Courtesy:: Lowcountry Walking Tours
For two centuries, Charlestonians dueled habitually, settling personal grievances with malice instead of mediation. Learn more about this dark side of “civilized” Charleston on Tuesday, November 14 at 7 pm at Daniel Island’s Church of the Holy Cross, 299 Seven Farms Drive.
Grahame Long, chief curator for the Charleston Museum, discusses the Dueling Legacy in Charleston. Dueling was an integral part of Charlestonians’ social lives. A gentleman’s duel was a crucial matter of taste and caste. A loss of life was not a high price for those who held personal honor and principle utmost to all other social ideals. If you’re interested in learning more before the November meeting, check out Long’s book Dueling in Charleston.
“Though no landmarks or memorials formally recognize dueling in Charleston, it remains a quintessential element of the Holy City’s legacy. Most upstanding locals nourished the duelist’s tradition, many going so far as to make it an integral part of their social lives. For a time, even the most casual character insults or slurs toward one’s moral fiber or family lineage invited a challenge, and almost always, the offended party was expected to retaliate. Thus, finding full expression in frequency and public acceptance throughout the Lowcountry, a gentleman’s duel was a crucial–albeit deadly–matter of taste and caste. For two centuries, Charlestonians dueled habitually, settling personal grievances with malice instead of mediation. Charleston historian J. Grahame Long presents a charming portrait of this dreadfully civilized custom.” Amazon Prime review. If you are a member of Amazon Prime you can read Long’s book for FREE!