MIYAMOTO MUSASHI & SASAKI KOJIRO DUEL History 223 Dueling & European Culture
Earl McPike Jr 11-8-2016
Some officers took to dueling like ducks to water. Here's an example. In the summer of 1778 Pennsylvania militia general John Cadwalader encountered Thomas Conway in Philadelphia and accused him of cowardice at the battle of Germantown. To defend his honor, Conway challenged Cadwalader to a duel. Conway, as you probably know, was one of the Revolution's most notorious goats. He had ignominiously resigned his commission as a major-general that April after conniving to remove General Washington as Commander-in-Chief. Historians still debate his role in the famous "Conway Cabal," but either way, he was a vain, …show more content…
In 1777, a committee of gentlemen in Ireland captured the various rules in 26 "commandments" for dueling known as the Code Duello, which became popular in Europe and America. Under this code, the challenged man chose weapons for the battle pistols, swords and sabers were popular. The antagonists, or "principals," chose "seconds," usually trusted friends, as representatives. The seconds named the location, all parties met at the field at a designated time, and the principals took positions at a distance designated by the challenger. Usually on a command, the principals fired single shots, or struck at each other if using swords. Pistols were notoriously inaccurate and combatants could exchange rounds until "a severe hit be received" on any party. Fighting with swords continued "until one is well blooded, disabled, or disarmed or until . . . the aggressor begs pardon." Many duels ended without bloodshed, as the Code allowed for the apologies between the principals at several points so everybody could go home alive.[7]
At the same time the Irish Code Duello became popular, Continental officers were improving in competence through battle and in training at Valley Forge. The more competent officers became, the more they began to consider themselves military professionals who commanded an extra measure of respect. This made them even more sensitive about insults to their honor. It seems a bit odd, but the self-confidence that officers gained in the first few years of the Revolution actually made them more inclined to
Earl McPike Jr 11-8-2016
Some officers took to dueling like ducks to water. Here's an example. In the summer of 1778 Pennsylvania militia general John Cadwalader encountered Thomas Conway in Philadelphia and accused him of cowardice at the battle of Germantown. To defend his honor, Conway challenged Cadwalader to a duel. Conway, as you probably know, was one of the Revolution's most notorious goats. He had ignominiously resigned his commission as a major-general that April after conniving to remove General Washington as Commander-in-Chief. Historians still debate his role in the famous "Conway Cabal," but either way, he was a vain, …show more content…
In 1777, a committee of gentlemen in Ireland captured the various rules in 26 "commandments" for dueling known as the Code Duello, which became popular in Europe and America. Under this code, the challenged man chose weapons for the battle pistols, swords and sabers were popular. The antagonists, or "principals," chose "seconds," usually trusted friends, as representatives. The seconds named the location, all parties met at the field at a designated time, and the principals took positions at a distance designated by the challenger. Usually on a command, the principals fired single shots, or struck at each other if using swords. Pistols were notoriously inaccurate and combatants could exchange rounds until "a severe hit be received" on any party. Fighting with swords continued "until one is well blooded, disabled, or disarmed or until . . . the aggressor begs pardon." Many duels ended without bloodshed, as the Code allowed for the apologies between the principals at several points so everybody could go home alive.[7]
At the same time the Irish Code Duello became popular, Continental officers were improving in competence through battle and in training at Valley Forge. The more competent officers became, the more they began to consider themselves military professionals who commanded an extra measure of respect. This made them even more sensitive about insults to their honor. It seems a bit odd, but the self-confidence that officers gained in the first few years of the Revolution actually made them more inclined to