrseman covered with dust
rode up. 1t was Mr.. Carter Scott, the
second, and he bore the news that he and
his principal. in their headlOng race across
the country, bad become separated, and
that he was there to represent him. MT
Campbell eagerly assented. but Mr.. Hunt
er refused to allow it. Words went high
and it looked as if a triangular fight was
about to take place, but finally Mr.. Carter
Scott carried his point.
The party started to leave the field, but
| Just then Mr.. James Scott dashed up. His
appearance showed he had had the rough
est ride of his life. Preparations were
now made for instant action.
| 1t was getting dark and the parties had
| to be placed in the open road, and there
at ten PAGES, fronting each other, were
| two as dauntless n en- as ever pulled trlg
gers Both were calm and determined or
making fatal shots. Just here Mr.. Hun
| ter demurred to the chosen arrangements
that the parties should advance if the first
| fire was Intellectual and shoot until one
| fell. He insisted on their firing at the
word and then to have second, third anG
| fourth shot in the same way. Another
was Welded. Mr. Scott won the toss tt
| give the word, but conceded it to the more
experienced second, so Mr.Campbell's sec
ond said: Gentlemen, are you ready
Fire lone, two, three.
| At the word both pistols exploded; Mr.
| Scott staggered slightly. recovered and de-
manded second fire. Upon examination
| it WAS found that the bullet had shattered
his left hand. Mr.. Campbell demanded q
second shot, as did also Mr.. Scott's second
| They all three swore they would have 1T
| Mr.. Hunter declared that they should not
| The two principals advanced upon each
other with cooked revolvers. both with
| deadly determination Mr.. Hunter, call
| ing upon Mr. Scott for help, threw himself
| between the contestants and wrenched the
pistol from Mr.. CaDnpbell's hand, and hav-
ing secured Mr.. Scott's pistol he fired every
load into the ground, thus ending the
fight. A few minutes afterward, both
| principals having become cool, paid each
| other that tribute that brave men feel
when they find a foeman worthy OF their
steel. Upon examination the ball was
| found to have struck Mr.. Scott in the palm
of the hard and to have passed diagonally
out near the wrist, making painful and
severe wound. Everybody is satisfied
with the result, for it has ended quarrel
that it was feared would result fatally in
street fight. Both gentlemen are among
| the first families in the State. Mr.. Camp
bell is Colonel John S. Mosby S son-in-law.
| and Mr.. Scott is the grandson of John
Scott and son Of Mr.. J. Scott, author of
the Life of Mosby." This is the first
duel that has taken place in this section
since the war.