The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1890-01-23
THEY FOUGHT WITH RIFLES.
Two North Carolina Officers Pitted against
two Alabamians
From the atlanta Constitution. ]

Two North Carolina Officers Pitted against
two Alabamians
From the atlanta Constitutional
A party of southern congressman
were recently discussing the late Cal
houn Williamson duel in the Metro
politan hotel lobby at Washington,
when Colonel Gates, of Alabama,
spoke up and said:
Speaking Of duels, l remember
remarkable one fought with Missis-
sippi rifles at forty PAGES and, by the
way, Colonel A. H. Belo, of the Gal
weston Ne,cs, was one of the principals.
"It was in March, 1868, just previ
GUS to the battle of the Wilderness.
Longstreet's troops were besieging
Suffolk. One night when the Fifty
fifth North Carolina regiment was on
duty, the yankees charged, captured
the battery and raised the blockade.
Next day Colonel Connolly of
that regiment rode UP to the head
quarters of General Law, of Alabama,
and inquired if Law had reported
that his regiment had behaved badly
the night before. Law said he had
made such report as it came to him
from Captains Cousins and Terrell of
his staff Connolly pronounced it q
lie and said he would see Cousins and
Terrell about it. He sprang off his
horse ard made for their tent He
asked Terrell if he had made the re-
port. The captain admitted it and
Colonel Connolly demanded an apol.
ogy, which was refused. The colonel
replied he would hold Terrell per-
sonally responsible.
Turning to Cousins he asked the
same question.
"Gousins was tall, grey-eyed man
with long, black curly hair hanging
to his shoulders. He was an un-
naturalized Englishman, recklessly
brave, and seemed never 50 brave as
when exposed to great danger. He
would frequently walk down the front
of skirmish line for a quarter of a
mile while every man was firing at
him. Though he was never hit. The
boys called him Laws wild man.
"Cousins replied to the colonel's
question with bow and smile:
"'No, colonel. l do not remember
having made such report, but will
tell you what do say-if your regi
ment had orders to retire when the
enemy was in front, it obeyed them
last night d-n promptly
"Connolly," replied the captain,
"for that remark l would hold you
personally responsible Cousins bow
ed and said, All right, colonel, shall
be happy to accommodate YOU s
"Tne colonel made big mistake.
Captain Terrell was about as reck
lessly brave as Cousins-there were
not two braver men in his army.
"Colonel Connolly retired and a
short time afterwards Major Belo re-
turned with note to each, Botf &C
cepted the challenge, when Belo, as an
act of courtey, took Cousins off Con
nolly's hands. g.. .-r.
"The next day the meeting occur
red in an old field, near Suffolk. Il
was gloomy, misty day. The spec
tators were few, and remained at 6
respectful distance. Mississippi rifles
were the weapons used, and forty
PAGES the distance.
"Wbile Connolly and Terrell wer.
getting ready to fight on one side th'
field, Belo and Cousins without delay
got at their work ON the other. They
exchanged two shots each. Cousins
second shot cut Belo slightly acros
the neck. Thereupon the weapon
were handed the seconds to be reload
ed, when Cousins remarked to Bel
that he expected to kill him that fire
and said /: Major, we are doing yer.
poor shooting to-day. If we don't d.
better at the yankees we won't get an.
meat To this Belo replied wit
cheerfulness, and said he was not hurt
just as they were preparing to fire
third time a runner came up from tn
other combat announcing the due
had been settled. Beio and Cousin
shook hands and congratulated eac
other, parting friends.
"Connolly and Terrell were to fgh
with double barrel shot guns. Whe
the weapons were loaded and place
I'M their hands parley was had be
tween the seconds, and after consider
able talk Connolly's second withdre
the challenge, which of course ended th
matter. Connolly, whose courage We
somewhat doubted on account of th
settlement, afterwards behaved mo'
gallantly, aud lost an arm leading h
regiment in a charge at Gettysburg
After the close Of the war, he marie
, wealthy Virginia lady, and becan
state senator in Virginia. He VIZ
one of those who escaped unhurr whe
the ceiling fell in the state hous
!, After that event, Connolly said &c
had been so good to him and spare
his life 80 often that hencetorth
would devote his life to His servic
He became Baptist preacher and,
. believe, is now in Richmond.
; "TerreIl was afterwards made liel
tenant colonel of the Forty seven,
Alabama regiment, and was killed
the fall of 1864, while carrying tt
: cOlors on horse, and leading b
J regiment in a charge.
: "Belo became colonel of the fift
fifth regiment ON CooLolly's retir
b ment, served honorably through Il
= war, and afterwards went to Tex
and established the Galveston Nea
y which he has ma lie a greatsjournal.
2, -"Cousins, in 1865. before the close
!; : the war, and while Lee was keepi
Grant out of Richmond, made the 9
quaintance Of a handsome widow W
A resided near Aahland. the ho1na-i