Show A RANGERS DUEL ON THE PAN SAN JUAN it was during the war with mexico in 1816 1846 when general taylors army was on the march to monterey that a most remarkable and unprecedented duel took place on the banks of the river san juan the celebrated scouting company of captain ben macoul loch had been detached from colonel jack hays regiment of texas rangers by gen lor for special se service ivice toe company was composed principally of gallant and fehr fearless less young men the flower of texas but there were several from the southern stalks among whom was herman S thomas of baltimore who had bad been transferred from the the washington and baltimore battalion then commanded by tite tae brave colonel wm win H watson and samuel C reid a young lawyer 1 from new orleans who had been adjutant of a louisiana regiment which had been disbanded as turee months men the daring and hazardous scouts through the wild portions of mexico to various town in the interior to obtain mation of the enemy as well as of the roads and the country the occasional cas ional skirmishes with detach detachment mentE of the mexican cavalry and therom the common risk of picket guard duty daty had woven ties of the strongest friendship among men young thomas was not over 25 of medium stature add dark complexion he was of a daring and reckless nature which he had exhibited on more arre t anan an one occasion by risking his bis life unnecessarily indeed he seethed seemed to court death he w hafi ME much h dejected at times and vi wore 0 r e a d melancholy expression was whis been occa d by an unfortunate juve affair heaber this was true or not he be was very retiring and reticent and did not enter into the fun and jokes of the boys although he and reid seemed much attached to each other A on the morning mornings mornin gw Sept september emier 19 15 the whole army had arrive at the beautiful little town of carifi situated on a lovely plateau and surrounded on every side by oy by wild mountain scenery of surpassing grandeur while far in the distant haze of the blue sky rose the lofty peaks of the mhd sierra madre the main portion of the army had bad encamped about two miles west of the towo town near of san juan joan Riv erand about ten leres leagues from monterey I 1 I 1 yr that night thomas and reid were on picket duty with a detail of the rangers when a heated discussion discuss ios ensued as to the advance to be taken by the guard bopre 0 sharp retorts were made two friends but nothing was thought of the matter at the time although toe the laugh of the boys seemed very mucho irritate thomas themas who was near remark theres a way to s settle feih matters without further words it appears that on a previous occasion there had bad occurred some unpleasantness between the two reid having censured thomas for washing his horse close to a spring and I 1 perhaps the remembrance of it added to the bitterness of his sensitive feelings theat the next morning the to the surprise of reid lie ae received a peremptory challenge excluding any demand for an explanation or apology which the bearer stated would not be received under these circumstances the challenge was at once accepted and the weapons chosen were double shotguns shot guns loaded with buci buck and ball at twenty paces the time and place to be with the seconds an injunction of secrecy was agreed upon to prevent any interference or arrest and for this purpose the principals were not to involve any of the abe members of the lie company to act ace as seconds reid was perhaps arear or two older than thomas and aad was of ox light com coia plex ioa tall and well formed he bad been drought up in the school of southern chivalry and was as magnanimous nani nant as he was courageous lae he bad fought bis at new orleans with a noted duelist and bravo whom he wounded the weapons bela being small swords besides he be naturally naturally natural lg v inte inherited the bravery ot of his bis father who c commanded 0 m man ded the brig ot of war A r astr chy at the memorable j battle of faval in 1814 thus forced into a combat from which there was no receding and which could not be declined but with dishonor young reid beld had been compelled to accept the challenge however much he felt that there really ready was no cause tor for demand I 1 ing such a sacrifice he had deter in mined ned therefore to bring thomas to a sense of reason by compelling him to accept an explanation or else to make the duel latal fatal to one or both the parties captain randolph ridgely of baltimore then commanding a battery of the united states third artillery was one of the noblest coolest and bravest of men he was known as the chevalier bayard of the army and was fairly worshipped wor shipped by both men and officers offic ra his opinion and decision in affairs of honor no one