The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1885-08-15
REOOLLECTIOxS OF THE PAST.
Editors Natehez Democrat /:

Col. MeClung, which perhaps
wOnld be as well for me to correct,
as | am among the oldest of his
aequaintanees, and perhaps the
only survivor. present at his first
duel, nearly sixty years sgo.
Col. McClung was desperately
wounded in the Mexican war while
leading bis regiment, the LIST Mis-
sissippi. against the defenses of
Monterey, as Jefferson Davis, its
colonel, was not in the charge.
Gen Allen was not killed IN a
street fight with McClung; that
was prevented by Gen. II. S, Foote
whom all remember as eonspicu.
Gus as governor, senator from
Mississippi, and as representative
from Tennessee in the Confederate
Congress. The duel between Col.
McClung and Gen. Allen took
place on the Pearl River close to
the capitol; in 'S4 and the legisla-
ture adjourned to witness the fight.
The combatants stationed at 20 or
80 PAGES, armed with several pis-
tolls, each to advance aud fire ad
libitnm. McClung stood steadiast /;
his right arm raisd at a level; a
second pistol in his left hand ready
to replace the first. Allen, on the
contrary rushed to obtain a closer
shot, with an excitable exclama.
tioh, but was shot by McClung
near the mouth aud throat, and
fell face foremost on the ground.
He was carried of the field by his
friends and some days after died,
while Prentiss and other friends
were in the room sitting by him
his death being caused by suffoca.
ton from discharge of blood in the
lungs.
Gen. Allen was much liked about
Natchez, where he at one period
was salesman for Billy Bruno upon
whom he played Joke displac
ing one of the widows of Brune's
store, displacing and scattering
articles about on the counters,
taking nothing, but leaving a note
on Brune's desk stating that they
came to rob, but found the articles
marked SO high, that they could
not steal them and make any money
on them. Bruno kept store OF
chiefly hardware, but to many
planters he furnished all supplies
as cash as loans of money at the
then customary and profitable rate
of ten per cent. Bruno made 9
large fortune, sold out or turned
over the stock to Vorwick (whc
did not follow in the footsteps O.
his uncle). Bruno went back tC
Germany, married and became
baron, where | saw him many
years after, very much respected
by the community.
McClung's duel with Menife,
arose from some difficulty whicl
caused Menifee to beat McClunl
with a cue, in a billiard-room, whel
McClung was much injured. Call
ing on him some days after, wher
his wound had been dressed, b,
complained of the "conduct o
Menifee. who struck him unawarel
and beat him like a dog, for thu
first blow stunned him so that h'
was perfectly unconscious of thu
others. However," said he. quiet
ly, "it is all right; we will settle i
some of these days. As soon al
he was able he armed himself ant
proceeded to Vicksburg intending
to attack Menifee wherever h,
should see him. As it soon be
came known that McClung was il
the city and it being desirable t.
avoid q street fight, Prentiss, tn,
only person who had any intluenc'
over him, went to see him and pre-
vailed on him to consent to due
which McClung agreed to, on con
ditton of rifles at ten steps. Capt
Jeason, of the bark Jeanette
then loading at Natchez aud Vicks
burg with cotton for Liverpool
took McUlung in his boat across
the river.
At the first shot Menifee misse,
his antagonist, and McClung's riff,
missed fire. At the second sho
Menifee again missed, and the bal
from McClung's rifle striking til,
hammer of Menifee's rifle, wa
split in two pieces, both of whicl
stuck Menifee's forehead, fron
which wound he afterwards died.
In McClung's charge at Monte
rey he was seconded by Captain
Douglas Cooper, a brave soldier o
Natchez, who received the encon
iIms of his commander.
Icould relate many other event
connected with Col. McClung, bu
this piece is too long already.
Respectfully,
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