Untitled - the Digital Library of Georgia

GEORGIA AND GEORGIANS 515
graved, and when fresh from the laboratory of Manton and Son, must
have been a work of art. The pistol was purchased by Colonel Williams
years ago from an old locksmith of Augusta, by the name of Rogers.*
According to legendary accounts, this grim relic of duelling days in
Georgia figured in more than one tragic encounter; but the affair of
honor to which its rust-covered cylinder unmistakably points, after a
lapse of nearly 100 years, was a duel which occurred at Sister's Ferry,
on June 8, 1822, between Col. William Gumming, of Augusta, and Hon.
George McDuffie, of South Carolina, the latter of whom afterwards be
came governor of the Palmetto State and United States senator. Colonel
Gumming was a distinguished soldier of the United States in the War of
1812. He held the rank of colonel in the regular army, but was adjutant-
general of the army operating on the Canadian frontier and was severely
wounded in one of the battles of that campaign. Having resigned from
the army, after the war, he was subsequently offered a brigadier-gen
eral's commission by President Jackson, but declined the appointment.
At the outbreak of the Mexican war, in 1846, he was appointed a major-
general in the United States Army, by President Polk, but declined this
appointment also, mainly, 110 doubt, on account of his age, which was
then about sixty.
It is difficult to vouch for the circumstances at this late day, but as
gleaned from newspaper accounts the duel originated in this wise: t An
article, without signature, appeared in one of the Augusta papers, sup-,
porting the claims of Mr. Crawford against those of Mr. Calhoun for
President of the United States. This article provoked a salty reply
.from a gentleman of South Carolina, whose name was likewise undis
closed. The Georgia writer rejoined on the assumption that the South
Carolina writer was Mr. McDuffie, which gentleman nettled by the
strictures therein contained replied in the belief that his opponent was
Colonel Gumming, a gentleman whose pen was famous in the contro
versies of his time.
Both men were mistaken. The affair proved to be a comedy of errors.
But no explanation was made on either side and subsequent develop
ments led to a challenge, which was promptly accepted. It is understood
that a proposition to which Mr. McDufSe gave assent but to which Colonel
Cummings demurred was made by mutual friends in the hope of a
satisfactory adjustment; and, this effort failing, the details of the meeting
were arranged by seconds after the usual custom.
According to newspaper accounts, Colonel Gumming wished to fight
in round-jackets or shirt-sleeves, but his antagonist suggested the conven
tional frock coat. This dress was accepted. At the appointed hour,
Colonel Gumming appeared upon the field in a suit of cotton; Mr.
McDuffie came attired in silk. The combatants, facing each other at a
distance of ten paces, exchanged shots. McDuffie's ball struck the ground
about four paces from his own feet, while the bullet of his antagonist
entered the former's back obliquely just below the short ribs and de-
* This information obtained from Col. Eb. T. Williams in a personal interview,
t Dr. E. J. Massey: '' Scrap-book."