Cudgel

[Larry Koschkee]

An ancestor was injured during a riverboat accident on the Ohio River in 1828 and died several days latter.

In his will and testament a cudgel, pistol and fowling piece was left to a surviving son.

To what extent were cudgel's used in defense or aggression?

Thanks...

Larry Koschkee

[Robert Braun]

Larry, over the weekend I was able to locate one account which mentioned the use of a "cudgel."

First off, Webster in his 1828 Dictionary defined the word thus:

CUDGEL, n. A short thick stick of wood, such as may be used by the hand in beating. It differs strictly from a club, which is larger at one end than the other. It is shorter than a pole, and thicker than a rod.

Apparently, Charles Bracken (BHW veteran and officer and perenial menace to one Daniel Morgan Parkinson) reportedly used a cudgel to beat up a newspaper editor in Mineral Point circa 1840 for printing an unfavorable review of him prior to an election.

I will locate the citation for you.

Warm regards, Bob.

[Larry Koschkee]

Interesting, Bob. Any thoughts on what the average length of a cudgel would be. Would it maybe serve a duel purpose as a "walking stick" and means of self defense or aggression? It appears it would hamper a man on horseback because it would not be sheathed or otherwise secured.

The Mineral Point newspaper editor probably considered himself lucky because Bracken did not implement a "highland Southerner" tactic of drawng two pistols from his belt, hand them over butt first and ask him to choose one.

Best regards,

Larry Koschkee

[Robert Braun]

Larry said:

Interesting, Bob. Any thoughts on what the average length of a cudgel would be. Would it maybe serve a duel purpose as a "walking stick" and means of self defense or aggression? It appears it would hamper a man on horseback because it would not be sheathed or otherwise secured.

The Mineral Point newspaper editor probably considered himself lucky because Bracken did not implement a "highland Southerner" tactic of drawng two pistols from his belt, hand them over butt first and ask him to choose one.

Best regards,

Larry Koschkee

Hello again!

I am delayed on the posting of the citiation, however I hope to locate it shortly.

IMHO, a "cudgel" would probably not be the same as a cane. In such instances (a la Preston Brooks) the assailant would have given his victim a "caning." My though is that a cudgel could range from a short formed stick, a table or chair leg, to a piece of firewood.

I wouldn't be too hasty on assessing Bracken's lack of "pistoling" in this instance. He was accused of actually shooting (I think) an editor in broad daylight on the streets of Mineral Point! The Mineral Point Historical Society has in its collection a percussion pistol identified as the weapon used at that time.

ADIOS! Bob.

[Robert Braun]

Well... this is interesting!

According to The Story of Mineral point 1827-1941Charles Bracken, one of the few Whigs in the area, and Henry B. Welsh, editor of the Miner's Free Press, a Democratic newpaper in Mineral Point, were both very bad boys.

Welch went after Bracken in his newspapers on a variety of topics, among them Bracken's vicious attacks on John P. Sheldon, the land office manager, in a four year effort to have Sheldon dismissed.

Doty eventually did dismiss Sheldon amid charges of an enormous land office scandal. This brought numerous defense articles penned by Sheldon and editorials published by Welsh attacking Bracken and his associates, including Doty.

On November 1, 1840, Welsh and Bracken apparently encountered each other on a road outside Mineral Point. Bracken alledged that Welsh came at him armed with a wagon wheel spoke; Welsh claimed in the pages of his Miner's Free Press that Bracken, armed with a bludgeon, dirk, and pistol, attacked the unarmed Welsh three times. In an opinion piece headlined "Charley Bracken, The Hero, Or Cruelty, Meanness and Cowardice Exemplified", Welsh asserted that Bracken attacked with the bludgeon, a second time with the bludgeon and dirk, and a third time with the pistol used as a club. Beaten sensless in each bout, Welsh alleged that he came to a fourth time to rise up and fling Bracken to the ground before again passing out.

