Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-05-20
A STRANGE WAR DUEL.
How Two Federal and Confederate
scouts settled Matters.


Confederate Surgeon in Georgia Union.l
On the 18th Of June, 1863, / witnessed
a duel between Captain Jones, COM
handing a Federal scout, and Captain
FRY. commanding Confederate scout, IN
Greene county, East Tennessee. These
two men had been fighting each other
for ak months, with the fortunes OF bat
tie in favor first Of one and then the
other. Their commands we're encamped
on either side OF Lick creek, large and
sluggish stream too deep to ford
and too shallow for ferry-boat
but there 3 bridge spanned tho
stream for the convenience OF the
travelling public. Each OF them
guarded this bridge, that communl-
cation should goneither North nor South,
as the railroad track had been broken up
months before. After fighting each
other several months, and contesting tho
poipt as to which should hold the bridge,
they agreed to fight duel, the conqueror
to hold the bridge undisputed for the
time being. Jones gave the challenge,
and Fry accepted. The terms were that
thev should tight with navy pistols at
twenty yards apart, deliberately walking
toward each other and firing until the
last chamber Of their pistols was dis
charged, unless one or the other fell be-
fore all The discharges were made. They
chose their seconds, and agreed upon
rebel surgeon las be was the only one IN
either command) to attend them IN case
Of danger. =,
Jones was certainly 6ne-looking fell
low. with light hair and blue eyes, nvs
feet ten inches in height, looking every
inch the military ehieftain. lie was
man soldiers would esteem and ladies'
regard with admiration. l never saw
a man more cool, determined, and heroic
under such circumstances. L 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 dusliists
scratch. fighting, not for real or sup
posed wrongs to himself, but, as he
honestly 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 was opposed to.
Fry was q man full Blk feet high, slen-
der. with long, wavy, curling hair. Jet
black eyes, wearing SLOUGH hat and gray
suit. and looked rather the demon than
the nan.
There wssnothing ferocious about him.
but he had that self-sufiicient noncha-
lance that said, 81 will kill You" With
ont n doubt he was brave, cool, and col
lected, and although suffering from q
terrible fiesh-wouHd in his left arm, re-
ceiyed a week before, he manifested no
symptoms Of distress, but seemed ready
for the fight. =,
The ground was stepped of by the
seconds. pistols loaded and exchanged,
and the principals brought face to face.
They turned around and walked back
to the point designated. Jones's second
had the word Fire" and as he slowly
said, Zone -two-three-f fire " they
simultaneously turned at the word and
instantly fred. Neither was hurt. They
cooked their pistols and deliberately
walked towards each other, firing rs they
went At the fifth shot Jones threw up
his night hand and firing his pistol in tho
air, sank down. Fry was in the act OK
firing his last shot. but seeing Jones fall
silently lowered his pistol, dropped it on
the ground, and sprang to Jones's side,
taking his head in his lap as be sat down
and asking him if he was hurt.
I discovered that Jones was shot
through the region OF the stomach, the
bullet glancing around that organ and
coming out to the left of the spinal col
umn: besides he had received three
other friehtlul hesh-wounds IN other
portions Of the body. l dressed his
wounds and gave him such stimulants as
had. He afterwards got well.
I FRY received three wounds-one
breaking his right arm. one the left, and
the other in the right side. After months
of suffering he got well and fought the
war ont to the bitter end, and to-day the
two are partners in a wholesale grocery
business, and certifying the sentiment OF
Byron, that "a soldier braves death,
etc.
Trusting that the above truthful mar
rative will be q lesson to some people,
North and South, that stayed ON the out
side and yelled. "Seek, dog " and are
still not satisfied with the results OF the
war, let me subscribe myself
/ A RECONSTRUCTED REBEL.