Evening star., 1920-11-28

established the field Of honor az
Bladens6urg apparently goes to Rep
resentative Barent GARDENER of New
York and Representative George Wash
ington Campbell of Tennessee. later IA
senator who had a hostile meeting
there in lSc2. soon after the seat of
government had been removed to
Washington. GARDENER fell with
bullet from Campbells pistol in his
( body. The attending surgeon decided
that he could not recover. but he
pulled through and was reelected To
Congress by the federaiists of his dis
, trict. Despite this wound. he lived
FOR twenty years.
code occurred in 1896. following
a bloodless duel at Bladensburg in
June between Representative Daniel;
Jenifer Of Maryland and Represe nta 7
tive Iesse a. Bynum of North Caro-
lima. There were four seconds all
members of Congress. Six shots weree
exchanged without injury to either
party. Bynum and Jenifer suffered
more af the field than on. for the
newspapers lampooned them without
mercy for being such poor shots.
jefferson Davis. while in the United
States Sen;ttc. was prevented from
fighting u duel al Bladensburg by his
father iIl-law. President Zachary Tay-
lor. who placed him under arrest and
then sent his secretary to the ground
to arrest D:evis opponent. Col. BisSeil
q memhar of the House. Bisseil had +
Davis of cowardice in the
Mexican WIT. When arrested he WAS
brought toI the White House. where
President Taylor made the two shake
hands.
tion sought the dark and bloody
field" of Bladensburg. and other duel
ing hauhts about the capital for the
settlement of their personal disagree
ments, but officers in The Navy partici
pated in many notable duels. as did
also government employees. Some
times. too. prominent persons came
from great distances to face each 9TH
er on Bladenshurg's field of honor
Gen. Robert Williams. long adjutant
OF the Army, used to narrate laugh
iEsly an adair of honor he had with
David Bell of Iowa in Is4I. when both
were cadets and classmates at the
Military -icaaen!. Gcn. Williams
forsets wi!aI The disagr"e WAS
about. but t.cy wcrc yer. serious in
determinations 20 set.,. i: at Hlsdens-
burg. when the. arrived al the field
tEeS found there a group of citizens
who t-anc to sec the encounter. so
thsy withdrew u half milo and ex-
changed shots close 10 the Baltimore
and Ohio rdiiioad track. Bell was
scratched hv Il bullet, \ justice nf
the peace. who went cut TO arrest
them. was overcome by desire TO wit
Eess ''thc sport and sec:cted himself
ir d tree and did not disturb them.
Loyalty 10 George Washington
caused one duel that ended happily
CHARLES I IN
revolution, whose affairs o. honor
were numerous. iu t1IS. af+cr he was
tried fo; his conduct al Monmouth.
issued . defense" in which ns spoke
uf Warrington il terms "f ceasE'''
and abuse. Col. John Laureus. an aid
Hamilton. urging THAI as re hsin IN.
reu CT juuius.' he shn';! use il 10 c.
rose tho falseEood Of Lees document
LaureGS sent Lee 4 challenge ard ti:..l
met, with Col Hamilton AS i-aurens
second. Lee WAS slightly wounded
and tie principals and their seconds
agreed TO end The dispute amieably
no story OH the ducls OF the icrea.
men Of this country Is complete with
out sorne ,ueaticn of that most mem
orable Of all such encounters in thP
annals OF our country. in wnicn Co..
Alexander Hamilton. George wash
ington's right-hand na'i, was NOR
tally wounded by Vice President -Naro'.
1904. Hamilton was aid de cam,
to Washington in the revolution ana
his Secretary ot the Treasury. at !i,,
age of thirty-three. the youngest ma,
who ever sat III tie cabinet counciis
There can be no better ending Of :
such a chronicle OF misguided Appeals
to the chance Of arms for the settle
;nent of questions OF honor than a
brief sketch of Eow Lincoin's raFc
quality CT mind and humor ALLOW cd
him to accept a challenge to mortal
combat IN whicl, neither he nor ,is
was scratched 1t was Sea-
ator James Shields. whose statue is ia
Statuary Hal, at the Capitol. rcpr.a
senting the state OF Illinois. who chat
lenEed Lincoln. Shields had .h.
unique distinction Of having b-,cI;
senator from three states - llin3i-.
and Missuuti-:tftei h3viii;:
been born in ireland. They H:"t -"
the Missouri side Of the lllinois ray,
Lincoln mentioned that the ernu'
vas appropriately selected. :s flrs
were in sight OF th- peniteuti.t:. :. te
had specified .th. weapons - 5,c';o-
: sa-cr.iS---and 10 fight :.ras.' !: barr" =.
His second was Fortunately :: it';;r 81
equal iuo1o-. and the uau,'li.,. uri.'
OF AR. l..rcolr compared Witi, 'iis
tagoni.f, VINO was :; short :,I;ifI. ;", -
it so difficult 10 le; 81 clin. ,1.s.fa :
of arm ihat :tii ,,ar!i-', - 'r,
- - = i,eI- -, : 80 ..i "a 80