History:  Columbia County.  Crawford-Burnside Duel, Reminisces of 
Dr. H. R. Casey
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	 This file was contributed by: Stephanie Harrison
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Articles written for the Columbia Sentinel in 1883.

Permission granted by the Columbia County News and transcribed by 
Stephanie Harrison.

The articles were written in 1883 by Dr H. R. Casey for the Columbia 
Sentinel. He writes about many of the early pioneers of Columbia County 
who arrived in Georgia in the late 1700's and early 1800's."


January 17, 1883
Crawford-Burnside Duel
About this time an anonymous communication in the "Chronicle" and
handbills were freely circulated through the country, abusive of Peter
Crawford, but the old gentleman was slow to resent the covert attack. 
At last, goaded and stung to the quick, he came out in an article over
his own signature in reply, tinctured with gall and wormwood. There
came back a rejoinder from opposition, full of personalities and
vindictive satire. The young and rising attorney, T.E. B. became
implicated in some way in this newspaper war-fare. I have heard it
said that Col W was the author of these publications and that TEB
fathered them, but this I do not speak with certainty. But the facts
are that Col Williams on a visit to Augusta some time after the
appearance of the last of the articles from the Clarkists, was
loud-mouthed on the streets, and open in his denunciations of Geo. W.
Crawford and the father, branding the former as a coward.
It is said that Col. Alfred Cumming, hearing the insults and being
a warm, personal and political friend of G. W. Crawford. communicated
the same to him, and the result of the conference was that a demand for
personal satisfaction was made. A note was promptly sent to Mr B. and
as promptly accepted. This was anterior to the rapid transit travel of
today, when the stage coach was the medium of travel.
Geo. W. Crawford, with his friend, Col. Alfred Cumming, boarded the
stage in Augusta. At the "White House", on the Milledgeville Road in
Columbia County, Thes E. Burnside, with his surgeon, Dr Wm. A. L.
Collins, entered the stage and made up the quartet of travelers on
their mission of blood, to that misnomer yclipt the "Field of Honor". 
Mr Triplet was to have been the second of Mr. B., but when he arrived on
the field he respectfully asked to be excused on the plea that he had
recently made to his wife a solemn vow never again to act in that
capacity, as by a late act in that capacity he came near losing his life
and thus making her a widow. Dr Ingersoil was then chosen as the
second. Dr Barber of Macon was Mr C. Surgeon.
OLD FORT MITCHELL
in Alabama was the ground selected for these young bloods of Columbia to
meet face to face with pistols in hand, wipe out their insults. The
ground was measured off and a line drawn around the combatants. At a
convenient distance and within this periphery had gathered a crowd of
whites and Indians to witness the bloody duel. The news of this duel
had spread far and wide, and many had gathered there to see it. The
parties being in position.
WORD WAS GIVEN
Mr Crawford fired first Burnside's ball struck the ground just in
front of Crawford, throwing the dust and sand all over Mr C's face. 
Just at this moment Mr Triplet asked to be allowed to confer with
parties, which request was granted. He came he said bearing the olive
branch of peace which he thought could be honorably accepted. He
contended that honor had been vindicated and that there was no necessity
to longer continue the duel. Mr Crawford, the challenging party with
his friend. Col C were seen to step aside and parley. Returning Col C
replied that Mr C would accept the proposal of peace upon condition that
Mr B refused to do and the parties took their positions and a second
exchange of shots ensued with like result, both bullets cutting the air
in their bloodless track, but no thread of life. A second demand for a
conference was here made by Mr Triplet, which was accorded, but ended
just as the first. Mr Crawford doubtless felt he had ample provacation
as the challenging party, while Mr B was equally justified in his
course. So the parties took their positions again. Both shot at the
same time, when Mr B was seen to bend a little forward. His friend was
quickly to his relief, when it was discovered that the ball had entered
the chest over his heart. He fell in the arms of his friend and died
instantly. Mr Crawford with his friend immediately left the field.
The duel was fought in 1827 or 1828. So much for the party spirit.
But, while Mr. C. left the field with no stain of his own blood upon
his garments, when the excitment of the occasion had passed away, there
was that "internal monitor" silent, it is true. but important, which was
continually reminding him of the last end of Thos. E. Burnside. I have
heard it said that this sad carroding thought haunted Mr C. through
life. He did not feel that any shame was attached to him in what he had
done but it was to him a life long regret that the necessity was forced
upon him. It is also said to his credit that he never forgot the widow
in her great loss and that there was an annual offering sent to her
through the mail, with donor's name suppressed.