List of Confederate duels

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According to Ben Truman's history of dueling in America, "A singular affair was that between Lieutenant Lanier, of Bishop and General Polk's staff, and a wagonmaster of the same (Confederate) corps. Lanier was a dressy but gallant fellow, and while executing some order, or attempting to, he incurred the displeasure of an irascible wagonmaster, one morning, who said menacingly to Lanier, 'If you didn't have on so much gold braid, I'd challenge you to fight.' 'You would, eh?" replied Lanier, who at once tore off his jacket and added, 'Come on, then; we're equal!' In ten minutes the parties had taken their positions, with revolvers, at twelve paces, and at the first shot Lanier fell severely wounded." (Portrait of Lt. John S. Lanier of Co. K, 14th Mississippi Infantry Regiment, Liljenquist collection, Library of Congress)

Due to the tradition of dueling in the Southern United States there were a number of duels during the American Civil War between Confederate States military officers and/or politicians.

Following the Marmaduke–Walker duel, the Southern Unionist Nashville Daily Union commented approvingly on the trend: "To which we say, Amen! Can't the rebels get up a few nice little duel parties between Jeff Davis and Stephens, Bragg and Joe Johnston, Harris and Polk? It would afford an agreeable variety to the tremendous wholesale fights which ever and anon shake the land."[1] According to historian William Oliver Stevens, there were no duels between officers of the U.S. Army or U.S. Navy during the American Civil War.[2][a][b]

Confederate duels
Duellist Duellist Date Place Outcome Notes
St. Clair Morgan George S. Storrs March 20, 1861 Florida – near Fort McRee, Pensacola Morgan wounded[5] Main article: Morgan–Storrs duel
Lieutenant John S. LanierUnidentified "wagonmaster of his corps"Between May 20, 1861, and July 9, 1863[6][7]Place unknownLanier wounded[8]
William A. Lake Henry Cousins Chambers October 16, 1861 Arkansas Lake killed[9] Rival candidates for Confederate Congress;[10] Chambers shot Lake in the forehead, Lake died at the Gayoso Hotel in Memphis, Tennessee[11]
Doctor Forward, a sutler[12] Lieutenant Alfred H. Jones[13] December 24, 1861 Virginia – near Young's Mill, on the Peninsula Both killed[14] Rifles at 40 paces;[12] the duel resulted from a "quarrel about the price of a box of candles."[14]
D. H. Hill Robert Toombs After July 1862 Averted Following the Battle of Malvern Hill, arguments about the action resulted in a proposed duel, which never took place[15][16]
Major Alfred M. RhettColonel William Ransom Calhoun[c]September 5, 1862South Carolina – CharlestonCalhoun killed[19]Calhoun, a relative of John C. Calhoun, was Rhett's superior officer at Fort Sumter.[19]
Captain John Cussons Jr.Major Alfred Horatio BeloApril 1863Virginia – near SuffolkBelo wounded[20]
Captain George Moody Captain Pichegru Woolfolk July 2, 1863 Pennsylvania No duel[21] Planned but forestalled by the Battle of Gettysburg[21][22]
Major General John S. MarmadukeBrigadier General Lucius M. WalkerSeptember 6, 1863ArkansasWalker killedMain article: Marmaduke–Walker duel
Lieutenant William H. Dorsey Mr. Adler of Baltimore, Maryland[d] December 13, 1863 Maryland – near Bowling Green, Caroline County Adler killed[24]
Captain SmithLieutenant ScottDecember 16, 1863VirginiaScott killed[25]
Major William F. RapleyMajor Albert BeldingOctober 18, 1864MissouriBelding wounded[26]
Edward C. ElmoreJohn Moncure DanielAugust 16, 1864VirginiaDaniel wounded[27]Daniel participated in a number of duels during his lifetime.[28]
Private Marx Cohen Jr.Private Thomas R. ChewMarch 19, 1865North CarolinaNo injuries[29]Said to be the final duel of the Confederacy; their seconds put blanks in their pistols, both walked away unharmed, and both were killed later that day at Battle of Bentonville.[29]

Notes

References

Further reading

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