Democratic Sentinel, Volume 2, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 February 1878 — FAMOUS SOUTHERN DUELS. [ARTICLE]

FAMOUS SOUTHERN DUELS.

Prentiss Mrt Tom Moriholl A -I* mow I Reminiscence. (From the Mew Tort SanJ The duel between the great orator, Sergeant S. Prentiss, of Mississippi, and ex Gov. Henry S. Foote, occurred near Vicksburg. A large crowd was present, and, after one or two harmless shots had been exchanged, Prentiss, with his inimitable humor, called out to some youngsters who were perched in a tree near by, “ Take care, boys; the Governor is firing very wild to-day.” Foote was finally wounded. Prentiss was one of the coolest and bravest, as well as the most magnanimous men I ever met. He was one of the counsel for the defence in the celebrated Wilkinson and Murdangh trial for murder in Kentucky. The case was removed to Harrodsburg on account of the prejudice against the accused at Louisville, where the killing occurred. When Prentiss arrived at the Galt House on his way to the court, some one warned him of the bitter feeling existing against his clients, remarking at the same time : “They will be hunting you, Mr. Prentiss, if they find out you are in the city.” “Ah!” said he, reaching over the counter for his traveling bag and taking out a pair of pistols which he placed in his pockets. “ Well, lam a hunter myself when there is game around.” No one molested him, however. The celebrated Thomas F. Marshall, of Kentucky, fought several duels; that with Col. James Watson Webb is familiar to most Northern readers. Tom once told the writer that if Webb had not stood cross-legged and disconcerted his aim he would have killed him ; that he had meant to have another fight with him, but the Colonel unfortunately took the pledge to Gov. Seward. Another of Tom’s duels was with John Rowan, of Kentucky, a crack shot, but one of the most amiable and gentlemanly of the old “fire eaters.” Tom received a bullet in the leg, and, as Rowan, who did not wish to kill him, walked up to express his regret, Marshall, lying on the ground, exclaimed: “By—, Mr. Rowan, you shoot a fellow and apologize for it with more grace than any man in Kentucky.” With one of these Kentucky affairs, which occurred in 1845, I was unfortunately connected, and the course it took may illustrate the state of feeling on the subject at that time. The principals were Dr. T , of Harrodsburg, and Counsellor H- , brothers-in-law. The

cause of offense was a family affair. Iresided in Lexington at the time, and was induced to interfere, in the interest of peace, on behalf of Dr. T , who was a stranger to me. After several days’ discussion on the part of the doctor’s friends, and canvassing, as well as I could, the views of the other party, I found an amicable adjustment impossible ; and, having gone so far, there was nothing left for me but to carry a challenge. The elder brother of the doctor, himself an eminent lawyer, the brother-in-law of the latter, and even the venerable mother—the last two strict members of the church —were consulted by me, but the feeling among them all was that their relative had been grossly insulted and must vindicate his honor in the usual manner. The meeting was appointed to take place at a retired spot in Boyle county, but was prevented by the authorities, and I remember well we had a scamper to get beyond their jurisJiction and avoid arrest. In the meantime I received a request from a reverend gentleman, whose death I saw noticed last year, to withdraw the challenge for an accommodation which he hoped to bring about. I gladly agreed to comply, provided the opposite party would consent to the arrangement without prejudice to my friend ; but the overture was plumply rejected by them. The meeting took place the next morning at a wild, romantic spot on Dick’s river. The law officers were on the hill above us, but an old boatman and his sons, whom'we were compelled to take into our confidence, and who had the Kentuckian’s instinctive love of a “fair fight,” kept them at bay. The nenpuun used were tne old-fashioned dueling-pistols, those used by the opposite party 1 eing a pair belonging to Henry Clay. Counsellor H fell, mortally wounded, at the first fire ; and, as there was but one boat to cross the river, the constables waiting for us on the side we occupied and only kept back by a wholesome fear of our friends, the boatmen, we were compelled to wait until the wounded man had been transported across. I never saw a man suffer more mental agony than the doctor did during the time, having been informed of the result. He had not wished to kill his opponent—only to inflict a wound such as might end the affair. We both left the State, going in different directions—he to Missouri, and I to Louisiana. From what I subsequently learned of his history, this affair wrought the most singular change in the character of Dr. T . Prior to the fight I had found him amiable, inoffensive and averse to bloodshed, though truly brave; but afterward I heard that he was frequently engaged in desperate encounters, in one of which, I believe, he wras killed. This duel created considerable excitement at tire time, and the Louisville Journal, having published an account derogatory to Dr. T , Mr. Geo. D. Prentice, the editor, was called on to

correct it, which he did.

B.