The Washington critic., 1890-02-07
EARLY DUELlNG DAYS.
SENTIMENT IN THE ARMY IN THE
LAST CENTURY.
Instances when Ohicers showed True
Moral Courage by Declining to GO
ON the Field of Honor aud Abide
by the uCode."

On tue Ftclu Oi Honor anu Ablue
ny the "Code,"
In letter written TO friend many
years ago, General William Henry Har.
rison, the ninth President Of the United
States, gave, as follows, his opinion re.
garding dueling;
II believe that there were more duels
in The northwestern army between the
year 1901 and 1905, inclusive, than ever
took place in the same length of time,
and among so small body Of men as
composed the commissioned officers OF
the army, either in America or any
other country, at least in modern times
Il became an officer in the first men
Toned year, at 50 early an age that 1t is
not wonderful that implicitly adopted
he opinions of the older officers, most
of whom were veterans of the revolu
ton. upon this as we'll as upon other
subjects CONNECTED with my conduct
and duty in the profession l had chosen.
l believed. therefore. in common with
The larger portion of the officers. that
no brave man would decline challenge
nor refrain from giving one whenever
he considered that his rights or feelings
had been trcspassed upon. | must
confess, too. that was not altogether
free from the opinion that even honor
might be acquired by a well fought
duel.
NOT 4 TEST OF COURAGE.
Fortunately. however, before | was
engaged In a duel, either as principal
or second. which terminated fatally to
any one, became convinced that all
my opinions on the subject were
founded ON error. aud none of them
more so than that which depicted the
situation of the successful dueist as
either honorable or desirable. A short
experience in the army convinced me
also that fighting duel was not an un-
doubted test Of true courage. know
instances of duels, and desperate duels,
being fought by men who would not
have been selected, by officers whe
knew them, 10 lead forlorn hope. On
the contrary. possessed the most posi-
tive testimony TO prove that some of
tho bravest men would not be engaged
in an affair of the kind under any cir
cumstances.
II present you with a reminiscence of
my carly military life, l introduce it
not only 10 sustain my position, but
from the respect entertain for the
memory OF gallcnt brother officer, long
since called TO receive in another world
his reward for having preferred the
praise of God to the praise of men
LIEUTENANT DRAKE's BRAVERY.
"1n The summer of the year 1903,
Lieutenant Drake, of the infantry of
the second sub.legion, received a
marked insult from another officer.
AS he manifested no disposition to
call him 10 an account, some of tho Sc
who wished him well, among whom
/ was one, spoke to him on the subject.
expressing our fears that his reputation
as an officer would greatly suffer if he
permitted such an insult to pass un-
noticed The answer that he gave me
was, that he cared not what opinions
the officers might form of him, he
was determined to pursue his own
course. That course was so novel In
the army, that il lost him, as supposed
it would, the respect Of nearly all the
officers. The ensuing summer, how
ever, gave Mr.. Drake an opportunity
of vindicating, most triumphantly, his
conduct and principles.
'Hc had been stationed in small
fortress, which had been erected by
General Wayne, and had been rendered
remarkable by the defeat of General St
Clair's army, three days before. The
garrison consisted of single rifle com
pany and thirty infantry, and of th'
latter Drake was the immediate com
maDder. In the beginning of July
1904, detachment of the army, con
sisting of several hundred men. unde
the command of Major Mcmahon, were
attacked early in the morning by up
ward of three thousand Indians. TIN
troops made a gallant resistance, bu
being turned on both fanks, and i
danger of being surrounded. they re
treated to the open ground around tn
fort
From this, too, they were soon dis
lodged by the overpowering force O
the enemy. In the retreat, man
wounded men were in danger of bein
left, which fact being observed fror
the fort, the commandant, Captai
Gibson, directed his own lieutenant
take the infantry Drakes particula
command) and portion of the rifle
men, and sally out to their relief t
this Drake objected, and claimed th
right to command his own men, ant
as senior TO the other lieutenant, h
right also TO the whole command. 'Ot
very we'll, sir said the captain;
such Is your wish, take it, 1T is m
wish. sir, to do my duty. and !! will Ell
dcavor TO do II now, and at all times
a i.o Af
accordingly sailed out, skilfully iute
posed his detachment between the r.
treating troops and the enemy opene
upon them hot fire, arrested their &C
vance, and gave an opportunity to th
wounded to effect their escape, and
the broken and retreating companies
reform. and again to face the enemy
A CONSPICUOUS MARK.
Throughout the whole affai
Drako's activity, skill and extraordinar
self possession were conspicuous. I'll
enemy, Of course, observed Ii as well ;
his friends. The numerous shots
rected at him, however, like the arrow
Of Teucer aimed at the heart of Hecto
were turned aside by Providential int
ference, until he had accomplished a
that he had been sent to perform. Il
then received ball through his bod
and fell. A faithful corporal came
his assistance, and with his aid /
reached the fort, and those two wei
the last Of the retreating party th,
entered It, Drake made il point {
honor that il should be so. Mr. Dral
was rendered unfit for duty for Ion
time by his wound. He had not, II
deed, recovered from 1t in the summ
of 1896, when he was my guest. at Fo
Washington (Cincinnati), (where W
in command) on his way, on furleug
to visit his native State, Connecticu