The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-12-16
FOUGHT ON
AN ISLAND.
The Principals in a Duel
Became Famous.
WIGFALL AND BROOKS.
Both Dangerously Wounded During
the Encounter.
THEY WERE REMOVED IN BARGE

In the Savannah river, some eight or
ten miles above Augusta, was 80 or 90
years ago large and dreary sand bank,
known as Goat island, covered with drift
ing and shifting dunes, the home of the
crane, tho kingflsher and the heron. One
Of the most noted duels that ever illustrat
cd the code of honor took place on Goat is
land a sort of neutral ground, amenable
perhaps neither to the laws Of Georgia nor
South Carolina. The principals and Sec
onds in this duel, save one, were all Edge
field men of high descent and Of the cava-
lier class, who believed in and practiced
the code duello.
The principals were two handsome and
brilliant young lawyers, Louis Il. Wigfall,
aged 23 years, and Preston ;. Brooks, aged
22. The oasus belli in this famous duel
grew out of political strifes and ambitions.
Wigfall's second was John Laurens Man
ming Of Sumter county, :. c. Brooks sec
ond was Pierce Mason Butler of Edgefleld.
All these four men became famous char
acters in the history of their state-indeed
in the history of the south-as is abun-
dainty proved by the chronicles and ency-
clopedias that have been written or amend
ed since
In the very earliest hour Of the dim,
gray dawn of fall morning OF the year
1S4l-to avoid notice and perhaps arrest
two close carriages are driven out of
Augusta. They leave the door OF the late
Thomas Barrett, who is himself an occu-
pant of one of the carriages. These two
coaches convey Wigfall Manning, Barrett,
a physician and three colored men, serv-
ants, TO the vicinity of Goat island.
Brooks and Butler, with their physician
and servants, come from the Edgefield
side, accompanied by the late Major An
drew Hammond of New Richmond.
The duel took place at 80 o'clock in
the afternoon The actors in the bloody
drama were taken from either shore to the
island in one Of the long pole boats of that
day. Two shots were exchanged. The re-
suit OF the second shot was the wounding
of Wigfall through both thighs and the
whizzing of n bullet into Brooks hip, the
bullet ranging round into his back and
lodging there. Both men were painfully
and very seriously wounded. Both sank
to ths ground and soon became almost un-
conscious from loss of blood.
And now comes the dramatic and some
what weird part of my story. Both
wounds having been temporarily dressed,
both men were lifted tenderly into the
were rowed down the night mantled
stream to the city. In this boat with the
wounded men were the seconds. Mr.. Bar
rett, Major Hammond, the physicians and
five negro men. Imagine this funcreal
barge, illuminated by lightwood torches,
sometimes ilaring bright, sometimes burn
ing blue, as it glided down the broad, still
river In tho blackncss of darkness, bearing
on its bosom two noble, brave and bleed
ing boys whose immortal souls before the
journeys end might be called to stand be-
fore their God
Arriving mt Augusta Louis Wigfall was
taken TO the residence of Mr.. Thomas Bar
rett, whose wife and motherin law, the
late Mrs. Harriet Glasscock, were family
connections Of his, and there nursed hack
To health with tender care and motherly
watchfulness. Preston Brooks was taken
to Boards hotel in Hamburg. whence
after few days he was taken To his home
in Edgefleld.
Louis Il. Wigfall married a brilliant
belle of Providence, and after living in
Edgelcld few years subsequent TO his
duel removed TO Marshall, Tex, which
state he very soon represented in the Unit
ed States senate, whore he achieved ma
tional reputation as IN orator and states
man. The war, of course, found him de-
votedly and enthusiastically on the side of
his native south. He became a hero in the
memorable and initial siege of Fort Sum
ter brigadier general In the Confederate
army, senator from Texas in the Confcd
crate congress and an intimate friend and
adviser of Jefferson Davis. He died in
Galveston some 10 or l2 years after the
close of the war.
Preston s. Brooks married a daughter
of Governor Means of South Carolina, and
continued TO live in Edgcficld. He became
30 popular among the people of Edgefleld
and tho neighboring districts that they
sent him TO represent them in congress.
Previous 10 this. however, he had led
Company ID of tho Palmetto regiment
throughout the Mexican war, and had
reached the highest rank rs wise and
brave soldier. While he was n member of
the lower house of congress his cousin,
Judge Andrew Pickens Butler, was South
Carolina's senator.
In the senate about this timc-it is mat
ter of national history-thc famous Massa-
chusetts senator, Charles Sumner, made
speech rejecting upon Senator Butler,
who was a man many years his senior.
This insult to his venerable kinsman so
aroused the Ire Of the fiery Brooks that he
publicly canod Sumner in the senate cham
Der. The matter became almost national
issue and aroused I'm the northern mind
much Of that hatred of the south that led
to the war. presssn :. Brooks, in his third
term as congressman, died in Washington
In 1857.
Pierce NJ. Butler became governor Of
South Carolina, then United states com
missioner to tho Indians, and subsequently
the devoted and illustrious lender OF the
renowned Palmetto regiment In the Mex.
lean war. He fell at tho head of his rcei-
ment, with bullet through his brain, at
the memorable siege of Churubusco.
John Laurens Manning married an aunt
Of the present General Wade Hampton. lie
was 40 the time thc wcalthicst and the
handsomcst man in South Carolina. lie
became governor Of bis state. us his father
and qrandiaihcr had been before him, ana
proved himself throughout all his years "a
hero aud "A t.atriot al the highest tyne lie