Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-07-13
A FIsTIcUFF DUEL.

who afterwards, under the name of Col.
Crawford, was taken prisoner, inhumanly
tortured and murdered by the Indians
was marching a company from the frontier
of his own State TO the Ohio river. The oc-
casion is not exactly known; it might have
been during Braddock's expedition in
1763-it might have been during that
march from Alexandria to Leesburg,
or perhaps on the bank of the very
river that now gives such charm to
Belmont Park, or, in some of the expedi-
tions previous to Dunmore's war, which oc
Cured in 1774. From the ages Of the par
ties, we rather incline to the former date.
Crawford's men were, of course, hunters
and farm ers from the outskirts of the Vir-
ginia settlements-most probably young,
daring, hardy volunteers, of the same class
as the pioneers who shortly after that peri
cd overrun the forests of Kentucky and he
himself was bold, enterprising man. Pre-
vious to his leaving the neighborhood of
the settlements, Crawford, from some acci-
dent, found himself in want of the means
of transportation for some of his baggage
or stores, and at place where he halted
in the woods fortunately fell in with
wagner who had stopped to rest his
horses at the same spot. In such an emer-
gency, Captain Crawford felt no hesitation
in pressing the team and its driver into the
service. and accordingly communicated his
designs to the WAGNER. The latter, highly
incensed, was inclined to resist what he
considered an oppressive act; but he was
alone, in the midst of military band,
ready and able, at word, to enforce their
commanders order. The WAGNER was a
great, gigantic, two-tisted, square built
fellow, who bore on his face the marks of
many hard fought battle. He was, in
fact, noted bruiser He received Captain
Crawford's order with an air of great dis.
satisfaction, remained for q moment silent,
looking sullenly at the troops, as if indig-
nantly measuring their strength against his
own weakness. He then observed to the
Captain, that it was hard to be forced to go
against his own will-that every man ought
fair chance, inasmuch as the odds We're so
great against him as to deprive him Of the
power of protecting his own right. He
would, however, make proposition, which
he thought the Captain was bound in honor
to accede to: 81 will fight you," said ne,
"or any man in your company. IF / ain
whipped, l will go with you cheerfuly; but
if conquer, you must let me off," In max
ing this proposal, the wagner showed HIM
self an able negotiator. He either knew
CraWford's character or he. had read it dur.
ing the interview. The Captain was an ex.
pert woodsman, stout, active and chival
rous, and prided himself on his personal
prowess, for which he had already obtained
some celebrity. To have declined the
wagoner's challenge might have seemed TO
indicate want of manhood-it might have
lessened him in the eyes of his men-and
his own disposition and code of ethics, per.
haps, suggested that the wagner was en-
titled, in Justice, to the fair chance which
be claimed. He accordingly accepted the
challenge, and both parties began to strip
fol-. the combat.
At this moment, tall young man, who
how recently joined the company, and was a
stranger to most of them, who had been
carelessly leaning against tree, eyeing
the scene with apparent unconcern,
stepped forward and drew Crawford
aside. Captain" said he, ''you must let
me fight that mamie will whip you"
Crawford was not willing to appear to
back out, but the youth insisted that to have
the Captain beaten, which would be the re-
suit if he persisted, would tarnish the honor
of the company; and moreover, that he him
self was the only man who could whip the
WAGNER. The confidence of the youth, and
something about him which inspired con-
fidence in others, enabled him to carry his
point. Captain Crawford having done all
that policy required, in accepting the chal.
lenge, very prudently suffered himself to be
persuaded by his men to let the stranger
take his place.
The two combatants were soon stripped
and prepared for the fight. There was a
great disparity in their appearance, the odds
being decidedly in favor of the WAGNER.
He was in the vigor of life, big, muscular,
hardened by exposure, and experienced in
affairs of this kind. The youth, who, when
clad in his hunting shirt, seemed slender,
now showed himself to be young giant
His frame had not yet acquired the fullness,
the compactness and vigor of ripe manhood
which it afterward possessed to so high a
degree-his limbs seemed loosely hung to
gether, but his bones and muscles were
enormous, and his eye full of courage.
Z The conflict, though bloody, was short.
The WAGNER was completely and terribly
beaten. The youth sprang on him with the
ferocity of an enraged tiger, and the battle
was no longer doubtful. Wherever the tre-
mendous fist of the youth struck it inflicted
severe wound. The blood followed every
blow and the WAGNER, who had been the
victor in many hard-fought fields, in few
minutes lay mangled and exhausted at the
feet of his vanquisher, who was but little, il
any hurt.
That youth was Daniel Morgan, who had
now, for the first time, taken the field
against the enemies of his country as pri
vate soldier, who afterwards rose to the
rank of Major General, who SO often led oul
armies in battle, and who was, perhaps
more frequently engaged with the enemy
than any other officer of the American rev