In 1838, two U.S. congressmen, Representative Jonathan Silly of Maine and Representative William Graves of Kentucky, engaged in a high-profile duel at the Bladensburg dueling grounds, using rifles, which was a rare and unusual choice for a duel. The duel ended with Silly being struck in the thigh and succumbing to his injuries. This event highlights the complex history of dueling in America and the tensions leading up to the Civil War.
[... more]