--The late fatal duel at
Charleston, S. C., resulting in the death of
Col. W. R. Calhoun, of the 1st Reg't S. C. Artillery, at the hands of
Maj. Alfred Rhett, of the same regiment, did not obtain much publicity through the papers of that city.
A correspondent of the Mobile
Advertiser, writing from
Charleston, says it is to be the subject of legal investigation, the first case of that kind in the city courts for twenty years. The letter says:
‘
Besides the principals and their surgeons, it is said there were six gentlemen present at the meeting--three State
Senators, the
Speaker of the House of Representatives of
North Carolina a leading member of the State Convention, and a Captain Two of the
Senators also hold commissions as officers of the army.
The arrangements of the meeting were conducted throughout with the nicest regard for the etiquette of the ‘"code,"’ and I have heard of several of those who were on the ground who express their belief that a more fairly-fought duel never occurred.
Major Rhett, the challenged party, waived the ‘"drop"’ shot, which he preferred, and shot the ‘"rise."’ He was dressed in full uniform;
Col. Calhoun in citizen's dress.
Both fired almost simultaneously,
Major Rhett in an instant after
Col. Calhoun.
The latter missed, and fell with a ball through the middle of his body.
He survived only about an hour.
The quarrel which led to this unfortunate result is said to have had its origin as long ago as April, 1861, at the time of the bombardment of
Fort Sumter, in what
Major Rhett considered repeated official trespasses of his inferior officer.
These led to the use, on his part, of offensive language; and the repetition since of these alleged trespasses, and the offensive words by which they were met, have aggravated and complicated the affair.
No explanation was asked or given.
The immediate cause of meeting was a recent duel between
Maj. Rhett and a friend of
Col. Calhoun, who, though aware of the existing difficulty, had enlogized
Col. Calhoun in the presence of
Maj. Rhett.
Therefore,
Maj. Rhett repeated his previous denunciation of
Col. Calhoun, which the friend of the latter resented as an insult to himself, and demanded satisfaction.
In this first duel
Maj. Rhett received two fires of his adversary; be himself flying his second shot in the air. Here the meeting ended.
In both duels
Major Rhett was peremptorily challenged.
It is said that in the latter affair it was proposed on the part of the challenger that firing in the air should not be allowed.
’
