Marmaduke-Walker Duel

[tmh10]

The Marmaduke-Walker Duel was fought during the Civil War between Confederate brigadier generals John Sappington Marmaduke and Lucius Marshall (Marsh) Walker. Marmaduke was originally from Missouri and was the son of a former governor. Walker was originally from Kentucky and nephew of President James K. Polk. Both graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. They made their way to Arkansas during the war; Marmaduke was stationed there, while Walker was granted a transfer to Arkansas due to trouble with superiors.

Disagreement arose between the two in the summer of 1863 over military actions at Helena (Phillips County) and Little Rock (Pulaski County), where Walker failed to carry out operations as planned and exposed Marmaduke and his men to enemy troops. At Reed's Bridge, Marmaduke attempted to meet with Walker to discuss the events, but Walker did not want to leave his post. Marmaduke requested removal from Walker's cavalry and stated that if denied, he would retire from action altogether. General Sterling Price granted the transfer, and when rumors reached Walker about Marmaduke's questioning of Walker's courage, Walker began a letter exchange asking for explanation.

The letter carriers were Marmaduke's friend Captain John C. Moore and Walker's friend Colonel Robert H. Crockett (grandson of Davy Crockett). In mid-exchange, these men decided to take things into their own hands. Crockett challenged Marmaduke on Walker's behalf without consulting Walker, and Moore accepted the challenge on behalf of Marmaduke. The men got together to decide the terms of the duel, without the intended participants present, and scheduled the fight. After word reached him, Gen. Price attempted to thwart the fight by ordering each man to stay at his post, but Walker did not receive the order, and Marmaduke ignored it.

On September 6, 1863, Marmaduke and Walker met at the Godfrey LeFevre plantation just seven miles from Little Rock to settle their differences, neither expressing disapproval of the series of letters and subsequent events that had led them there. Moore served as Marmaduke's second, while Crockett served as Walker's. Advising friends were Captain William M. Price for Marmaduke and Major John C. King for Walker. Walker brought a surgeon, while Marmaduke brought his party and an ambulance. At fifteen paces, they shot with no results. On the second shot, Marmaduke fatally wounded Walker, immediately rushing to his side to ask if he was harmed. He allowed Walker use of his ambulance, and Walker died the next day in Little Rock.

Marmaduke faced arrest and imprisonment under the 1820 Arkansas law prohibiting duels. After being placed under arrest by Price, he was soon released so as not to create more animosity amongst the troops. Marmaduke arrested Colonel Archibald S. Dobbins, who was loyal to Walker, for not following orders, but Dobbins was released by superiors. Marmaduke never faced charges but felt great remorse for his actions. The following year, he was captured by the enemy and also elevated to major general, the last appointed of this rank in the Confederacy. He went on to be elected governor of Missouri in 1884 and died in 1887.

http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=7333

 

[RebelCause]

Absolutely fascinating. It seems that the duel was not agreed upon by the participants but by their representatives.

 

[tmh10]

Absolutely fascinating. It seems that the duel was not agreed upon by the participants but by their representatives.

I think they should have made the representatives fight the duel.

 

[RebelCause]

I agree. I'm not familiar with the rules of dueling but it could have been that neither Marmaduke or Walker intended to carry their arguments that far but were forced into the duel to save face. Very bad luck for Walker.

 

[tmh10]

I agree. I'm not familiar with the rules of dueling but it could have been that neither Marmaduke or Walker intended to carry their arguments that far but were forced into the duel to save face. Very bad luck for Walker.

Indeed it was. Honor among the Southern officers was everything. Not that it wasn't on the Union side. Union general Jefferson Davis shot to death, William Bull Nelson over a slap to the head, but it was not a duel.

 

[Red Harvest]

This duel and the events leading up to it are ones that lead to many questions for me.