If Welsh was indeed as battered as he claimed, he lost none of his zest for lampooning Bracken. In editorial pieces, he made fun of Bracken's morals and physical bravery, calling him "The Hero of Walnut Grove," and the "Knight of the Double-barreled Gun."

Finally, words were not enough. On November 24, Welsh challenged Bracken to a duel:

Is there one person who cares enough about Bracken's reputation, to undertake the task of pursuading him to make an effort to remove from his brazen forehead the terms LIAR, SCOUNDREL, AND COWARD....? I repeat, he WILL not and DARE not meet me or any man on equal terms...

As it turned out, the two antagonists met at 3 p.m. that very day. Accounts of the incident are riddled with inconsistencies. Welsh, reportedly armed with two small pocket pistols and a small walking cane [Note: does this qualify as a cudgel?], encountered Charles Bracken, who accepted Welsh's challenge.

Both men presented cocked pistols-- Welsh with his two guns and Bracken with at least one large percussion pistol. The two men fired almost simultaneously: Welsh's percussion cap failed to fire, while Bracken's shot struck Welsh at the base of the neck near the collarbone. Welsh took the pistol from his useless left hand and aimed anew, while Bracken presented a second pistol. Again both shots came almost simultaneously... this time without effect.

From here the accounts get muddier. Welsh claims to have grabbed a pistol from the belt of onlooker Abner Nichols, and fired again as Bracken retreated, yelling "Welsh don't shoot; Welsh don't shoot!" Bracken's account, published in the History of Iowa County indicated that Bracken cooly recieved Welsh's fire from a shotgun and pistols as he walked towards Commerce Street. Bracken then drew a single pistol and deliberately fired at Welsh, striking him in the shoulder.

Shortly thereafter, Welsh was attended by a local physician, who cut out the ball. The deputy sherriff arrested Bracken and brought him to Mineral Point, whereupon Bracken promptly posted bond and was released.

By the time court was convined, Welsh had healed up, and the case was dismissed.

As I indicated earlier, the gun purportedly used by Bracken to shoot Welsh in what became known as the "Bracken-Welsh Duel" resides in the collection of the Mineral Point Historical Society.

Regards,

Bob.

[Cliff Krainik]

Bob,

Enjoyed reading your posting about the duel between Charles Bracken and Henry B. Welsh.


images.andale.com/f2/116/104/7566189/1073751655248_BRACKENgun.jpg [/img]



Thought the members of the BHWMB would be interested in seeing the single-shot percussion pistol owned by Charles Bracken. As you indicated, the pistol is in the collection of the Mineral Point Historical Society, Orchard Lawn, M. P., Wisconsin.

According to the M.P.H. Society's records, "the pistol was reportedly carried by Lieut. Charles Bracken, aide to Colonel Dodge during the Black Hawk War."

Cliff Krainik

[Robert Braun]

Mr. Cliff...

I viewed this pistol twice--during the occasion of your's and Michele's excellent Black Hawk memorabilia display at Orchard Lawn, M. P. last year.

More to the point, I recall "overhearing"--and I have no idea whatever who said this-- that the gouge out of the pistol stock above the grip seen in your detail image) was the result of Bracken's encounter with Welsh, which I later took to be the pre-duel thrashing. Have you heard anything along these lines?

If this tale ever rings true, it would tend to suggest that Welsh may have been armed with more than a hard head on November 1, 1840.

[Larry Koschkee]

I am calling the "thread police" on you guys... cudgels to pistols and duels... we need to bring this thread back into the central issue, gentlemen.

All kidding aside, likewise, I too enjoyed the Mineral Point drama... thanks Bob, and thanks to you Cliff for the visual aid.

These days many among us attend seminars and therapy sessions regarding "conflict resolution." Bracken certainly had his own form of "conflict resolution,"... eh, Boys?

Sometime soon, I would like to discuss Dodge's "conflict resolution" between Hamilton and himself.

Larry K.

[Robert Braun]

Sheesh! The thread police!

And here I thought the mention of the short cane (cudgel?) might have been just enough relevance to save me from prosecution!

Guiltily yours, Bob.