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. Author J. Grahame Long, curator of history at the Charleston Museum, presents a charming portrait of this dreadfully civilized custom.