The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1907-06-26

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Under this slab lie the remains of
the first victim of the code duello in
the English-speaking portion of Amer
lea. Woodbridge was killed in duel
with Henry Phillips. A quarrel over
a game of cards led to the encounter,
to settle their differences with their
and the young men met on the common
swords.
American history affords many such
incidents; in fact, according to re-
cent authorities, more than $50 duels
have been fought in the United
States. Five of these were of ex-
IRENE historic Importance, the most
noted being the memorable duel be-
tween General Alexander Hamilton
and Aaron Burr, Vice President of
the United States, which plunged the
whole nation in griet
This meeting occurred at We2haw-
ken, n. j., opposite the city of New
York, about 7 o'clock Wednesday
morning, July II, 1904. For fourteen
years prior to the fatal meeting, Ham
ilton and Burr had been political riy-
ais and Hamilton was frequently hos
tile in his illusions to Burr. On the
eleventh day OF June, 1904, Burr read
a published letter in which, according
to DR.. Charles D. Cooper, Hamilton
stated that he looked upon Burr as a
dangerous man and one who ought
not to be trusted with the reins of
government"
4 long correspondence betweenHam-
ilton andBurr followed in which Ham
ilton frequently expressed his opposi-
ton to a meeting. On July Hamil-
ton executed his will and prepared a
paper explanatory of his conduct, mo
tiyes and views" in meeting Burr.
Pistols we're chosen as the weapons
and the distance fixed at ten PAGES.
Hamilton fell, MORALLY wounded, at
the first fire. and died at 2 o'clock the
next. day. Thousands of people
thronged to New York to witness the
burial ceremonies; the streets were
lined with people and even the house
tops were covered with spectators.
This encounter recalls the fact that
the illustrious Andrew Jackson once
felt called upon to kill man for as
persing the character of his wife. His
duel was with Charles Dickson, and
took place near Adairville, Tenn, on
May 80, 1906 Dickson fired first
the bullet striking Jackson in the
breast and breaking two ribs. When
he saw Jackson still on his feet Dick
ison cried out, Great God, have
missed him." A mobent later Jackson
took deliberate aim and pulled the
trigger The weapon stopped at half
cock, but Old Hickory calmly recock-
ed, and again taking aim, fired
The bullet passed through Decisions
body below the ribs, and he died that
evening, having bled to death
4 :. =
Stephen Decatur, a post-captain III
the navy, was MORALLY wounded in
duel with James Barron, also a cap
tain in the navy. This duel, for whicl
there was no cause, was fought al
Bladensburg, Md, March %, 1920 The
weapons were pistols, at eight PAGES
and both fell at the first fire. AS
they lay on the ground each thinking
himself fatally wounded, they spoke t
each other and reconciliation tool
place. The meeting was brough
about by some individual, ingenious
in fomenting Quarrels for others" anC
could have been prevented by an eX
PLANTATION between them. Correspond
ence covering the period from July II
1878, to February 6, 1920, preceded tn
encounter. At the time of writing
the last letter, Barron was suffering
from a severe bilious fever, therefore
the meeting did not take place unit
more thar month later.
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The next American duel of note wa
fought in Maryland, near Washington
in 1888, between Jonathan Cilley an,
William ]. Graves. both members o
the house of representatives. Accord
ing to Sabine, this was a combat un
der the duello, upon a mere point o
honor. j. Watson Webb addressed
note to Cilley, asking for an explana