DeSoto times. (Hernando, Miss.) 1879-1898, 1890-03-27
A LETTER ON DUELING,
Written by General William Henry
Harrison Many Years Ago.
Iiebt in Which the Ninth President of tho
United States Viewed Custom in
High Favor in the Early
American Army.

In letter written to a friend many
years ago, General William Henry Har
rjson, the ninth President of the United
States gave, as follows, his opinion re,
garding dueling:
Il believe that there were more duels
in the Northwestern army between the
years l191 and 1895, inclusive, than eyel
took place in the same length of time,
and among so small a body of men as
constituted the commissioned officers of
the army, either in America or any 9th
Ter country, at least in modern times. ]
became an officer in the aforementioned
year, at so early an age that it is not
wonderful that | implicitly adopted the
Opinions of the older officers, most of
whom were veterans of the revolution,
upon this as well as upon other subjects
connected with my conduct and duty in
the profession | had chosen. | believed,
therefore, in common with the larger
portion of the officers, that no brave
man would decline challenge, nor re-
train from giving one, whenever he con-
sidered that his rights or feelings had
been trespassed upon. / must confess,
too, that was not altogether free from
4 The opinion that even honor might be
tquired by well-faught duel.
Fortunately, however, before l was
Engaged in duel, either as principal
|Or second, which terminated fatally TO
|any one, became convinced thatall my
opinions on the subject were founded in
|error, and none of them more so than
|that which depicted the situation of the
successful duelist as either honorable or
Desirable. A short experience in the
(rmy convinced me also that fighting a
|duel was not an undoubted test of true
courage. | know instances of duels, and
desperate duels, being fought by men
|Tho would not have been selected, by
Phcers who knew them, to lead forlorn
pope On the contrary, possessed the
PnoSt positive testimony to prove that
Some of the bravest men would not be
Engaged in an affair of the kind under
Rny circumstances.
"lpresent you with Renaissance of
my early military life. I introduce it
nos only tosustain my position, but from
the respect entertain for the memory
Of gallant brother officer, long since
called to receive in another world his
reward for having preferred the praise
OF Tod to the praise of men,
IN the summer of the year 1893,
Lieutenant Drake, of the infantry of
The second sub-legion, received marked
insult from another officer. AS he man
lleSted no disposition to call him to an
account, some of those who wished him
"ell' amongst whom I was one, spoke to
d llm on the subject, expressing our fears
'nat his reputation as an officer would
'reatly suffer if he permitted such an
insult to pass unnoticed. The answer
'nat he gave me was that he cared not
'nat opinions the officers might form of
Ill., ne was determined to pursue his
'"n course. That course was so novel
Ii the army that it lost him, as | sup
,oSeo 1t would, the respect of nearly all
ne o'hcers. The ensuing summer, how
ncr, , gave Mr.. Drake an opportunity of
iNulcatlng, most triumphantly, his con-
'uct and principles.
lie had been stationed in small
OtVress, which had been erected by
'eneral Wayne, and had been rendered
: by the defeat of General ST.
ualtS army, three days before. The
"frlson consisted of a single rifle COM
Amy ana thirty infantry, and of the lat
VI brake was the immediate COM
.ahuer' .au In the beginning of July,
,'O4' detachment of the army, con-
tlo'hg l OF several hundred men, under
4e command of Major M'Mahon, were
lacked early in the morning by up
,alos ~. Oh three thousand Indians. The
o; ,GopS made a gallant resistance, but
w. olns turned on both flanks, and in dan
y y. ol being surrounded, they retreated
Ine open ground around the tort.
n FROM this, too, they were soon dis
na ,"seo oy the overpowering force of the
,0n uolny' In the retreat many wounded
,on ~. were in danger of being left, which
aO' a being observed from the fort, the
~ Gniilahdant, Captain Gibson, directed
10 10 own Lieutenant to take the infantry
plaAe particular command) and por-
ton ol the riffemen, and sally out to
m aeif relief To this Drake objected,
nDa u oialmed the right to command his
tn men, and, as a senior to the other
eu'ehant, az. his right also to the whcle
srlilana' .m.a' oh, very well, SIR said the
Il Itp.aih' II such is your wish, take it,
y ~ ~ my wish, sir, to do my duty, and l
a, ~ ehaeavor to do it now, and at all
IL loes' wss the modest reply of Drake.
NJ NJ accordingly sailed out; skillfully
''0fposed his detachment between the