Offered here are two Charles Leonard of Petersburg, Virginia, percussion dueling pistols attributed as the pistols used in the duel between William Cameron and Robert Hughes. In the included notarized letter on Charles Leonard Hardware Company, Inc. letterhead dated 5 May 1965, Charles Leonard Hardware Company President James S. Ritchie states that these pistols were last used in a duel between William Cameron and Robert Hughes to settle a political dispute. Cameron was struck by Hughes' bullet but survived his wound and later became the Governor of Virginia (1882-1886). Hughes later became a federal judge. Ritchie explains that the pistols were the property of the Charles Leonard Hardware Company until January 30, 1965, when the set was sold to Raymond G. Crumpler. Charles Leonard of Petersburg, Virginia, made these pistols, and he was an active gunsmith in Petersburg, Virginia, before he entered the hardware business. Charles Leonard of Petersburg, Virginia (active 1867-1877), is listed in Frank Seller's book "American Gunsmiths" on page 184. The duel between Cameron and Hughes occurred on 12 June 1869 in North Carolina. Both men were ex-Confederate officers and at the time of the duel were rival newsmen. Hughes was a contributor to the "Richmond State." Cameron was the editor of the "Petersburg Index" and published a scathing editorial related to Hughes' post-Civil War political views. It was Cameron's editorial that led to the duel. Hughes had been a staunch secessionist during the Civil War, but in the aftermath of the defeated South, he converted to a post-war Republican ideology. In fact, Hughes was one of the first prominent Virginians to turn Republican. Many of those closest to Hughes consider him "worse than a carpetbagger" and a "Judas." It has been said that Cameron missed deliberately. Hughes' bullet, however, struck the intended target in the left side of the chest and narrowly missed his heart and lung. Hughes wanted to proceed with a second round, but the presiding physicians forbade it. Years later the two men crossed paths at a Richmond hotel, and as told by one account, "Cameron walked toward Hughes, touched his arm, and said 'Judge, let me buy you a drink.' 'That would be a pleasure,' Hughes replied. Arm in arm they walked to the bar." Among the other documents are excepts from publications indicating these pistols were also used in the Wise-Clemens, Wise-Aylett, and Daniel-Elam duels. At least two of these conflicts also involved newspapers. Sherrard Clemens was the cousin of Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain) and was shot in the testicle by O. Jennings Wise who was not injured. William Elam was wounded twice in duels. John Moncure Daniel was wounded by Confederate States Treasurer Edward C. Elmore in another duel, participated in nine duels in his life, and was challenged by Edgar Allen Poe but reconciled without exchanging shots. It was not unusual for the weapons used in duels to be owned by neither party. The pistols used in the famous Burr v. Hamilton duel, for example, were owned by Hamilton's brother-in-law and were also used in the duel in which Hamilton's son Philip had been killed three year earlier. Further ownership history is provided in a notarized letter on Crumpler's Antiques letterhead dated 2 July 1965 and written by Raymond Crumpler, which states that Crumpler purchased the pistols from Charles Leonard Hardware Co. on 30 January 1965 and on 10 February 1965 sold the pistols to Robert Howard. In a 12 April 2000 letter written by B. Giles Cromwell of Southern Millitaria of Ashland, Virginia, to Ronald W. Phillips, it is told that the pistols were acquired by William A. Albaugh, III who made the case that the pistols are currently held in. Research complied by the consignor and three books related to period Virginian politics and duels (William Link's "Roost of Secession: Slavery and Politics in Antebellum Virginia," Virginius Dabney's "Pistols and Pointed Pens: The Dueling Editors of Old Virginia" and Ryan Chamberlain's "Pistols, Politics and the Press") are included. The pistol is equipped with fixed sights on a smooth bore barrel marked "C LEONARD PETERSBURG VA." A scroll and border engraved motif is featured on the lock plate, hammer, barrel tang, trigger guard and butt cap. The action has an adjustable trigger. Brown barrel, blue trigger guard and the remaining metal surfaces casehardened. Mounted on a nicely figured half stock featuring checkering on the grip area, barrel wedge with large engraved escutcheons and horn forend tip. The top of the lid to the contemporary case is marked "CHARLES LEONARD GUNSMITH" and "PETERSBURG, VA" between a large plaque depicting the State of Virginia seal. The inside of the case lid has a plaque that summarizes the Cameron and Hughes duel as mentioned above. The case holds two extra barrels, lead balls, an Eley Brothers cap tin and a powder flask. The approximately .60 caliber Damascus rifled percussion barrels are marked "WARRANTED STUB TWIST" and have a pair of British proofs on the underside, fixed sights and double silver inlaid bands on the breech plug. Each barrel has a brass tipped hickory ramrod.

Very fine. The barrel retains 95% period refurbished brown finish with thinning on the balance and some scattered light spotting. The trigger guard retains 80% bright high polish blue finish with the balance a smooth brown patina. The remaining metal surfaces retain 95% original case colors. The wood is very fine showing some minor pressure dents and scratches. Most of the finish remains and the checkering is crisp overall. The repaired forend cap has a spot of insect damage. Mechanically excellent. The extra barrels both retain 95% original brown finish and Damascus patterns with sporadic light pitting/spotting and a couple patches of minor scratches. The custom made case is very good with a few gouges, minor handling/storage marks and high spot wear on the relined interior.

As described in "A."

Very fine. The barrel retains 95% period refurbished brown finish with thinning on the balance and some scattered light spotting. The trigger guard retains 80% original blue finish with the balance a smooth brown patina. The remaining metal surfaces retain 95% original case colors. The wood is very fine showing some minor pressure dents and scratches with overall crisp checkering. There is a small chip missing from the forend cap. Mechanically excellent.