I've always found dueling fascinating! As if you couldn't tell from my books. :-) It was such a barbaric practice, yet quite often it was the more refined gentlemen who took part in it. The practice began in the Middle ages, grew in popularity, and spread to America where it survived quite nicely until the late 19th century!
In fact, many
of America's most important citizens defended their honor by dueling. One of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, Button Gwinnet, was shot down by General Lachlan McIntosh in a duel.
Commodore Stephen Decatur of the United States Navy, an experienced
duelist, died in a duel with Commodore, James Barron. And
Abraham Lincoln narrowly averted a battle with swords by apologizing to
an Illinois state official he had ridiculed in a local newspaper.
The most famous American duel was the one held between Vice President Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton (who was on track to becoming President) in 1804, where Aaron Burr shot and killed his opponent
In a typical duel, each man had a friend or acquaintance act as a second. The seconds' main duty was to try to reconcile the parties without violence. The offended party sent a challenge through his second. If the recipient
apologized, the matter was over. If, however, he chose to fight, the
recipient was allowed to choose the weapons and the time and place of the duel. Up
until that determining moment, apologies could be given and the duel stopped. After
combat began, it could be stopped at any point after honor had been
satisfied.
Duels were fought for honor and if a man refused to fight when challenged, he was often shamed in public, his name printed in the newspaper. A refusal could essentially ruin him and his career.
Most duelist chose pistols over swords. Flintlock pistols were known for their inaccuracy so choosing them might prolong one's life!
By the time of the Civil War, dueling was in decline, mainly due to preachers tirades and public opinion against the barbaric practice. I'm surprised it lasted that long!
Dueling was a deadly sport. And like any sport, it had rules. The following rules, called The Code Duello, were created in 1777 by a group of gentlemen-delegates for general adoption throughout Ireland. I thought you might like to browse through them. They are quite interesting and even morbidly amusing.
Rule 1. The first offense requires the first apology, though the retort
may have been more offensive than the insult. Example: A tells B he is
impertinent, etc. B retorts that he lies; yet A must make the first apology
because he gave the first offense, and then (after one fire) B may explain away
the retort by a subsequent apology.
Rule 2. But if the parties would rather fight on, then after two shots
each (but in no case before), B may explain first, and A apologize afterward.
N.B. The above rules apply to all cases of offenses in retort not of stronger
class than the example.
Rule 3. If a doubt exist who gave the first offense, the decision rests
with the seconds; if they won't decide, or can't agree, the matter must proceed
to two shots, or to a hit, if the challenger require it.
Rule 4. When the lie direct is the first offense, the aggressor must
either beg pardon in express terms; exchange two shots previous to apology; or
three shots followed up by explanation; or fire on till a severe hit be
received by one party or the other.
Rule 5. As a blow is strictly prohibited under any circumstances among
gentlemen, no verbal apology can be received for such an insult. The
alternatives, therefore -- the offender handing a cane to the injured party, to
be used on his own back, at the same time begging pardon; firing on until one
or both are disabled; or exchanging three shots, and then asking pardon without
proffer of the cane.
If swords are used, the parties engage until one is well blooded, disabled, or
disarmed; or until, after receiving a wound, and blood being drawn, the
aggressor begs pardon.
N.B. A disarm is considered the same as a disable. The disarmer may (strictly)
break his adversary's sword; but if it be the challenger who is disarmed, it is
considered as ungenerous to do so.
In the case the challenged be disarmed and refuses to ask pardon or atone, he
must not be killed, as formerly; but the challenger may lay his own sword on
the aggressor's shoulder, then break the aggressor's sword and say, "I
spare your life!" The challenged can never revive the quarrel -- the
challenger may.
Rule 6. If A gives B the lie, and B retorts by a blow (being the two
greatest offenses), no reconciliation can take place till after two discharges
each, or a severe hit; after which B may beg A's pardon humbly for the blow and
then A may explain simply for the lie; because a blow is never allowable, and
the offense of the lie, therefore, merges in it. (See preceding rules.)
N.B. Challenges for undivulged causes may be reconciled on the ground, after
one shot. An explanation or the slightest hit should be sufficient in such
cases, because no personal offense transpired.
Rule 7. But no apology can be received, in any case, after the parties
have actually taken ground, without exchange of fires.
Rule 8. In the above case, no challenger is obliged to divulge his cause
of challenge (if private) unless required by the challenged so to do before
their meeting.
Rule 9. All imputations of cheating at play, races, etc., to be
considered equivalent to a blow; but may be reconciled after one shot, on
admitting their falsehood and begging pardon publicly.
Rule 10. Any insult to a lady under a gentleman's care or protection to
be considered as, by one degree, a greater offense than if given to the
gentleman personally, and to be regulated accordingly.
Rule 11. Offenses originating or accruing from the support of ladies'
reputations, to be considered as less unjustifiable than any others of the same
class, and as admitting of slighter apologies by the aggressor: this to be
determined by the circumstances of the case, but always favorable to the lady.
Rule 12. In simple, unpremeditated recontres with the smallsword, or
couteau de chasse, the rule is -- first draw, first sheath, unless blood is
drawn; then both sheath, and proceed to investigation.
Rule 13. No dumb shooting or firing in the air is admissible in any
case. The challenger ought not to have challenged without receiving offense;
and the challenged ought, if he gave offense, to have made an apology before he
came on the ground; therefore, children's play must be dishonorable on one side
or the other, and is accordingly prohibited.
Rule 14. Seconds to be of equal rank in society with the principals they
attend, inasmuch as a second may either choose or chance to become a principal,
and equality is indispensible.
Rule 15. Challenges are never to be delivered at night, unless the party
to be challenged intend leaving the place of offense before morning; for it is
desirable to avoid all hot-headed proceedings.
Rule 16. The challenged has the right to choose his own weapon, unless
the challenger gives his honor he is no swordsman; after which, however, he can
decline any second species of weapon proposed by the challenged.
Rule 17. The challenged chooses his ground; the challenger chooses his
distance; the seconds fix the time and terms of firing.
Rule 18. The seconds load in presence of each other, unless they give
their mutual honors they have charged smooth and single, which should be held
sufficient.
Rule 19. Firing may be regulated -- first by signal; secondly, by word
of command; or thirdly, at pleasure -- as may be agreeable to the parties. In
the latter case, the parties may fire at their reasonable leisure, but second
presents and rests are strictly prohibited.
Rule 20. In all cases a miss-fire is equivalent to a shot, and a snap or
non-cock is to be considered as a miss-fire.
Rule 21. Seconds are bound to attempt a reconciliation before the
meeting takes place, or after sufficient firing or hits, as specified.
Rule 22. Any wound sufficient to agitate the nerves and necessarily make
the hand shake, must end the business for that day.
Rule 23. If the cause of the meeting be of such a nature that no apology
or explanation can or will be received, the challenged takes his ground, and
calls on the challenger to proceed as he chooses; in such cases, firing at
pleasure is the usual practice, but may be varied by agreement.
Rule 24. In slight cases, the second hands his principal but one pistol;
but in gross cases, two, holding another case ready charged in reserve.
Rule 25. Where seconds disagree, and resolve to exchange shots
themselves, it must be at the same time and at right angles with their
principals, thus:
If with swords, side by side, with five paces interval.
N.B. All matters and doubts not herein mentioned will be explained and cleared
up by application to the committee, who meet alternately at Clonmel and Galway,
at the quarter sessions, for that purpose.
