Muzzle to Muzzle, the Pettis Biddle duel,In the 1830’s one of the most contentious issues in t

Muzzle to Muzzle, the Pettis Biddle duel,In the 1830’s one of the most contentious issues in the United States was the role of the Bank of the United States.  President Andrew Jackson was famous for curbing, then dissolving the BUS, a controversial move that would stir the politicians of all political parties to make fiery speeches.  One opponent of the BUS was Spencer Darwin Pettis, a Missouri Senator and firebrand.  During a speech Pettis made several accusations of fraud and corruption against Nicholas Biddle, the president of the BUS.  Major Thomas Biddle, Army Postmaster General and brother of Nicholas Biddle, took extreme offense at the accusations.Biddle wrote a letter to the editors of St. Louis’ press, calling Pettis “a dish of skimmed milk”.  Pettis responded by writing a letter calling Biddle’s manhood into question.  On July 9th, Biddle broke into a hotel Pettis was lodging at and beat him with a cowhide whip until bystanders intervened.  Biddle was arrested, but at a court hearing Pettis attempted to pull a pistol on Biddle, only to be restrained by his friends in the courtroom. By then the rival could not be concluded without violence.  On August 21st, 1830 Pettis challenged Biddle to duel, which Biddle gladly accepted.  Being the challenged party it was Biddle’s option to chose the shooting distance.  Most duels are fought at around 10-20 paces.  At the time dueling was as much about your public image as personal honor.  To decline a duel meant you could be branded as an outcast in society and lose face.  If both parties were not really interested in hurting each other over a minor slight, they may chose a long distance, say 30 or 40 paces perhaps more, so that neither could be harmed.  Those who really hated each other wanted each other dead chose a closer distance, perhaps ten paces, to increase the chance of hitting your opponent, of course at the cost of being hit yourself.  Biddle, chose the distance of five feet.At 5 PM, August 27th, Pettis and Biddle met on Bloody Island, a small island on the Mississippi river that was a popular dueling place.  Most likely Biddle trying to force Pettis to back down, as a duel at five feet meant certain death.  However, honor was to be upheld, and Pettis refused.  Their seconds, Major Benjamin O'Fallon and Captain Martin Thomas, marked out the distance, loaded the pistols, and prepared both parties for for the duel.  At the order Pettis and Biddle took aim, their pistols practically muzzle to muzzle.  There was a pause, but again neither side backed down.  At the given command, Biddle and Pettis fired, blowing each other away.Both men fell mortally wounded. As they were carried off the island both men uttered forgiveness to each other.  Pettis died the next day, Biddle died on the 29th.  Both Pettis’ an Biddle’s funerals were the largest ever held in St. Louis.   Both were eulogized for choosing death before dishonor. -- source link

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