St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-10-11
UNIQUE AFFAIR OF HONOR.
Experiences of Gen. Lew Wallace
and Gen. Starkweather With a


experiences OF Gen. Lew wallace
and Gen. Starkweather With a
Brigadier.
Washington Post.
This being the season for army remin-
lScences. many good things are being
related which have not heretofore ap-
peared in print. One of the latest was
told during lunch hour yesterday at the
pension building by ''late captain' of
volunteers. who left his right leg some
where on the sanguinary battlefield of
/. Gettysburg. He related that a certain
brigadier-general of Massachusetts
three months troops, commanding a
brigade in which General Chen coloneD
Lew Wallace, of Indiana, and General
Starkweather, of Wisconsin, each COM
manded regiments, ON one occasion
grossly insulted both Wallace and
Starkweather. The Massachusetts brig
adler was a veritable Martinez, and the
former, after the insult, both sent him
challenges to mortal combat, Stark
weather'S reaching him first.
1t was Immediately accepted, and.
being the challenged party, the brigadier
named short swords as the weapons.
Lew Wallace's challenge came few
minutes later, and the brigadier sent
him word that he would attend TO his
case as soon as he was through with
Starkweather. Wallace sat down and
wrote an affectlOnate letter to his wife
and father, stating that he was not much
OF swordsman, and feared the worst.
Starkweather, hearing about this, went
to Wallace and told him not to let the
matter give him any uneaSiness, as he
(StarkWeather) was an expert with the
short deadly sword, and there would
not be much of the Massachusetts
brigadier left when he got through with
him.
1t was decided that the duels should
be fought quietly in large headquar-
ters' tent on that evening. At the ap-
pointed hour Starkweather, with his
seconds. appeared, and was received at
the door of the tent with great formality
by an officer selected for that purpose.
They were ushered in. and, to their
great surprise. found long table spread
and fairly grooming with good things,
both solid and liquid. Upon the entry
OF Starkweather and his seconds,
the brigadier from Massachusetts,,
who was sitting at the head
OF the table, arose, and made
a neat little speech, during which
he said that if Gen. Starkweather was of
the same frame of mind as himself they
nOutN PiOCCCo W cat, uIlIk anu UC
merry" instead of carving each other
with short swords. Starkweather smil-
ipgly agreed to the proposition, and an
officer was sent to notify Col. Wallace
that the brigadier was ready for him.
My GodH' exclaimed Lew, upon re-
celving this notification, ''he hasn't
killed Starkweather already, has hep
The officer who bore the summons
said it was his duty only to conduct Col.
Wallace to the big tent without unnec-
essary comment. Partially recovering
from his surprise. he proceeded with
the courier, and upon entering the tent
was still further surprise to see the
loaded table, surrounded by the smiling
faces of his fellow officers. The situa-
.tIon being explained to him, he re-
marked, in his usual happy vein, that
the apology was accepted and the party
would proceed to attack the eDemy's
line. of edibleS.