Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1916-12-06
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!. FLINT HILL DUEL SPORTS. i.
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to relate an incident that took place
while the Seventh South Carolina
Regiment was in camp at Flint Hill,
Va. short while after the battle OF
Bull Run, and OF which | was a wit
ness Of all the facts leading to the
challenge, and also an eyewitness
at the duel. And will never forget
just how felt that morning l was
just IL years OF age, and everything
that happened there is as fresh in
my memory now as then. 1t was
this way:
Emmet Seibles was our major. and
was a private soldier on duty in
front of his tent. Back and forth
wculd tramp. and in his tent the
major and Capt Elbert Bland, both
!.osom friends, were playing CHESS.
A difference arose. then dispute;
hot words passed. and an insult given
that could not be recalled nor allow
ed tn pass unnoticed. Challenge is
offered by Capt Bland and accepted
by Major Seiblcs; seconds are ap-
pointed, pistols chosen; distance. 20
PAGES; time, sunrise the day follow
ing, on Il hill across the branch.
about 800 yards from camp. Thi;
duel | determined to see ii possible
My captain, j. II. Brooks. was
BANDS second, and Col "A. B. Cash,
Of the Eighth South Carolina Regi-
ment, was Seibels' second. / found
out through the captains cook when
and where the duel would be fought.
About gray dawn on that eventful
morning J. w. Edison and myself
slipped off over the branch and
crawled through the brush and over
logs and lay down behind big pop
lar log. The hill was Of hog-back
shape, so we knew that we would not
be on the line OF fire on the hillside
and behind this big log, too.
In short while we saw lone
ambulance coming from the other
side of the hill, followed by two sur
geons, then the principals, with their
seconds at a respectful distance. On
reaching the spot lots were cast for
choice Of station. This fell to Capt.
Bland. The distance was measured
with mechanical eXactness, and duel
ling pistols were produced, each sec
ond loading that Of his principal.
The regular duelling pistol is a costly
affair and of the very finest material I
long, slim rifle barrel, with ham,
mer underneath, the stock finely
chiseled and elaborately ornamented
with silver or gold, the whole weapon
being about ten inches in length and
carrying bullet of .22 calibre.
. The seconds took their places at
an equal distance from each other
and midway between the principals.
Capt. Bland took his position at the
west end Of the field and Major Sci
bles the east, confronting each other,
calm and defiant-there was an in
suit to be wiped out, an honor to be
sustained. They turned, facing the
rear, hands down, with pistols in the
right. The seconds called out in
calm, deliberate tones, "Gentlemen
are You ready?' Then, Ready
aim-fire! One, two, three-stop.
The shooting must take place be-
tween the words fire" and "stOp,'
or during the count of "one, two,
three" There was matter at is
sue dearcr than country, wife or
child. 1t was honor; and true
South Carolinian of the old stock
would give or take life in upholding
his name or the honor Of his family.
AS the word "fire" was given two
pistol shots rang out on the stiffness
Of the morning air. Capt. E.and
stands still-crcct. commanding as
an Indian brave, and as straight and
slender as the mountain pine. Ma jor
Seih' e. remains steady for a m ,ment,
then sways little to the left, stag
gers and falls into the arms Of his
second and surgeon. A hasty eXami-
nation Is made. "Blood!" calls out
the second Of the major. A nod of
satisfaction is given and acknowl-
edged by both seconds. Capt Bland
retires on the arm Of his second,
Capt. J. II. Brooks, with the ma jor
now bleeding profusely from a
wound in the right breast
The matter was kept quiet and no
action was ever taken by the com
manding general, as they may have
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