The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-26
EARLY CENTURY DUELS
FAMOUS ENCOUNTERS THAT TOOK
PLACE NEAR WASHINGTON.
Mason and McCarty's Fight with
Muskets, Decatur-I3arrOn Affair
and Graves-CilIey Match.
Beadle. in St. Louis Repuhlic.


The duel between General Armistead T.
Mason. senator from Virginia, and his cou-
sin. John M. mccarthy, of the same State
fought Feb. 6, 1919, surpassed any affair
OF the Kind occurring near Washington for
downright savagery. 1t was fought in Mary
land, short distance beyond the District
line, on the north side OF a little stream
that flows east along the north line Of the
Rives farm. The duel was the result of a
quarrel between the principals at an cleo
ton in Virginia the previous year. Nc
Carly, because of the quarrel, orally chal-
lenged Mason at the time, substantially
prescribing the terms Mason refused the
challenge, but said he would accept a writ
ten challenge in the proper form. The only
notice taken of Masons answer by McCar-
ty was to post Mason as a coward. Mason
then challenged McCarty, who refused to
accept it, on the ground that he believed
Mason to be lacking in courage and that
he did not mean business. 1t appears that
General Andrew Jackson made an effort to
arrange the quarrel but failed The mat
ter was again opened by Mason, who in
structed his seconds to seek McCarty, and.
If he would fight. to send him a written
challenge, and to accept any terms he
might offer, whether the distance was
three feet or three inches, or the weapons
were pistols, muskets or rifles
On the seconds seeing McCarty, he pro-
posed that the matter should be settled by
Mason and himself jumping off the Capitol
in Washington together. This was declined
as being contrary to established usage and
then McCarty proposed that Mason and he
should sit upon a barrel of gunpowder
which the seconds should explode by fuse
This was declined for the same reason,
and McCarty then proposed that Mason and
ne should hight with dirks. This was de-
clined also on the same grounds. Feb A.
1919, McCarty agreed to meet Mason the
next day at Montgomery Courthouse, the
weapons to be muSketS, charged with buck
shot. the distance ten feet. These terms
were modified SO the muskets were 20 be
loaded with single ball, the distance
twelve feet, the meeting to take place on
the 9th at the place described. The par
ties met on the ground early in the morn
stantly killed and McCarty wounded in
the arm. 1t seems probable that Mason
purposely spared McCartys life, for it is
evident that Mason could have hit him in
the body easier than in the arm. McCar-
ty is said to have suffered great remorse
this affair.
HIS SECOND WOUNDED.
Henry A. Wise was one of the Wings who
supported Tyler's administration in Con-
gress. His colleague, Stanley, opposed it,
and he and Wise had many bitter words in
regard to their action. While both were
attending horse race, each being mounted
Stanley lost control of his horse, which ran
against Wise, and the latter, thinking Stan
ley had run against him purposely, followed
and struck Stanley with his whip. Stanley
challenged Wise, his second being Reverdy
johnson, of Maryland. Stanley accom-
panied by Johnson. was practlcing with
pistol but showed such bad markSma nShip
tnat Johnson, being disgusted, took the
pistol and nred 1t himself, TO show his prin-
cipal how to shoot The ball struck knot
in the tree aimed at, was fiattned and
caused to rebound SO that it struck john
son In the eye, penetrating under the lid.
johnson was blinded in that eye, and it
was out of the question for him to continue
as second. Stanley then selected McCarty
as his second, and through his good offices
the quarrel was settled without meeting.
About hundred PAGES from the place
Zarron and stephen Decatur, post captains
of the United States navy, met in duel
Old road that runs north of the Rives farm
There was a bridge over this stream, and
Barron stood on the east side of this bridge
and Decatur on the west side, both in the
road. The cause of this duel was the OPP
position which Decatur made to the REIN
statement of Barron to an active position
in the navy. he having been suspended and
put upon half pay because of judgment of
a court-martial on his conduct in the affair
of the Chesapeake in 1907 Although De-
catur had formed an opinion adverse to
Barron on that affair, he sat upon the
court-martial at the request of the secretary
of the navy, and it appears that Barron
held him responsible for the verdict, which
he deemed unjust.
In the correspondence between them both
declare themselves opposed to dueling, Bar
ron regretting that he had no other re-
course than to challenge Decatur. and De-
catur regretting that public opinion COM
PEELED him to accept the challenge Barron
wanted consideration given him on account
of his being near-sighted, which Decatur
refused. But Decatur's second was not
shown the correspondence. and he was left
entirely free as to conditions in arranging
for the meeting. The weapons were to be
pistols and the distance eight PAGES. Bar
ron SENS to have wanted the distance )
because of his bad eyesight. Barron's sec
catur's Capt. William cambridge, both of
the navy cambridge had the giving of the
word, and rehearsed it at Barron's request
as follows: Present. one, two, three" nei-
Their TO fire until after the word ''one had
been uttered, nor after the word three"
Decatur told Commodore Rodgers that
nothing would induce him to take Barron's
life" On hearing the terms of the duel, he
said 1T was too late to make objection
determination not to have returned the fire.
but now all he would do would be to wound
marked that this this might cause him ei to lose
his own life, he is reported as saying ''he
would rather lose his own life than to take
the life of q man against whom he had no
ill-will. closing by saying he would wound
Barron in the hip evidently to disconcert
his aim.
1WO OHOIS GAME INSTANT.
AS the principals stood in their places.
Barron said: Il hope in meeting in another
world will be better friends than we
have been in this Decatur responded, 81
have never been your enemy, SIR The
word was given, both firing at the word
two" but one report being heard. Both
fell, Decatur being shot in the bowels the
ball passing through his body, Barron be-
ing wounded in the hip, where Decatur had
said he would hit him. Decatur died in a
few days. Barron recovered.
AS Decatur and Barron lay on the ground
within few feet of each other. there was
conversation between them. What was said
by each has never been recorded, but some
of those present believed they were recon-
ciled to each other. BargOns closing words
have been recorded. AT the time he thought
he was mortally wounded. he said. Every
thing has been concluded in the most honor
able manner and / forgive you from the
bottom of my heart"
Both these duels were fought on the
Bladenburg battlefield. Three hundred
yards south, Commodore Barney, with his
marines and artillery. had effectualy
checked the advance of the British, who had
no artillery, but not being supported, he was
thanked by the British sharpshooters.
wounded and captured When l visited the
ground the small birds were fitting about,
its song seemingly for my special grdtifca-
nra1