Marmaduke–Walker duel
On September 6, 1863, near Little Rock, Arkansas, a duel was fought between John S. Marmaduke and Lucius M. Walker, two generals in the Confederate States Army.
A series of notes passed between the two generals by friends resulted in a duel, during which Marmaduke fatally wounded Walker.
He then served in a pro-Confederate militia organization in Missouri, until he resigned to join the Confederate States Army after the Battle of Boonville,[2] which was fought on June 17.
[4] Lucius M. Walker, a relative of President of the United States James Knox Polk, was born at Columbia, Tennessee, in 1829.
[9][10] During the fighting at Helena on July 4, 1863, Walker's brigade was supposed to protect the left flank of Marmaduke's position.
Steele wanted to gain control of the Arkansas River, and the Confederates knew that an attack against the city of Little Rock was likely.
[14] Price ordered new defenses constructed, and sent the cavalry forces of both Marmaduke and Walker to separately observe and interfere with Union movements.
Steele's men left Helena on August 10 and 11 and were reinforced by cavalry commanded by Brigadier General John W. Davidson along the way.
With his men wracked by disease, Steele decided to move to a location considered to be healthier, while sending Davidson to cross the Arkansas River with his cavalry.
Marmaduke also stated that he believed Walker had displayed "somewhat more than prudent care in the avoidance of all positions of danger" during the Battle of Bayou Meto.
[23] Sources disagree as to whether the duel was proposed by Walker and accepted by Marmaduke,[22] or arranged by Crockett and Moore without consulting the two generals beforehand.
[29] Both men's first rounds missed, but Marmaduke's second shot hit Walker, whose weapon discharged while he fell.
A doctor pronounced the wound mortal, and Walker was transported back in an ambulance brought by Marmaduke, which reached the city at about 10:00.
Marmaduke fought the Battle of Bayou Fourche, which bought time for Price to complete the withdrawal, and the Confederates were out of the city by 17:00.
[37] During the fighting at Bayou Fourche, Colonel Archibald S. Dobbins, who had replaced Walker, refused to obey Marmaduke's order to charge, and was arrested, although Price later released him.
[38] Marmaduke continued to serve in the Confederate army after the duel, and was captured during the Battle of Mine Creek on October 25, 1864.
