New Ulm weekly review., 1885-06-24
a MIDNIGHT DUEL.

a MIDNIGHT DUEL.
ARomantic Story Of the Late War vouched
For by an Old Soldier.
There is no doubt, " said an old SOL
der to a reporter of the Athens (Ga.)
Banner, "that many singular things oc-
cur as we journey through life;;" and he
looked as though memory was strug-
Cling with some sad feature of his ex-
istence. He sighed as he continued:
Il remember as though it was yester-
day the march of Hill's Corps along the
winding Shenandoah up to the famous
Luray Gap. Who could ever forget
that March? The road winding with
the beautiful river and overhung with
the majestic chain of Blue Ridge Noun
tains, while across the crystal water the
magnificent valley, with it's charm
ing cottages dotting the beauteous
land with white-like balls of snow
robed in flowers. But the most en-
gaging and lovely objects paled
into significance beside the peerless
women of this blessed country, and
you may we'll believe that when the
camp was struck the soldiers lost no
time in making their way to the sur
rounding cottages. Soon the music of
the violin was heard and the shutting
feet kept time to the music, while, for
time, the soldiers face was Lit With
old-time JOY. At one of these cottages
the belle of the valley reigned supreme,
while several Southern soldiers We'd
with each other in paying homage to
the queen. Among others were two
young soldiers from Georgia and
the other from Mississippi-who were
especially energetic in their attentions,
and so marked had this become that
those present watched the play with
constantly increasing interest, fully
believing that both exhibited case OF
love at first sight, This surmise on
the part of those present was only
too true, as the tragic events
which followed fully proved. The
Georgian seemed to have the lead
on the Mississippian and when the
dancers were called to take their
places he led the belle of the valley to
place in the set. At this point the
Mississippian was seen to approach the
couple and heard to claim the lady's
hand for the dance. An alteration
ensued, but both were cool, brave SOL
diers-two of the best shots in the army
who did not believe in war of words.
So it was ended by the Georgian dane.
ing with the significant remark of the
Mississippian that I will see you after
this set.'
"When the dance was over the Geor-
gian was seen to seek the Mississippian
and together they each called friend
from the crowd and departed. When
outside both claimed that an insult had
been passed, which could only be wiped
out in the blood of the other, and that a
duel to the death should be arranged at
once. A full moon was just appearing
above the tops of the surrounding forest,
and tell you this talk of blood in the si-
lence of the night was anything but
pleasant. No argument, however,
would avail with these men, so it was
arranged that the duel should take
place on the top of the Blue Ridge.
near the center Of the road that passes
through the gap; that the weapons
should be pistols at fifteen PAGES, and
to fire at or between the words 'one,
two, three firing to continue until one
or both were dead.
"The point was reached, tho ground
measured off and the men took their
positions without tremor. The moon
shed its pale light down on a scene never
to be forgotten. A moment or two and
the silence was broken by the signal,
1one, two, three At the word 'one'
the report of two pistols rang out on the
midnig ght air, but the principals
maintained their respective posi-
tions. The Georgian's left arm
was seen to drop closer to the
side, but the Mississippian was immov-
able and still held his pistol to the front.
Again pistol shot was heard coming
from the Georgian and the Mississippi
an still held his position but he did not
fire. The Georgian protested that he
did not come there to murder him, but
no answer was returned. The Missis-
sippian's second approached his prin-
cipal and found him dead, shot through
the eye on the first discharge OF the
weapons. Death, it seems, had been
instantaneous, SO much as not even to
disturb his equilibrium. I may forget
some things, but the midnight duel on
the top of spur of the Blue Ridge
with its attendant circumstances is not