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GEORGIA AND GEORGIANS 517
Masons. He was a power in politics. But among the other distinguish
ing marks of this accomplished gentleman was his deadly aim with a
pistol and his expert use of the sword.
Doctor Baber was a duellist. His first connection with an affair of
honor was in 1825, when he was present in the capacity of a surgeon
at the famous duel fought between Hon. Thomas D. Mitchell and Maj.
Robert A. Beall. Colonel Mitchell was allied with the Clark faction in
politics and at the time of the duel was the newly elected solicitor-general
of the Southern Circuit. He was a native of Laurens District, South
Carolina, but studied law at Eatonton, Georgia, under Judge Eli S.
Shorter, after which he settled at Hartford, Georgia, to practice his pro
fession. Major Beall was residing at this time in Talbotton, Georgia, but
afterwards removed to Macon, where he became the first mayor of the
young town. At a later period in his life he also held a brigadier-gen
eral's commission in the state militia.
The difficulty between the two men grew out of a trivial remark
made by Colonel Mitchell at the dinner table of a friend, to which re
mark Major Beall took exception. As a result there sprang up between
these gentlemen a quarrel which proved to be so persistent that a resort
to weapons offered the only sane solution and accordingly they agreed
to adjust matters between them by fighting a duel at Hamburg, South
Carolina, just opposite the City of Augusta. Capt. Joseph Morgan,
second for Major Beall, and Mr. John P. Booth, second for Colonel
Mitchell, arranged the details. Two rounds were fired without effect,
after which, mutual friends, a number of whom were present, intervened
to prevent further hostilities. The courage of both men having been
attested, a reconciliation was effected and the combatants shook hands
on the field.
Unfortunately, some comment upon the duel made by Doctor Baber,
who attended as surgeon to Major Beall at Hamburg, South Carolina,
was resented by Colonel Mitchell. The latter subsequently published
a card which gave offense to Doctor Baber, who, after a brief controversy
on the subject, demanded of Colonel Mitchell the satisfaction due a
gentleman under the code. The challenge was accepted, and rifles, at a
distance of ten paces, were selected as the weapons. In the spring of
1826, the parties met at Hamburg, South Carolina, the scene of the
former duel; and, on the second fire, Colonel Mitchell fell, mortally
wounded. The ball, penetrated the lungs causing almost instant death.
Dr. Isaac W. Mitchell, a brother of the deceased, was present at the
duel, acting in the capacity of surgeon, and attended upon the dying
man in his last moments. It was a sad duty to perform, but the ordeal
was soon over, and there were no pangs of lingering distress, thanks to
the deadly work of the bullet. Doctor Mitchell was a life-long resident
of Thomas County, Georgia, where he amassed a large property and
died well advanced in years. Colonel Mitchell, at the time of his death,
was still a young man, aged thirty-three, and unmarried. Exceptionally
well equipped for his profession, he was a man of splendid talents, but