The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-12-23
THE ClLLEY DUEL.
Interesting "reminiscences of the Hon.
John j. Perry.

10 the EdtJOf OF U36 FfeSS.
The very interesting paper on the "Cilley
Duel' written by Hon. Horatio King and
read by Hon. Geo. F. Emery at the last
meeting of the Maine Historical Society
very naturally calls to mind the time when
this relic cf barbarism was not only tole-
trated but practiced by members of Con-
gress, to settle personal difficulties, be-
tween gentlemen of honor" who recog-
nized the code. Mr.. Kings paper was q
we'll written historical sketch of personal
combat, which on account of its fatal ter
mination, shook the nation from one end to
the other. 1t was an infamous conspiracy
among certain Southern members of Con-
gress of which Henry A. Wise was the
leader to murder Jonathan Cilley. How
these assasins succeeded in their attr0-
cious plot, Mr.. King clearly and truthfully
describes.
In the summer Of 1857. when in Washing
ton. on the invitation of a friend, we Wis
tied the field where Cilley was killed. We
were lucky enough to find the owner, who
about twenty years before. from short
distance away witnessed the duel. He de-
scribed to us the places where the two
parties stood, when they exchanged shots.
and where Cilley fell, The field was a
cleared opening, circular in form on all
sIdes. about twenty rods across from side
to side, entirely surrounded by woods and
on one side. only about four rods from the
travelled highway. From the eastelly to
the westerly side of the ground was a rise
Of from six to eight feet. Upon this west
erly elevation, Cslley stood In the open
field, facing both strong wind and the
rising sun. On the opposite lower side
with the woods very near behind him
stood William j. Graves, when he aimed
the fatal bail which ended Cilley's life
From this. it will be seen at once that
Graves from his position had every posi-
Die advantage over bis antagonist.
After the first, and especially after the
second shots. sill the parties upon the
ground, with the exception of Henry A.
Wise declared the honot of both gentlemen
bad been vindicated, and the unpleasant
affair should stop. Wise was persistent
and even before the third shot proposed to
Cilley's second, that If that should be with.
out Effect, the distance should be shortened
And even after Ciiley fell and lay dead
upon the ground, Wise went through the
solemn mockery sof rendering to Cllley's
friends ''aEy service he could render"
Henry A. Wise never recovered from the
infamy which attached Ito his conduct as
connected with bloody tragedy. From
that day until his death. In the eyes of all
respectable people he bore upon his fore
head the mark Of Cain.
The second of Mr.. Cilley was George W.
J0nes--then delegate in Congress from
the territory of Michigan. Thr ugh the
aid OF his father-in-law, Gen. donry
Dodge, he became somewhat prominent in
politics. and was afterward United States
| Senator from Iowa. In intellect he was a
| weak imam, and in politics demagngue.
As the second of Cilley, he was no match
| for Wise, who acted in that capacity for
Graves: Instead OF holding Wise to the
| rules of the ''code," after the first FIRE, and
| declaring the challenge off and the honor
OF both parties vindicated, he allowed Wise
| to browbeatlhtm into conSentiDg to q a sec.
| ond and third fire and the wilfuI murder of
| his principal, whom he should have pro.
tected seven at the risk of his own lille.
Jones is said to be living In obscurlty some
where ''out west" and is the only person
living who participated 10 that duel. His
last appearances in public was his arrest
| for disl0yalty In 1861, and imprisonment liz
Fort Warren-the right man in the right
place.
William J. Graves was representative
IN Congress, from Kentucky. at the time
from a slave state, where the code" was
recognized, in his foolish attempt to aid
| Colonel Webb, of the New York
| Courier and Engineer, out of
q dilemma in which he had
been placed by his own acts; ne soon found
himself In the hands OF such more noted
| duelists as Henry Clay, Richard Menifer
and Henry A. West; with no power TO re-
sist any course they insisted upon in his
matter with Mr.. Cilley.
There are some things which now 20 tC
| snow that Graves was not willing actor
In that matter, especially after he placed
himself in the hands of Wise as his second
and was by him forced into that third fatal
| shot.
Graves was once elected to Congress
after the duel, and after serving out his
last term was never afterwards heard from
In public life. He died In l84S, at the early
age of forty-three years.
| have never seen In any newspaper OF
other periodical or work any reliable state.
ter he retired from Congress; but some
thing of this kind came TO my knowledge
| In 1852 In the winter of that year when 9
| member of the House / boarded in the
sane hotel With DIR. Carey A. Trimhl4
member of Congress from the Chilicotne
district, Ohio. Our rooms were adjoining
and our personal relations were of the
most friendly character. His wife was 8
Kentucky lady-the daughter of one OF
Kentucky'S old governors.
OF course the doctor was well acquainted
with the lpolicical history of that state
One day inquired of him Ii he knew what
became Of William j. Graves? He said be
did-that he was then dead-that durinj
the Last years of his life. he was a vers
miserable man; that he seemed haunted b.
the ghost OF the murdered Cilley, and at
ter In conversation with his intimate
friends, talked about 1t, expressing tn,
deepest sorrow that he was forced into tn
fatal meeting by those he at the time con
sidered his friends.
This feeling OF deep remorse followe,
him through life, and even at his death
seemed to cast dark shadow over his dy
ing hours.
Whether Henry A. Wise ever had any
rights at the part he played in that wicke,
conspiracy, doth not appear. He was
rash, vindictive man, whose will, bad TEN
per and aggressive acts. kept him constant
~ Ia hot water.
| When Governor of Virginia, h,
became distinguished as a public execu
TONER, when he called out 5000 state troop
and presided at the hanging of old JohI
| Brown.
Posterity will assign to John Brown aut
Henry a. Wise their proper places In his
tory. While the "souP' of the former Will
be triumphantly marching on" dow
through the ages, the memory of the latte
VIII forever be associated with the blood