The end of the affair? Anit-dueling laws and social norms in Antebellum America

I. INTRODUCTION

Jonathan Cilley and William Graves fought their duel in the early afternoon of February 23, 1838.1 The two faced off near the Anacostia River bridge leading out of Washington, D.C., having IMAGE FORMULA 4

agreed in advance to duel with rifles at a distance of eighty paces.2 Shortly before three o'clock, they stood opposite one another, and at the signal, they exchanged shots, Cilley firing first.3 Both men missed. The men who accompanied them to the duel-their seconds-tried to work out the disagreement that led the men to the dueling-ground, but to no avail.4 For a second time, both stood and exchanged fire; for a second time, both missed. Now, Cilley was ready to end the duel, but by this time Graves was enraged and insisted on another exchange.5 The two men's seconds backed away again, the signal was given again, and the men exchanged fire once more. This time, Cilley dropped to the ground, shot dead.6