The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1888-05-10
A REMARKABLE DUEL.
How Union and Confederate Soldier
Fought I'm Single Combat.
(FrOm the MiledOeyiile On ITnion

Fought I'm Single Combat.
(From the Milledgeviile, Ga, Union.)
On the 18th day of June, 1863, L
witnessed duel between Captain Jones,
commanding Federal scout, and Cap
tain Fry, commanding Rebel scout, in
Green county, East Tennessee. These two
men had been fighting each other for
six months, with the fortunes OF battle
in favor of one then the other. Their
commands were camped on either side
of Lick creek, large and sluggish
stream, too deep to ford and too shallow
for ferry boat; but there bridge span
| ned the stream for the convenience Of
the travelling public. Each of them
guarded this bridge that communication
should go neither north nor south, as
the railroad track had been broken up
months before. After fighting each
other several months and contesting the
point as to which should hold tho bridge,
they agreed to fight duel, tho con
querer to hold the bridge undisputed for
challenge, and Fry accepted. The terms
were, that they should fight with navy
pistols at twenty yards apart, deliber-
ately walking toward each other, and
firing until the last chamber of their
pistols were discharged, unless one or
the other fell before oil the discharges
were made. They chose their seconds,
and agreed upon rebel surgeon Gas he
was tho only one in either command)to
attend them In case of danger.
Jones was certainly q fine looking
fellow, with light hair and blue eyes,
five feet ten inches in height, looking
every inch the military chiofton. He,
was man the soldiers would admire
and ladies regarded with admiration. /
never saw man moro cool, Diet ermined
and heroic under such circumstances.
have read of the deeds of chivalry and
knight-errantry in the middle-ages and
brave men embalmed in modern poesy;
but, when | saw Jones come to the duel
lists scratch, fighting, not for real or
supposed wrongs to himself, but, as he
honetly thought, for his country and
the glory of the flag. L could not help
admiring the man, Notwithstanding he
fought for the freedom of the negro,
which L was opposed to.
Fry was man full six feet high,
slender, with long, wavy, curling hair,
jet black eyes, wearing slouch hat and
and gray suit, and looked rather the
demon than the man.
There was nothing ferociousab about him; :;
lance that said, 81 will kill YOU" With
out doubt, he was brave, cool. and
collected, and although suffering from
terrible flesh wound in his left arm,
received week before, he manifested
no symptoms of distress, but seemed
ready for the fight
Iho ground was stepped Off by the
seconds, pistols loaded and exchanoed.
and the principals brought face to face.
l never shall forget that meeting.
Jones, in his military, boyish mood, as
they shook hands remarked that
soldier braves death for fancinl wreath
| When In glory's romantic career.
Fry caught up the rest Of the sentance
and answered by saying
| Yet he bends over the foe when In battle laid
| And bathcs every wound with q tear
They turned around and walked back
to the point designated Jones second
had the word FIRE, "and as he slowly
said, -two-three-fire" thew
simultaneously turned at the word
zone" and instantly fired. Neither was
hurt. They cooked their pistols, and
deliberately walked toward each other
firing as they went AT the fifth shot,
Jones threw up his right hand, firing
his pistol IN the air, and sank down. Fry
was IN the act of firing his last shot; but,
seeing Jones fall, silently lowered his
pistol, dropped it on the groud and
sprang to Jones side taking his head In
his lap as he sat down, and asking him
if he was hurt
discovered that Jones was shot
through the region Of the stomach, the
bullet glancing around the organ, and
coming out to the left spinal column;
besides he had received three other
frlghtful flesh wounds in other portions
OF the body. [ dressed his wounds, and
gave him such stimulants as | had. He
afterward got well.
Fry received three wounds-one
breaking his right arm, one in the left,
and the other in the right side. A fter
months OF suffering he got we'll, and
fought the war out to the bitter end,
and today are partners in a wholesale
grocery business, and verifying the
sentiment of Byron, that "a soldier
braves death, ETC., etc.
Tru sting that the above truthful
narrative will be lesson to some
people, north and south, that stayed on
the outside and yelled, "Seek dog!" and
are still not satisfied with the result of
the war, let me subscribe myself a recon
structed CONFEDERATE SURGEON.