The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-01-11
ON BLADENSBURG'S FIELD
SOME FAMOUS DUELs FOUGHT IN
THIS NOTORIOUS SPOT.

ketS Loaded with Bullets at " eve
Feet-Decatur's Mortal Wound from
the Pistol of Near-Sighted Barron
and the Talk of the Men as Both
Believed Themselves to Be Dying on
: the Field-The Clay-Randolph Duel
and the Meeting That Cost CilleV
His Life.
From the Magazine Of american History.
Some five miles from the great dome Of
the capitol, in the northeasterly direction,
Just where the old Washington and Bali-
more turnpike crosses the eastern branch OF
the Potomac, sometimes called the Ana
costa river, is a village which, without any
particular fault of its Inhabitants, will
doubtless through all our future history
bear an unenviable fame. This undesirable
noporlety attaching to the little hamlet Of
Bladensburg is properly due TO two causes:
On Aug. IA. 1914. was here fought that ILL
starred battle. prior to the capture Of Wash-
ington and the burning Of its public build
ings; and near here, short half mile from
the bridge which still spans the little
stream, and within stones throw Of the
identical spot where the heroic Barney came
30 near redeeming that unfortunate day
in a little ravine lying just below the turn
pike-is the celebrated field of honor"
where have been settled more "affairs" than
any other one locality in our country, or
perhaps in the world. 1t is Of Bladensburg,
the ''dueling ground-the field of honor"
the elsewhere of gentlemen Of the code
that writers treat.
1t is a desolate looking place, character
lied by a thick growth OF small trees,
shrubs, aquatic weeds aud grasses. In an
open space along the west margin OF the
brook, aud only few yards from the road,
more than a score of duels have taken place.
besides others that have occurred in differ
emit localities in the immediate neighbor
hood and it is estimated that the whole
number Of hostile meetings upon this field
would aggregate fifty or more. Among the
first, so far as the records show, was that of
Edward Hopkins of Maryland with an adj
Versary whose name has not been preserved.
1t took place in the year of 1914, and re-
suited in the death of Hopkins.
1t was on Feb. g. 1919, that here occurred
the first duel that attracted universal atten-
tion on account of the prominence of the par
ties; the implacable bitterness of the quarrel,
and the melancholy results This was the
desperate and fatal encounter between Gen.
Armisted t. Mason, an ex-senator in con-
gress from Virginia, and Col. John M. Nc
Carly, a citizen of the same state IL
seems the trouble between them grew out of
that prolific source Of quarrels Of this kind
politics. Tie principals were relatives
either first or second cousins-and the fact
seemed to add to the bitterness of their ami
mostly. The quarrel had been OF
long standing, but the immediate
cause from which grew the fatal meet
ing was that at a certain election in Vir-
ginia Gen. Mason challenged McCarty's
right to vote. The latter tuereupon chal-
lenged Mason TO fight, and in the excess of
his anger so far departed from the rules of
the code as to prescribe the terms and con-
ditions of the meeting. For this reason
Mason declined to receive the challenge,
and at the same time notified mccarthy that
he was ready to accept cartel in proper
form. Thereupon McCarty published him
as a coward. Then in turn Mason chal-
ienged McCarty, but the latter now declined
on the ground that he had posted the other
as a coward. At this juncture friends
interfered, and the dispute was for
a time dropped. Mason's wrongs,
however, whether real or fancled, still
ranked. Some months later he determined
to renew the quarrel He is said to have
reached this determination upon the advice
of no less an authority than that of Gen.
Andrew Jackson, who was himself fol-
lower of the code both in faith aud practice.
However that may be, it is certain that the
exaspersted and desperate Virginian, with
a calm and grim determinations concen-
trated bitterneSs-resolved 10 accept no
reparation short of blood or life itself. This
is proved by the cool elaboration with
which he went about his preparations He
resigned his commission as general of the
Virginia militia, made his will and then re-
newed his challenge to his adversary. In
his note TO his adversary he says:
II have resigned my commission for the
special and sole purpose of fighting YOU
and | am now free to accept or send a
challenge or fight duel. am
extremely anxious to terminate at once
and forever this quarrel My friends -
and - are fully authorized to act for me
III every particular. Upon receiving from
you pledge to fight, they are authorized
and instructed at once to give the challenge
from me, and to make Immediately every
necessary arrangement for the duel, on any
terms you may PRESCRIBE
This note, without having seen or con-
suited with his seconds, he inclosed to the
latter, with the following instructions:
you will present the inclosed communica-
ton to John McCarty, and tell him at once
that you are authorized by me to challenge
him, in the event of his pledging himself to
fight. If he will give the pledge, then l
desire that you will instantly challenge him
In my name TO fight duel with me. 4
Agree to any terms that he may propose,
and to any distance; to three feet, his pre-
tended favorite distance, or to three inches,
should his lmpetuous and rash courage pre-
fer 1t. To any species of firearms-pistols,
muskets, or rifles agree at once.n
McCarty refused to accept, and it was
only when Masons seconds threatened to
post him as a coward that he would agree
10 fight. But, as the challenged party, he
now proposed his terms. His first offer
was that be and Mason should leap together
from the dome of the capitol. 1t was de-
clined as being unsanctioned by the code.
He Dext proposed fighting with lighted
matches over barrel of gunpowder, This
was declined as being calculated to es.
tablish a dangerous precedent" He then
proposed dirks in hand-to-hand encoun-
ter. This offer was likewise declined. He
then proposed to fight with muskets loaded
with buckshot, at ten feet distance. This
offer clearly meant what both parties were
seemingly resolved upon, death to one or
both, but was finally accepted; though the
terms were afterward SO modified as to
make the distance twelve feet. and a single
ball was substituted for the deadly buck.
shot.
The parties repaired to Bladensburg on
the evening of Feb. 5. that they might be
convenient to the fatal field on the follow.
ing morning. They spent the night in the
village. most probably devoting the inter
vening time to final preparations. The
next morning at o'clock they repaired K
the place of meeting, accompanied by theil
friends and seconds. The expected duel haC