dared to dis dia tute or quest question ton reid accordingly rode over to Kid Rid gelys quarters and entering his tent was pleasantly received and invited to a campstool campstool ridgely bad been a classmate of rt balds ads brother at west point and was very friendly disposed reia then explained his bis situation situa and the circumstances which led to the challenge chal leage disclaiming any intention to offend thomas and asked ridgely to become his second 1 I have done him no wrong said reid ind never had bad the idea ot of wounding wo undine or ins insuring ulan g him I 1 would willingly have mad madej wy y explanation or even an apology of any imaginary insult that ha he bayh may hare re conceived was intended what at has sparred burred him to this rash vindictiveness of I 1 am at a loss to know but it is now too late and as he has determined to force me into a fight it cannot be avoided yet I 1 do not vt want to take his bis life jile 12 after listening to reids statement badgely seemed lost in thought for several moments then as if he bad suddenly arrived at some conclusion said well reid to be frank with you I 1 will tell you that herman thomais was here not aalf an hour boar ago and I 1 have agreed to act as his bis second re he is from my town and to is highly connected and of course coursed cour seI 1 could not ref refuse use him although he to is somewhat rash he is really a good hearted gallant fellow but he is fully impressed that he has bau been outraged outi aged and grossly insulted by you in presence of the picket guard 1 I am very sorry I 1 did not see you first said reid as he slowly rose to leave to seek some other friend sit down reid said ridgely ely and I 1 will oil you what do As I 1 know you both so well nellif jf you yon will consent I 1 will act as second for you 11 1 I am perfectly willing replied brightening up to put my life an and honor onor in your hands bands IVe very well said ridgely Bid gely the moon will be well up by 9 tonight and half a mile up the river from the ford on the other side is a clump of mesquite trees which thomas has already mentioned as a secluded spot we will meet you anere at that time if you do dd not object to the place aud and I 1 wallsend for thomas at once nd and inform orm him of the arrangement you will come alone unattended as I 1 will bring a surgeon with me with this understanding reid shook hands bands with ridgely ely thanking him for his bis ki kindness and friendship and mounting his horse rode over to his bis camp to make his bis final arrangements lor for the duel the sun went down behind the mountains gilding their peaks with crimson melting into gold sot not long a after ter t the lie queen of night was plowdy ascending anding the silvery stairway of the sky k y to her throne in mid ocean the drums had bad beat and the bugles bad sounded their tattoo which perhaps was to be the last that would ever a again in be heard by the two young men who were so BO soon to meet in deadly combat save the sentinels the camp had bad become hushed in slumber and not a sound was heard beard except an occasional cas ional challed challenge chall euge b by y th the e guards As the time drew nigh aph mounted his horse and bavi having g obtained the counter st sign in passed out ut of the lines to the san yuan juan crossing at the ford and aad taking up the bankhe bank he soon sogn came to the designated dump clump of trees where he e was challenged by ridgeley cley the party having already arrived dismounting and hitching bit ching his bis horse to a tree reid advanced and saluted the party ridgely then addressing the combatants ba tants said gentlemen as you are both friends of mine I 1 have consented to act on OB this occasion as the arbiter between you in this duel upon the only con COB that each of you will now pledge your sacred honor boner to obey my commands implicitly and be governed by the terms and order of at the duel which I 1 will explain after you are placed in petition will you make this solemn pledge and bide abide by it both men firmly responded responded will the ground was then stepped off by ridgely Bid gely and the choice of positions was won by Th thomas onias the young men ere then stationed their loaded weapons examined and placed in their hands bands at a present arms toe the sep september aber moon which was near its ts full rd and entirely high up in the heavens hea ens shed its silver sheen upon the scene lighting up the dark chap chapparal paral bushes and the limpid waters of t the sau san juan as it mur mannered aion along its winding banks and seemed beeme to chide the murderous intent of the men while the me peaks of the surround ing mountains looming up in the distance looked down as silent witnesses of the coming combat the shimmer ing moonlight tell upon Opo the forms