The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1901-08-29
WITNESSED BY A REGIMENT.
Duel With RevOlvers Fought on the
Western Plains.

writes.
''Wm. Bailey, the chief lieutenant
of the noted guerrilla, Charles Guam
trell, during the War of the Rebel
lion, who has just passed away at the
State Insane asylum in this city, a
victim of paresis, was one of the fig
ures in duel fought on the plains of
Texas, as he was fleeing with Shelby
and a handful of ex-Confederates
from the United States, to seek an
asylum under the reign of Macmillan
in Mexico. After the last remnant of
the guerrilla band had been hunted
to earth, HALEY escaped to one of the
commands under Gen. 10. Shelby,
which was then making its way to a
point on the Brazos river, in Texas,
with the expectation of making
final attack upon Federal forces and
supplies at Corsicana.
''Shelbys army was marching to-
ward Austin, near where the duel
between HALEY, who was then a first
lieutenant in one of the companies,
and captain of company in an
other regiment, occurred. The duel
was witnessed by number of Shell
by's men, who are now residents of
this city, and Major Edwards, who
accompanied Shelby to the City of
Mexico, returning only after the
army was disbanded and upon the
refusal of Macmillan to accept the
Missourians into the service of the
empire.
The duelists-both young men-
quarreled about a woman-a fair
young thing-who was the captains
by right of discovery, the lieutenant's
by right of conquest. At the night
encampment she abandoned the old
love for the new, and in the struggle
for possession the captain struck the
lieutenant fair in the face.
"'You have done serious thing
some comrade said to him.
'''It will be more serious in the
morning, was the quiet reply.
But you are in the wrong, and
you should apologize.
He tapped the handle of his re-
yolver significantly and made an
swer: This must finish what the
blow has commenced. A woman
worth kissing is worth fighting for
The name of either duelist has
heretofore remained unspoken. Most
OF the men who witnessed the tragedy
have long since passed to their re-
ward, and it is only since the death
of HALEY in this city that one of his
comrades-in-arms, who witnessed the
tragedy, has volunteered TO give his
name. There are those to-day living
in Marion county, Missouri, whose
sleep in eternity will be brighter and
sweeter if they are left in ignorance
OF how one fair-haired boy, who went
forth to fight the battles of the South,
found grave when her battles were
ended. The lieutenant challenged
the captain, but the question of its
acceptance was decided upon before
the challenge was received. These
were the terms: At daylight the prin-
eipals were to meet one mile from the
camp upon the prairie, armed with
revolver and saber. They were to
be mounted and stationed 20 PAGES
apart, back to back. AT the word
they were to wheel and fire, advanc-
ing or remaining stationary, as they
choose. In no event were they to
pass beyond a line 200 yards in the
rear of each position.
$50 secret were the preparations
and so sacred the honor of the two
men that, although the difficulty was
known to 300 soldiers, not one of
them informed General Shelby. The
General would instantly have arrested
the principals and forced a compro-
mise, as he had done once before, under
circumstances as urgent, but in no
way similar. 1t was beautiful
morning, all balm and bloom and
yerdure. Two and two and in groups
the men stole away from the camp
and ranged themselves on either
flank. A few rude jokes were heard,
and they died out quickly as the
eombatants rode up to the dead line.
Both were calm and cool, and on the
captains face there was half smile.
Poor fellow, there were already the
scars of three honorable wounds up
on his body; the fourth would be his
death wound.
They were placed and sat their
horses like men who are about to
charge Each head was turned a
little to one side, the feet rested
lightly in the stirrups, the left hands
grasped the reins, well gathered up,
the right hands held the deadly pis-
tolls, loaded fresh an hour before.
'Ready-wheel The trained
steeds turned upon a pivot as one
steed.
Fire
1.-The lieutenant never moved from