Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-07-29
DAILY STOR Y
STRANGE DUEL BETWEEN
HUNkINS AND RECkliNC
TOriginal.l

their promotion from q natural ntneSS
for command and politicians. General
Hunkins belonged to the latter class.
From Iris point of view the war was Il
| sort of preliminary political contest
among certain men as to which should
| eventually return to their homes with
sufficient eclat to be nominated for
some fat office. Having during the
early formation of the army been as
signed the command of division, he
| first turned his attention to keeping in
due subsection all interiors who might
dim his own luster by distinguishing
| themselves. The man he most dreaded
was young Colonel Reckling, who had
entered the army from civil life, but
restless, pushing, dashing fellow and
born soldier.
Two armies were confronting each
other. Hunl.ins' division was on the
right, Colonel Reckling's brigade on the
extreme tip. The enemy resolved to
turn the Union right flank and hurled
whole division against RecllinSs bri-
gade. Recklng held his position long
enough for Hunkins to send him re-en-
forcements, but Hunkins did nothing
of the kind. He watched the fighting
from an eminence and saw the rem
nant of Reckling's brigade driven like
dust before n hurricane. The Union
army fell back to a stronger position.
| When quiet was restored HunkinS rode
up to Reckling and reprimanded him
for not holding his position, implying
cOwardice.
There is little or no redress in the ar
my against such an imputatiOn by
superior officer, certainly not in face
, of an enemy. One morning shortly
after daylight Colonel Recking rode
up to his commanders headquarters
and, rousing the general, said:
''I think the enemy is meditating an
important move. If you will ride out
with me to the picket line I'll show you
what l mean"
Huniins proposed to send his chief
of staff, but Reckling insisted that he
| should see for himself. SO the gen
eral called his escort, and the two Off
GERS rode to the picket line.
I'VE must go farther" said Reckling.
81 would suggest that the escort re-
main here so as not TO draw the fire.
"Rut"- said the general, showing ex
treme reluctance to 20 on.
General" exclaimed Reckling in
feigned surprise.
The general dare not refuse with
twenty Cavalrymen looking on. He
rode with his inferior n few hundred
yards to low fence. over which Rcck-
| l, j..
ing the eyes of the escort were upon
him, dare not refuse to follow. He
was about to protest against this ap-
proaCh to the enemy's rifles as unneC-
eSsary exposure when he noticed q curl
on Reckling's lip. He saw the latter's
design, but he must either follow or
lose that respect of his men which was
necessary to command. Trembling,
he rode on.
, \ mimic bullet sang between the
: two men. The general ducked. An
other and another. The colonel push
ed on, the general few PAGES behind
: him. More struggling shots.
II see no change in the situation -
said the general. Let us go back"
Not here" said Reckling: not here.
, Farther TO their left l think they are
, massing Il force on our right, just as
they did the other day. They can't get
, at us on our left for the river and the
hill where we have thrown up the
, earthworkS."
But we are not going to our right
We're going straight toward their right
3 center"
well turn presently"
GLOW much farther have we TO go"
asked the general in few moments.
I'VE must ride along in front of Their
: line till we reach that wood on oul
left
The general shuddered. Riding il
front of their line meant certain death
''This is suicide," he protested
Come on" said the colonel.
Putting spurs to his horse, Recklns
started straight toward the enemy:
lines. At the same moment storm o.
bullets whistled by the two men. Hun
kins could not stand the test. IL
turned and rode back as fast as hi
horse could carry him.
Bravery wins respect even from al
enemy. The Confederates, wondering
; watched Recllling coming. Present..
he turned and rode slowly along TIL
front of their line. Not 4 shot wa
I fired. 1t was an eighth of a mile +
: cover, and as the soldier passed owe
the distance and entered the wood
cheer went up from the Union soldier
, and the Confederates, who We're to
E admiring to shoot so gallant a man.
When the general joined his escor
he knew that his military career ha
ended. But his aptitude for n differen
field saved him in that field. He sen
home one of his henchmen, who wa
, serving on his staff. with instruction
to write up the generals remarkabl
service in the army and create a dc
mand among the people that he retur
and run for congress. The henchma
4 played his part well. and just as til
Z singular duel between Hunkins an
1 Reckling came to the ears of the ger
eral commanding the army corps i
which the duelists served Hunkins fol
| IL