The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-29

The Bladensburg dueling ground, al
though one of the most historic spots in
the environs of Washington. is rarely Wis
tied. Few persons there are who can even
point out to a curious pilgrim the exact
territory which became famous as field
OF honor and on which many controversies
we're determined. The field is by a
brook which crosses the Bladensburg Road
about four hundred yards beyond Bar
ney's Spring and about one mile this side
OF Rladensburg Along this brook grow
sycamores, willows, field naples, and water
oaks, ali intertwined with wild ivy, Nir-
ginia creeper, and chicken grape vines.
Rising above this overgrown bit of bottom
land are cleared hills, the sides of which
at this season are covered with blackberry
bushes BURBERRY vines, wild carrot, var
row. and broom sage.
A writer in "Harper's Magazine" in 1887
thus described the dueliug ground as 1t
was in that year: On the old Stage
route leading from Washington 10 Balu-
more a short half mile beyond the bound
arv of the District of Columbia, and with
in a mile OF Bladensburg few years ago
the traveller might have observed on the
right-hand side Of the road, just when he
crossed a little bridge, small patch OF
low. unreclaimed land. thickly oyergrown
with trees and tangled vines. There may
have been ten or fifteen acres OF 1t. 1t was
one of those neglected corners whe.e
everything had so long been permitted TO
have its own way that even bold culti-
vaticu might well pause before II IN de-
spair. A rank vegetation had oyerspread
the place in savage exuberance, apparent
ly defying all human efforts to penetrate
it. Great groups of elders radlaied their
stems in every direction. WILLOWS IN
Vulnerable clustered along the margin OF
the brook Occasionally sycamores dis
played their unmitigated ugliness with
impunity, while here and there the dark
cone CT a cedar crawled its way upward
into the sunlight rejoicing in its thrift
and looking down upon the emaciated CON-
fields in its vicinity with an expression OF
undisguised contempt A heavy growth OF
brambles wound themselves in impene-
trable masses underneath, while overhead
the long vines climbed from tree to tree
in wild and vigorous luxuriance, and
seemed TO revel in the enjoyment OF
weaving their fantastic draperies undis-
turheG Along the bank Of the brook the
cattle. by dint of much patient engineer
ing. had tranpled path into the thicket
in search OF shade or water.
This narrow COW path was the field
of honor. Here in the dim twilight OF
this wlldness of bramDies, not fifty yards
from the road, the impetuous spirits OF
Washington city and the States adjacent
brought their controversies for adjustment.
Il was the court of last resort
To a Times reporter who visited the
place yesterday the aspect was as descflbea
by this early writer. The bridge is gone,
and the brook has been bricked over with
a culvert A COW path still winds through
the alde7s and brambles. and the syca-
mores and willows still shrcud the place
in deep gloom.
Barent GARDENER, Representative in Con-
gress from the Ulster district of New York,
became involved with George Washington
Campbell, a Representative from Tennes-
see, and in 1902 they met at the Biadens-
burg dueling ground. GARDENER was
thought. at the time, to have been NOR
tally wounded but he recovered, and di-
reetly after his recovery was reelected
as a Federalist by his constituents he
died a natural death in 1922 Campbell,
later in his career, became American Min
lister to Russia. 1t was while at st
Petersburg that his daughter, Leczinska.
was born. She became the wife OF General
Ewell. who became famous as a Con-
federate officer during the civil war.
The Gardenier-Campbell duel was the
first to take place at the Bladensburg
grounds Of which there is a record.
One Of the famous duels fought here was
on February 6. 1919, between General
Armistead T Mason. formerly a United
States Senator from Virginia, and Col.
John NJ. McCarty, of Virginia. 1t is re-
corded that the difficulty between them
was of long standing, having its origin
in politics. The combatants were second
cousins. Several months before the final
meeting a violent alteration had taken
place between them at the polls at Lees
NJ Mason having
questioned McCarty's right to vote. Nc
Cartv at once challenged Mason, but In his
challenge he prescribed the conditions of
the duel which, under the code blocked
proceedings for some time, Mason being at
liberty to decline TO fight, which he did
He nevertheless informed McCarty that
he was willing TO meet him on the field
Of honor If he would but put his challenge
in correct form. McCarty paid no attention
TO this message other than to publicly de-
uounce Mason as a coward. Mason then
sent a challenge to McCarty. but the latter
declined to honor It on the ground that
the sender was coward. 1t is said that at
this i,Iucture q number of Masons friends
united in letter begging him TO take no
further notice Of McCarty and he yielded
TO their entreaties Several months after
this Mason and a number OF men Of high
standing. including General Jackson, were
travelling from Washington to Richmond in
a stage coach.
General Jackson told Mason that he
ought to fight McCarty. Upon reaching
Richmond General Mason, IN order to free
himself from the restraints of the Virginia
laws against dueling resigned his commits
sion as general of militia. After making his
Will, he addressed the following note to
Mr. McCarty: Il have resigned my COM
mission for the special purpose Of fighting
you. and am now free to accept or send
challenge and TO fight duel The public
mind has become tranquil and all suspic-
ion of the further prosecution Of our quar-
rel having subsidized. we can now terminate
Il without being arrested by the civil
authority and without exciting alarm
among our friends. ! am extremely anxious
to terminate at once and forever the quar-
rel. Mr. friends - and - are fully
authorized TO act for me in every parti-
eular Upon receiving from you a pledge
to night they are authorized and instructed
at once to give the challenge for me, and
TO make Immediately every necessary ar
rangement for the duel. on any terms you
may prescribe"
Mason wrote this note before he had an
Interview with his seconds. and was en-
closed to them with the following letter
e dressed TO the seconds: you viii pre-
cent the enclosed communication to Mr.
John McCarty and tell him at once that
you are authorized by me to challenge him
in the event of his pledgng himself to
fight. II he will give the pledge, then l
desire that you Will instantly challenge him
in my name 10 fight a duel with me.
Agree to any terms that he may propose,
and 10 any distance-to three feet. his pre-
tended favorite distgnee-or to three
inches. should his impetuous and rash
couf age prefer It. To any species OF fire