MORE OF THE DUEL.
[From the (Leesburg)
Ge[]ins of Liberty]
General
Mason having determined upon his course, contrary to the advice, the
entreaties, the supplications of his best friend, who were in his confidence,
he had arranged his business, resigned his commission, made his will and
prepared to meet his fate. On Tuesday he left home and repaired to Georgetown
and the city on business, with his usual cheerfulness. Dr. Brenaugh of the
United States Army, one of his second, in the meantime, was corresponding with
McCarty, and negotiating the terms of the duel; the particulars of this
correspondence we have not been able correctly to ascertain, but the final
conclusion was the fight with muskets, at the distance of only 10 feet, with
one ball in each muskets. As ration daring as this measure was, it was acceded
to on the part of Ge. Mason. The meeting was to have taken place on Friday
evening at 5 o'clock, preparatory to which Gen. M. wrote letters to several of
his friends, gave a memorandum in writing to two of his particular friends,
requesting in case he should fall, one of them to repair to Leesburg and
request Dr. Claget, and also to send for Dr. Heaton [sic] (the elder) to repair
to his house and render any medical aid that might be necessary to his wife and
mother on their hearing the news of his fate— the other was to repair to some
of his relation and request that his female friend in particular should visit
his afflicted wife and mother, and render them all the constellation in their
power. He left his most valuable papers and money with his friends, and
requested them in writing to have his body conveyed to Leesburg and buried in
the Episcopal Church yard. After making these arrangements, he wrote to
Bladensburg with the utmost composure, and without any sensible agitation,
appeared on the fatal spot at 5 o'clock on Friday evening— but his antagonist
did not appear. He was now, it appears by the rules of duelling [sic], of
dissolved from every obligation to fight. His triumph was complete. His honor,
if it ever had suffered, was now relieved. But Mr. McCart's seconds appeared on
the ground with an apology that Mr. McCarty could not be found, and pledge
themselves that he should meet him on the following morning at 10 o'clock.—
Notwithstanding this uncommon request it was complied with on the part of M,
who spent the evening in Bladensburg with his usual cheerfulness and slept with
great composure. In the morning at the appointed hour, the parties met. A
melancholy event is known. Gen. Mason received the contents of his antagonist
musket in his left breast and sell. His left arm was literally torn to pieces
and his body was perforated in three places, at the distance of nearly 3 inches
apart, which gave rise to suspicion this honorable to Mr. McCarty's seconds.
These suspicions however, we are happy to learn for the honor of human nature,
were done away by an examination of the body by a number of respectable
physicians in the town. We understand it is their opinion that there was but
one ball, which split on the bone of the arm and entered the body in two
places, and that the third perforation was occasioned by a splinter from the
bone of his arm, it being only through the flesh. Thus we have given a detail
of the facts attending this melancholy event, so far as they have come to our
knowledge. If we have been misinformed we shall readily give publicity to any
official or authentic statements concerning it.[1]
[1] The
American Beacon and Norfolk & Portsmouth Daily Advertiser; Date:
03-03-1819; Norfolk, Virginia.
read more on this duel: Gen. A. T. Mason, of Virginia, is no more - Duel at Bladensburg Feb. 6th, 1819
read more on this duel: Gen. A. T. Mason, of Virginia, is no more - Duel at Bladensburg Feb. 6th, 1819
Transcribed by John Peter Thompson. March 5, 2014.
