Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-05-13
A MIDNIGHT DUEL.

"There is no doubt" said an old soldier
to reporter of the Athens, Ga, Banner,
"that many singular things occur as we
journey through lfe;" and he looked us
though memory was struggling with some
sad feature of his existence. II remember
ss though it were yesterday the march Of
Hills 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 mountains,
while across the crystal water was the mag
niicent valley, with its charming cottages
dotting the beauteous land with white like
balls of snow robed in flowers. But the
most engaging and lovely objects paled into
iusignifcence beside the peerless women of
this blessed country, and You may well be-
Iieve that when the camp was struck the SOL
diers lost no time in making their way 10
the surrounding cottages. Soon the music
of the violin was heard, and the shultling
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, one from Georgia
and the other from Mississippi, who were
specially energetic in their attentions, and
80 marked had this become that those pres
ent watched the play with constantly in
creasing 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
c,1l r,,ll tnba
ed to have the lead on the Mississippian,
their places he led the belle of the Valley
to place in the set At this point the Mis-
sissippian 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 soldiers--two of the best
shots in the army-who did not believe in
war of words. So it was ended by the
Georgian dancing with the lady and the
significant remark of the Mississippian i
will see you after this Set
"When the dance was over the Georgian
was seen to seek the Mississippian, and to-
gether 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 Il 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 silence Of the night
was anything but pleasant. No argu-
ment, however, would avail with these
men, So it was arranged that the duel
should take place on top Of the Blue Ridge,
near the centre 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, the ground meas
ured off, and the men took their positions
without tremor. The moon shed its pale
light down on n scene never to be forgotten.
moment or two and the silence was brok-
en- blythe signal, 'one, two, three At the
word 'one' the report of two pistols ran gout
on the midnight air, but the principals
maintained their respective positions. The
Georgian's left arm was seen TO drop closer
to his side, but the Mississippian was i'm
movable and still held his pistol to the front.
Again pistol shot was heard coming from
the Georgian, and the Mississippian still
held his position, but be did not fire. The
Georgian protested that he did not come
there to murder him, but no answer was re-
turned. The Mississippian's second ap-
preached his principal and found him dead,
shot through the eye on the first discharge
of the weapons. Death, it seems, had been
insta ntaneous, so much so as not even to dis
turb his equilibrium. I may forget some
things, but the midnight duel on top of a
spur of the Blue Ridge, with its attendant
circumstances, is not one of them"