The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-01-18

III a.,n
contributed u magnificent floral offer
ing to the bier OF his former antagon-
list In n duel, recalls WILDLY to my mind
one OF tho tragic episodes OF the war.
Tho brigade Of General Joseph r..
Davis was composed OF the Second
Regiments. the Fifty fifth North Car
olina and Fourth Alabama, division OF
Major-Generai Law. Law was from
Alabama and had entered tho service
an colonel OF the Fourth Alabama, OF
which regiment my friend, DIR. Hudson.
was surgeon. and 1 was at that time
surgeon of the Eleventh Mississippi.
The Fifty-nfth North Carolina was
commanded by Colonel Comfy. Lieuten-
ant Colonel Smith and Major A. II
Belo.
Major Terrell was Laws chief Of
staff and Cussons was nm aide. In a
recent battle Major Terrell had criti-
cized the conduct of the Fifty-hfth
North Carolina. Colonel Comfy prompt
ly sent him n challenge. and Belo fol-
lowed Immediately with a challenge to
Cussons. The preliminaries were quick
ly arranged for "a dual combat. Comfy
and Terrell. Belo and Cussons were to
fight I'm the same field at the same
hour I received Il note from Major
Belo in the evening notifying me that
he would fight Cussons next morning,
and requested me to accompany him
as his medical attendant. We met
promptly at the appointed hour in a
little old barren field. surrounded by u
dense pine forest. 1t was dismal.
cloudy morning. and the moaning OF
the winds through the pines sounded
like n funeral dirge. The two hostile
parties were separated from view of
each other by an intervening ridge.
Our party proceeded, without delay,
10 their deadly work, the other party
o,l Inc No at
valor fell to parleying. Belo and Gus
sons mot. shook hands cordially and
entered into free and easy CONVERSE
ton about the latest war news. while
the seconds were arranging the ground
In tho choice of positions. Cussons was
stood out In the open. l see Belo yet
as he stood there dressed in full uni
form. buttoned to the throat tall. slen-
der. symmetrical and erect as an Indian
chief. With the proud and graceful
pose Of head. curling red mustache
and steel-gray eyes. he looked the pic
ture of a warrior and a cavalier. They
were both dead game" but wholly
unlike. Belo represented the highest
type of the Southern soldier. apparent
ly fond of life, but ready to sacrifice
it for principle or good name. Gus
Isons was az cold and calm and unre-
strained as though the presence of dan
His appearance was striking and pc
culiar; dressed in gray shirt and
dark trousers, he was devoid of mil
itary feature. his hair long and black
as raven, swept TO his shoulders and
curled gracefully upward. His brow
and eyelashes were Intensely black
while his eyes were blue and clear as
the sky. His skin was fair and soft
and his expression dreamy and poeti-
cal. He had n strange foreign look, as
though he might have had in his veins
the mingled blood currents of West
Indian and some proud old Spanish
Don. They bowed away from each
other to take their positions with the
grace OF accomplished courtiers. Col
onel Goldsby was second to Cussons
and Captain Townes to Belo. The
word" fell to Goldsby. Distance,
forty PAGES; weapons, mississippi
rifles" They stood side to side facing
without turning. They had choice OF
holding the weapons with muzzle up
or down. Belo held his up and con-
sequently fred with falling shot
Cussons held his down and fired with
rising shot. The seconds stood TWEEN
ty PAGES back from the lines. facing
each other. halfway between the prin-
cipals. The surgeons stood the same
distance back from the line, but opro-
site to and facing his prospective pa :
tient. Colonel Goldsby called in a
clear. deliberate voice: Gentlemen.
are YOU ready" Ready" was the
prompt response "One. two three
fire." Bang-the fires were so stimuli
taneous as to sound like one report
Instantly they both brought their guns
back and stood motionless as before.
When IL was apparent that neither
would fall Cussons bowed and said.
Bad shooting, major" Belo returned
do better than that when we meet the
enemy again" Both seemed playing
for the mastery. Colonel Goldsby
asked: Gentlemen. are you satisfied"
Belo answered In clear, firm voice,
Not satisfied" The guns were re-
loaded and positions resumed. Gen
tlemen, are you ready?" Ready"
keen crack OF the rifles was instance
Gus. After n moment of awful sus-
pense to us. Belo quietly remarked.
Bad shooting again. captain" Gus
sons answered sharply and with ap
parent Irritation. Very bad" as
though he felt that his Workmanship
had discrcdited him.
Again Colonel Goldsby, who was a
most refined and cultured gentleman,
with sympathies as tender as wom-
ans, called out, almost with anguish
in his voice: Gentlemen. are YOU sat
isfied?' and once more from Delo came
the quick response that sent a chill
through us all, Not satisfied"
The guns were reloaded for third
FIRE. and 1 shall never forget the ex-
preston OF pain on Goldsbys fine, pale
face as he called out for the third
time: Gentlemen. are you ready?"
At this critical moment. DR.. Hudson
from the other party appeared on the
crest of the ridge waving his hat and
shouting to US to hold on As he
came up. hat in hand, his first express
sion was: Don't fight so - fast;
we are about to settle this matter over
yonder." Goldsby and Townes read
lily agreed to accept any settlement
mado by the other parties. Hudson
soon returned to us, escorting the
other belligerents with the cartel in
his hand. Everybody shook hands.
and the whole party adjourned to my
in the woods nearby.
whore / had gallon OF fine whiskey.
which had been provided exclusively
for the wounded, but the morning air
was damp and chilly. and we all re-