St. Paul daily globe., 1889-04-25
DEAD AT THE FIRST FIRE.
One of the Forgotten
Romances of the War,

ROmances of the War.
Lula (Ga.) Special to Boston Globe.
''There is no doubt" said an old
soldier yesterday, THAT many singular
things occur as we journey through
life" and he looked as if memory were
struggling with some sad feature of his
existence. He sighed, as he continued:
Il remember as if it were yesterday
the march of HIPS corps along the
winding Shenandoah, up to the famous
Luray gap. Who could ever forget
that march? The road wound with the
beautiful river, and was oyerhung with
majestic chain of Blue Ridge mount
tainS. But the most engaging and
lovely object paled into insignificance
beside the peerless women of this
blessed country, and you may we'll be-
lieve that when the camp was struck
that the soldiers lost no time in making
their way to the surrounding cottages.
Soon the music of the violin was heard,
and the shuff1ing 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 sew
eral Southern soldiers We'd with each
other in paying homage to the queen.
Among them were two young soldiers,
one from Georgia and the other from
Mississippi, who were especially ener-
getic in their attentions, and so marked
had this become that those present
watched the play with constantly in
creaslng interest, fully believing that
both exhibited case of love at first
sight. This surmise was only too true.
as the tragic event which followed
fully proved. The Georgian seemed to
have the lead on the Mississppian. and
when the dancers were called to take
their places, he led the belle of the val
ley to place in the set. At this point
the MllSSiSSippian was seen to approach
the couple and heard to claim the lady's
hand for the dance. An alteration en-
sued, 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 dane
ing with the lady, and the significant
remark of the MssisSippian, Il will see
you after this set"
when the dance was over tho
Georgian was seen to seek the MissiS-
Sippian, and together they called each
friend from the crowd and departed.
When outside, both claimed that an in
suit had been passed. which could only
be wiped out in the blood of the other,
and that duel to the death should be
arranged at once. A full moon was
JuoU appearing dUOfC UHG GUDS Ol Iu0
surrounding forest, and | tell you this
talk of blood in the silence of the night
was anything but pleasant. No COM
promise, 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, threen firing to con-
tinue until one or both were dead.
''The spot was reached. the ground
measured off, and the men took their
positions without tremor. The moon
shed it's pale light on scene never to
be forgotten. a moment or two and
the silence was broken by the signal
'One, two, three At the word one
the report of two pistols rang out on the
midnight air, but the principals MAIN
tanned their respective positions. The
GeOrgian's left arm was seen to drop
closer to his side, but the Mississippian
to the front. Again a pistol-shOt was
heard, coming from the Georg. an, and
the MiSsissippian still held his position,
but he did not fire. The Georgian pro-
tested that he had not come there to
murder him, but no answer was re-
turned. The Mississippian's second
approached his principal and found
him dead. Shot through the eye on the
first discharge of the weapons. Death,
it seemed, had been instantaneous. so
much so as not even TO disturb his
equilibrium. | may forget some things,
but the mid night duel on the top of a
spur of Blue Ridge, with its attendant
circumstances, is not one of them"