The herald., 1894-08-05
A WAR DUEL.

In the breaking dawn Of July 3, 1853,
4. 600 cnvalrymen sat in silence upon their
horses on the extreme left Of the Confed-
erate battle limo at Gettysburg. The field
In their front was curtained with hehvy
mist as II kindly nature had sought to
veil tn, appalling traces of the tragedy
there enacted. 1t had been sown with shot
and bladcd thick with steel on the previ-
Gus afternoon, and the harvest Of death
was ungathered lying In windrows along
the ghastly burrows that had been cut by
the red plowshare Of war. The infantry
line stretched far away to the right, and
their gray uniforms blending with tho
hazy atmosphere gave them very shad
owy appearance. Many of the regiments
were indeed but shadows Of what they had
been at noon on the preceding day. Some
were in line without even one commits
stoned officer, and others with but the nor
NAL strength Of q single company. For
example, as attested by the official record,
the Twenty sixth North Carolina entered
the battle with 800 rank and fle and, nl-
though none was captured, but so an
swered to their names at the close OF the
day Colonel Henry r. Burgwyn, Jr.,
who commanded 1t, and all the field off
GERS were killed Captain Fl. @. Albright,
who had command of 1t after the battle,
was its only commissioned officer left un-
wounded. Company II Of the same regi-
ment went in with 81 men and three Off
GERS and came out with but one man
standing upon his feet, all the others hav-
ing been killed or wounded. knew the
sole unstricken survivor we'll. He was
Private John Secrest, a robust yorng farm
er of Mecklenbursh county, N. c., and
l regret to state that instead of being
grateful to Providence for having plucked
him as a brand from the burning he
Erumbled loudly over the loss of one of his
shoes, torn from his foot by grapeshot
that strucl the heel while he was falling
back In good order.
The 90 squadyons of horse that were
awaiting orders in dreamy half sleep
were commanded by Hsigadier General
Wade Hampton. Hs was the beau ideal
Of cavalry commandeH Of tall. heroic
form, superb horseman, brave and en-
terprising without being rash, and with
daring always tempered by sound judg-
ment. He was unquessionably the strong
est man in the Confederate service and
the only one in either army who, enlisting
as private soldier. rose to the rank Of lieu
tenant general. But, although judi
cious commander, he was possessed Of
knightly spirit Of adventure and as adven-
lures como to the adventurous his brill
liant naihsary career was marked by many
thrilling personal experiences.
But bravo heart ia no buckler against
q steel blade, as General Hampton real
just over his head, he turned his face to-
ward the belt Of open woods on his left in
time to sec the flash Of gun at point
about 800 yards away, and then he heard
another leaden messenger cut the air neer
him. He at once rode at brisk trot in
the direction Of the timber to find out the
early bird of shaTpshooter who thus
broke upon tho quiet Of the morning with
his shrill note Of battle. When he had
ridden about 125 yards at right oblique
he came to @ high stake and rider rail
fence. Looking to the front he saw,
standing on largo stump, some or 3
feet In height, soldier whose blue coat,
bound with orange colored braid, and pan
falcons with stripes OF tho Same color on
the outer seams, indicated that he was a
United States cavalryman. He seemed to
be what the Scots term "hraw lad," and
although not engaged in political cam
paign had taken the stump" doubtless
that he might get better view Of the Con-
federate troops on the elevated plateau
south Of the woods.
The contour Of the ground hid General
Hampton from his command WHEN he
halted at the fence. AS he drew his pis-
tol the quick eyed skirmisher saw him, and
they both fired at the Same instant The
ball from the soldiers rifled carbine splin-
tered rail near the horse's head, and that
from Wade Hampton's A calibor revolver
made the bark fly from tho stump. Tho
duel was clearly irregular, as there were
no seconds and the principals were about
1876 yards apart instead of 10 or 90 PAGES
as prescribed by the code of honor, and
they were uncQually armed, although each
was within far range Of the others weap-
on Hampton held his pistol muzzle up
at a ready and courteously waited on his
antagonist who t..rew back the lever OF
his oarbine AVG flinging out the empty
shell put in fresh cartridge.
Again the reports of carbineand pis-
tol blended, and kuIiet passed through
Hampton's gray cavalry cape, grazing his
right breast. M
The soldier then inserted a third car
fridge, but could not close the breach Of
his rife, the trouble ovidently being that
the gun was foul, and hence the butt of
the metallic case did not go in flush with
the socket He raised his right hand with
the palm to the front, as If to say to his
adversary, "Wait bit, I'll soon be with
ycu," and then drew his wipil = rod, and
after driving out the stuck cartridge took
a piece of rag from his pocket, and, wet
ting it with his tongue, attached it to the
slit in the rod and deliberately cleaned
oub mis- carbinc. The delay sorely taxed
the patience Of Hampton, as it would that
of any gentleman who was kept waiting
to be shot at But he was as incapable Of
taking an unfair advantage Of his enemy
then as he was at Brandy Station, where,
during the f1erccst cavalry engagement Of
the war he dashed up to q Federal colonel
to cut I'm down, but seeing that his
sword arr was disabled saluted him in
stead and passed on to seek another foe.
The high roosting cock Of the woods
soon relieved him by again opening fire,
but at Hampton's return shot the oarbine
fell from his grasp and he jumped down,
and after picking it up with his left hand
retired to the rear.
At that moment General Hampton re-
ceived blow on the back Of his head that
would have unhorsed less stalwart rider.
He turned upon his assaiiant, who in
stantly wheeled his horse and ded at full
speed Hampton followed quickly in pur-
bir tJ,oro,, n n brad ave erri for