Duels

Once again today we are heading to Colonial Cemetery in Savannah. Our visit today is the Duellist's Grave. On January 16, 1815 Lieutenant James Wilde was shot through the heart by Captain Roswell P. Johnson during a dueling exchange. It is not the only dueling death to take place in or near Savannah. The dueling grounds lay immediately to the south of the Colonial Cemetery just outside the fence. The tour guides in Savannah relate that duels took place just outside the cemetery fence. The loser was pitched over the fence to be buried by his followers. What I find interesting in the Wilde-Johnson duel is that Lt. Wilde was killed in the 4th exchange of gunfire between the two men. You would think that maybe after being shot at and missed 3 times their passion for the fight would have lessened. Perhaps having been involved in earlier battles with the Seminole Indians they had grown accustomed to being shot at. Lt. Wilde's tombstone reads as follows:

"This humble stone records the filial piety fraternal affection and manly virtues of James Wilde, Esquire late District Paymaster in the army of the U.S. He fell in a Duel on the 16th of January, 1815 by the hand of a man who, a short time ago, would have been friendless but for him; and expired instantly in his 22d year; dying, as he had lived: with unshaken courage & unblemished reputation. By his untimely death the prop of a Mother's age is broken: The hope and consolation of Sisters is destroyed, the pride of Brothers humbled in the dust and a whole Family, happy until then, overwhelmed with affliction."

America has a rich history in dueling. Here are a few of our more famous. Button Gwinnett, a signer of the Declaration of Independence and Lachlan McIntosh. Both men were wounded. Gwinnett died three days later from his wounds. Gwinnett was killed near Savannah on May 19, 1777. He has a street in Savannah named in his honor.

Our most famous American duel was U. S. Vice President Aaron Burr and former U. S. Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton on July 11, 1804. Hamilton was killed.

On August 12, 1817 Thomas Hart Benton and Charles Lucas. They were attorneys on opposing sides in a court battle. Lucas had challenged Benton's right to vote and Benton had referred to Lucas as a "puppy". Lucas was shot in the throat and Benton was shot in the leg. Benton released Lucas from his obligation. On September 27, 1817 Benton and Lucas had a rematch. Benton challenged Lucas after Lucas claimed the first fight at 30 feet was unfair because Benton was a better shot. The men stood 9 feet apart and Benton killed Lucas. Benton was not harmed.

Andrew Jackson and Charles Dickinson on May 30, 1806. Dickinson was killed and Jackson was wounded. Jackson was our only president who had killed another man in a duel.

On February 24, 1838 William Jordan Graves a congressman from Kentucky killed Maine representative Jonathan Cilley in a pistol duel. Congress then passed a law making it illegal to issue or accept a duel challenge in Washington, D.C. It seems like an unfortunate choice by Congress.

The one that could have altered American history never happened due to the intervention of the duellist's seconds. September 22, 1842 Abraham Lincoln accepted the challenge to a duel by state auditor James Shields. Lincoln had published an inflammatory letter in a Springfield newspaper that poked fun at Shields. Mr. Shields took offense and demanded satisfaction. The men met on Sunflower Island near Alton, Illinois to participate in a duel. Had it not been for the seconds perhaps there is no Lincoln presidency. Stephen King wrote a book entitled 11-22-63 which posed the question of what might have happened if Kennedy had not been killed. It is a fascinating question to look back and wonder what America might look like today if Lincoln had followed through on Sunflower Island. If he had won would it have ended his political career? If he had lost who might have been president? Would the Civil War have happened?

So when you look back it is little wonder we have a gun problem in America today. We have a long and storied history of settling our disputes with guns. It is a part of who we are. It is what we apparently were destined to be. I often feel like a lonely voice in the wilderness calling for some sensible gun legislation and action to deal with our many mentally ill. When I look back at our history I am more convinced that we will never be able to adequately address either of these issues. I can only hope that we return to a more civilized version where both men stand on the dueling ground, each armed with weapons and settle their disagreement  face to face.