In the battle of Helena itself Walker certainly did not distinguish himself, but in his defense he was correct in recognizing that his position would be badly enfiladed by artillery and soldiers along the levee if he advanced. His personal command was small, and likely insufficient for driving the Federals from his left flank. Yet, he needed to do something to support Marmaduke's left, and he did nothing. A spirited demonstration would have spared Walker the reproach that befell him. Bragg had sent him to the TM because felt that Walker was not a "safe" man "to intrust with any command."

But what about Marmaduke? He didn't suffer many casualties and did next to nothing, blaming his own inaction on Walker. He complains of his flank being exposed due to Walker's inaction...yet Walker had the very same concern for his own force, with nobody to relieve his own left. Marmaduke doesn't come off much better in my appraisal, but he was successful in casting blame to another. Is this fully justified, or did his surviving the duel allow him to define the history?

I'm not much impressed by Marmaduke's generalship in the war. Despite having men like Shelby serving under him, and despite his extensive education, including West Point, Marmaduke's results in the TM were usually mediocre. He committed various tactical and strategic blunders, including at Mine Creek where his command tried to meet a mounted charge in the saddle, stationary.

Contemporaries noted Marmaduke as being "fussy" and easily offended. He never married despite being what one would assume a very eligible bachelor in the wake of the war.

One thing that is of note about the duel is that Walker eventually forgave Marmaduke before expiring. I wondered if this was true or spin. It seemed formalaic. However, in reading some of the period dueling tradition this forgiveness was an expected/required response by the dying adversary. So while it was formulaic, it is almost certainly true.

p.s. If I'm not mistaken, contrary to the description above at Helena, Walker commanded a brigade separate from Marmaduke's Division.

 

[tmh10]

This duel and the events leading up to it are ones that lead to many questions for me.

In the battle of Helena itself Walker certainly did not distinguish himself, but in his defense he was correct in recognizing that his position would be badly enfiladed by artillery and soldiers along the levee if he advanced. His personal command was small, and likely insufficient for driving the Federals from his left flank. Yet, he needed to do something to support Marmaduke's left, and he did nothing. A spirited demonstration would have spared Walker the reproach that befell him. Bragg had sent him to the TM because felt that Walker was not a "safe" man "to intrust with any command."

But what about Marmaduke? He didn't suffer many casualties and did next to nothing, blaming his own inaction on Walker. He complains of his flank being exposed due to Walker's inaction...yet Walker had the very same concern for his own force, with nobody to relieve his own left. Marmaduke doesn't come off much better in my appraisal, but he was successful in casting blame to another. Is this fully justified, or did his surviving the duel allow him to define the history?

I'm not much impressed by Marmaduke's generalship in the war. Despite having men like Shelby serving under him, and despite his extensive education, including West Point, Marmaduke's results in the TM were usually mediocre. He committed various tactical and strategic blunders, including at Mine Creek where his command tried to meet a mounted charge in the saddle, stationary.

Contemporaries noted Marmaduke as being "fussy" and easily offended. He never married despite being what one would assume a very eligible bachelor in the wake of the war.

One thing that is of note about the duel is that Walker eventually forgave Marmaduke before expiring. I wondered if this was true or spin. It seemed formalaic. However, in reading some of the period dueling tradition this forgiveness was an expected/required response by the dying adversary. So while it was formulaic, it is almost certainly true.

p.s. If I'm not mistaken, contrary to the description above at Helena, Walker commanded a brigade separate from Marmaduke's Division.

It seems to me that both Marmaduke and Walker were pushed into this duel by others. I think that Walker forgiving Marmaduke is a gallant gesture, but Price should have been the one to stop it. Red, I guess we are to far removed from the mindset of the time to understand it.

 

[Red Harvest]

It seems to me that both Marmaduke and Walker were pushed into this duel by others. I think that Walker forgiving Marmaduke is a gallant gesture, but Price should have been the one to stop it. Red, I guess we are to far removed from the mindset of the time to understand it.

I suspect the Union was the real loser in this duel.