Dueling Ground
Article Title:Washington Post
Article Date:May 4 1914
Article Description:Dueling Ground Page [12X-page # missing]
Article Text:
Washington Post May 4,1914Dueling Ground Page [12X-page # missing]
SITE OF DUELING GROUND.
Famous Bladensburg Field of Honor Wholly in Maryland.
Editor Post: There are two inaccuracies in Gen. SHERWOOD's
interesting article in this morning's Post on the Bladensburg dueling ground.
First - The ground is not "on the line between the District and
Maryland," but is wholly within Maryland, well beyond the District line,
which runs through the Rives estate, and to the northeast of the Reform
School. Several generations of my maternal ancestors lived on the
Eastern Branch, near Bladensburg, and I have frequently been upon the ground,
which is close to, if not actually adjoining, one of the old family
holdings.
Second - The CILLEY-GRAVES duel was not fought on this ground, but
on the Marlboro road, running from the District to Upper Marlboro. This
I know from family tradition; the contemporary journals correctly state
the location, and the late Bishop PINKNEY told me that he was on the
spot the morning following the duel and saw CILLEY's blood still freshly
staining the ground.
Henry E. DAVIS.
May 3, 1914.