The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1890-09-18
a. MEMORABLE DUEL
The Marmaduke- Walker Affair Of Honor in
Which the Latfsr Lost His Life

Which the Latfsr Lost His Life
Doubtless it will be OF much interes
to many of our readers to publish the
correspondence between Generals Wal
! ker and MarnladUke and their seconds
| in the duel between these two noteC
men, as given recently by Col Robert
/ ii. Crockett, ia an interview with a re
porter of the Little Rock Gdzette Col
| Crockett was one of the seconds in The
affair." he was Il grandson of Col Davy
Crockett, who fell at the Alamo in Texas
| Following is the very interesting CORE
spondence between the Generals as well
as an account from an eye witness how
| the sad affair terminated:
TO Gen. John S. UI0rnqadashe.
Sir:-l have been informed that you
have pronounced me coward, and that
/ so acted in the battle of Reeds bridge.
! Please inform me if you have been cor
rectly reported. This note will be hand.
ed yon by my friend, Colonel Robert. H
/ Crockett u. M. WALKERri1
This note delivered to Gen. Marina
! duke in person at his headquarters. He
read it and said: This is all right. Tell
| General Walker i will give him alreply
as soon as possible
In the morning General Walker and
his command had crossed the river and
cainped near Terry's Ferry, eight or
nine miles below Little Rock. On the
next day Capt. John G. Moore, a mem
Der OF General Marmaduke's staff, came
into our camp, bearing, as near as | can
remember, the following reply.
.'I'o Gen. L. NJ Walker:
Sir:-Yours of ~ date, by your friend
Colonel Crockett, received at - hour
and would have received an earlier reply
but that | had to visit my outposts.
Whilst deny your right to demand of
me an explanation of remarks founded
on public rumor, am frank to. say that
your conduct in the retreat from Browns
vile and in the fight at Reeds bridge
was of such a nature that / declined to
serve longer under you, and have SO in
formed Adjutant General Snead This
will be handed you by my friend, Capt.
John G. Moore. Very respectfully your
obedient servant,
Hf j. S. MARMADUKEn 8
walker insisted that | challenge on
this, but instead sent the following
reply for General Walker: s
80 Gen. John s. Moamod1he.
Slr:-Yours of - date, by your friend
Captain John G. Moore, received at
hour, in which you say in reply to my
note, that my conduct in the retreat
from Brownsville and in the fight. at
Reeds bridge was of such a nature that
you decline to serve. longer under me-
etc. This language is susceptible Of
various constructions and unsatisfac-
tory, and | therefore demand an explicit
answer to the Interrogation contained
in my first note. This will be. handed
you by my friend, Colonel Crockett.
l have the honor to be. your obedient
servant, etc. L. M. WALKER.
This note was delivered without de-
lay, and at the request of Captain Moore
| came to the Anthony House in Little
Rock to await an answer In a short
time Captain Moore came to the hotel
and sent to my room the following;
$40 Col. r. Fl Crockett:
Dear Sir General Walkers note of
--d date to General Marmaduke receiv-
ed at - hour. General Marmaduke,
whilst denying having used the specific
term coward in reference. to General
Walkers conduct, yet he holds himself
responsible for any inference of that
nature which may have been drawn
from his remarks, predicated on General
Walkers somewhat more than prudent
care in the avoidance OF all positions OF
danger in the battle of Reeds bridge
and his refusal to come upon the field
when requested by General Marmaduke
to do so.
have the honor to be, colonel, very
respectfully your obedient servant,
JOHN G. MOORE"
My answer to the above was as fol
lows:
TO Capt John C. Moore:
Dear Sir:-Your note of this date re-
ceived at - hour in reply to General
NpIly T I,,t al
native As the friend of General Walker
and without, consultation with him
have the honor to demand of Gen. Mar
maduke, through you, the satisfaction
due to a gentleman for an insult offered.
| have the honor to be very respectfully,
etc. r. H. CROCKETT.
: The reply to the above was as follows:
's71o Col r. IT Crockett:
Dear Sir:-Your note of this date re-
ceived, in which you demand of General
Marmaduke in behalf of General Walker
satisfaction for an insult offered 1t at
fords me great pleasure, as the friend of
General Marmaduke, to accord to Gen
eral Walker the satisfaction demanded.
Please meet. me at your earliest cOnve-
nience, that we may arrange prelimina-
ries for a speedy meeting. | have the
honor to be- very respectfully,
JOHN c. MOORE
81 sent request to Captain Moore to
come to my room, which he promptly
did, and We there selected our advising
friends, he choosing Captain VIM. NJ.
Price of General Marmaduke's staff, and
l taking Major John G. King. Captain
Moore then wrote the following agree
ment of the meeting:
AGREEMENT.
General j. S. Marmaduke agrees to
meet General L. M. Walker on the fol
lowing terms, towit:
Principals. seconds. advising friends