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“An Altercation Full Of Meaning”: The Duel Between Francis B. Cutting And John C. Breckinridge, Annie Powers
“An Altercation Full Of Meaning”: The Duel Between Francis B. Cutting And John C. Breckinridge, Annie Powers
The Gettysburg College Journal of the Civil War Era
“A Duel!” In late March of 1854, the northern press burst with the news. A duel had allegedly taken place between two members of the House of Representatives—Francis B. Cutting of New York and John C. Breckinridge of Kentucky. Confusion and anticipation reigned, and a flurry of rumors circulated. Had Breckinridge been shot in the neck? Was he killed or wounded? Did Cutting emerge victorious? Or was the entire affair a mere hoax? The situation became so dramatic that it even appeared in a theatrical advertisement, beckoning people to see a play that promised to be just as exciting as …