of the two young rangers as they stood I 1 in n the ne attitude of deadly intent revealing svery every feature and expression of their faces aces the I 1 he long ions curly light brown hair of Reid falling back from bis big forehead with his bid large blue eyes fixed upon his adversary bore an expression oi of firmness and sadness in which was seen no trace of a murderous revenge while the handsome features of thomas were rigid and aad determined and a wild brilliancy flashed from his bis dark hazel eyes both appeared perfectly cool and self possessed ridgely now approached taking a position tion midway between the two with a six in his hand while the surgeon stood off at a proper distance gentlemen said ridgely you will come to an order arms and pay particular attention to the instructions I 1 now give you will first be asked it you are ready the order will then be given you as you now stand to shoulder arms next to present arms by the word fire if after the first fire neither should be mortally wounded a secand fire may be demanded by either party but let me e impress it upon you both that after awe t the word aim instead of the word fire I 1 may say recover arms you will therefore keep your finger well off the trigger until you get the word fire the party deviating from these orders in any manner I 1 shill shall shoot down do you both clearly ander understand stand thein the instructions each replied in a firm tone yes 71 very ivery conti continued nied ridgeley 1 I will now first put you through toe the form that there may be no mistake made gentlemen are you ready ready beady I 1 answered the combatants shoulder arms present arms aim recover arms order arms I 1 I 1 were the words of command given and promptly volleyed oti Oll eyed now gentlemen you will prepare to receive the final orders of command and you will strictly observe the injunction not to fire before you get the word the perilous moment of intense acx bety bad now arnved that tried mens souls as well as their courage both of the young men appeared as if every nerve was stretched to its utmost tension but there was no pallor seen no quiver of the facial muscles could be observed each one stood as firm and resolute at as roman gladiators waiting for the signal of conflict which was to result in the death or of one or both the night was very still the foliage of the trees was stewed by the faintest breeze and the slightest sound was painfully audible as the rich clear voice of ridgely in mea measured Aured tones gave the solemn words of command gentlemen are you ready ready was the response of both shoulder arms present arms ains aim the air seemed deemed stifled with breathless suspense for on the next oi 01 der hung buna the lives of the two adversaries recover arms continued ridgely shoulder arms advance teu ten paces forward march this unexpected order to the surprise of both brought tue two rangers face to face order arms cried ridgely approaching pro aching the young men gentlemen said lie fie you have both shown the highest courage and proved yourselves brave and gallant men and I 1 declare the honor of both of you has been fully maintained and vindicated there is no reason why this misunderstanding misunderstand ina should not now be ably terminated T turning to thomas he said rei declared that he uever in ten offend you shake hands bands T as a test of their magnani mo chood which required equal if not more moral courage per perhaps naps than the risk ot ol life each of the young men gradually raised his bis hand as if in doubt whether the other would receive it until they met met in a firm grasp the party then rode back to ridge lys tent where the new reconciled friends were mutually congratulated on the happy termination of a bloodless duel thus taua by the chivalrous brave and noble nature of randolph Rn dolph Ridgely who bo bad so deservedly won the reputation of behag sang pear sang sans re two lives were saved that might have been otherwise wantonly sacrificed poor thomas afterward gallantly fell feil mortally wounded at the taking of the bishops palace at the battle of monterey Moni erey as brave a soldier as ever faced an enemy Ran randolph dolon ridgely who graduated at west point in 1837 was brevet ted captain for distinguished services at the battle of palo alto and resaca de la palma on may 8 and 9 1846 after heroically serving his battery at monterey he be was accidentally killed in the plaza of that city after its surrender by bv his horse falling with him while under full gallop tiam dam roid as he is familiarly called by his friends is still living and in ia spite of age retains ane same jovial genial reputation as a bon ami and ac gentleman which distinguished him in his bis younger days having attained au an eminent position in lis legal profession ivea york star |