Offered here are two LePage of Paris percussion pistols attributed as the weapons used in the 26 August 1870 duel between Edward Hamlin and Edward Freeman. The duel took place shortly after sunrise in an open field some 300 yards into Mississippi near where today Highway 51 crosses the Mississippi state line. When the gun powder smoke cleared the air, Edward Hamlin was dead. Hamlin is believed to be the last Tennessean killed in a duel. Both men fired nearly simultaneously. Freeman walked away unscathed. Hamlin, on the other hand, was struck through the abdomen and lingered for 25 minutes before dying. Purportedly his last words were "I am hit! Freeman, I never said naught against you or injured you in all my life. Say nothing to my poor mother, but tell my father I was born a gentleman and died a gentleman." In his obituary it was noted that he was killed in "an affair of honor." The exact reason for the duel remains a mystery. In fact, it was reported that a "thousand and one rumors" about the cause rippled through Memphis society but the underlying problem centered on an affair of the heart. Her name was Lou Lenow, a daughter of a prominent Memphis family, and period newspapers vaguely referenced an unspecified incident that had occurred between the three. This is perhaps strange or even questionable since Hamlin was said to be engaged to a woman from Kentucky. The historical record however does show hostility between the two men prior to the duel. The origin of the dispute, while not specific, is found in letters written by both men. Writing to Hamlin, Freeman explained, "In this communication it is hardly necessary to refer to the past. Let it suffice that I shall, and do now, denounce you as a coward, poltroon and a base scoundrel. If this is not sufficient to induce you to give me the satisfaction every gentleman at all times has a right to ask of another, inform me and I will cheerfully give it to you." Hamlin's written response: "I am unconscious of having done you any wrong or of having given you any cause for this most extraordinary communication; but the peremptory terms of your note debar me from any reply other than the acceptance of the meeting your desire." The letters were published in a period newspaper and a photocopy of the article is included. Hamlin arranged the terms of the duel through his U.S. Naval Academy graduate friend Dabney Minor Scales who had served with the Confederate Navy during the Civil War. He was part of the crew of the Confederate cruiser Shenandoah, the ship that sailed to Liverpool, England, to avoid surrendering to the Union. Once arriving in England in November 1865, Scales was the officer who lowered the ship’s flag, the last Confederate battle flag of the war to fly. Born on 20 September 1841 in Norfolk, Virginia, Edward Freeman attended the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) and commissioned service with the Confederacy to serve on the staff of General S.G. French. His service records indicate that he was captured at the Battle of Island Number Ten on 16 February 1862 and released at Vicksburg, Mississippi, in September 1862. After the war Freeman moved to Memphis where he was an accountant with Brooks & Co. Freeman married Lenow who died after giving birth on 14 December 1871. Their baby died in June the following year. Freeman went on to marry Lenow’s sister. He died on 20 July 1878. Hamlin was born on 24 January 1845 and had also attended the VMI. He was one of the cadets who served in the Battle of New Market on 15 May 1864. This was the only battle where cadets were called on to fight in a Civil War battle as a unit. With the help of 247 VMI cadets, the Confederate army was victorious under the leadership of General Breckenridge. Ten cadets were killed and another 47 were wounded in battle. Hamlin is listed in "The VMI New Market Cadets," a book of biographical sketches of the VMI cadets who participated in the Battle of New Market published in 1933. This book is included. Later Hamlin was assigned to the staff of General Marcus Wright where he remained for the duration of the war. He returned to Memphis to study law and eventually practiced on his own. Freeman and Hamlin are buried in Elmwood Cemetery in Memphis. Photos of the gravesites are included. The pistols were owned by Hamlin and after his death on the dueling field, ownership passed to Hamlin’s second. History records Hamlin’s seconds, the men who ensured a proper field of honor, as Dabney M. Scales and Tom Saunders. It is not clear which second received the pistols. As the story goes, the pistols were passed down in the second’s family until 1974 when descendant S. Taylor Brown sold the set through Harwood Arms in Memphis. Accompanying this set are two letters written by S. Taylor Brown (one dated 4 December 1974 and the other dated 17 December 1974). According to Brown, he obtained the pistols from his great uncle’s estate in 1950. He provides a period letter dated the day of the duel and written by Spotswood Smith, the father of his great aunt, to his wife telling of the death of their "friend," Ed Hamlin. Brown continues: "Ed Hamlin was a professional duelist and had killed five men in duels in the previous three years." According to Brown, the small notches found near the back edge of the hammers (three notches on gun "A" and two notches on gun "B") represent Hamlin’s "scores." Brown’s claims of Hamlin being a professional duelist could not be verified. Brown also states the period news articles inaccurately described the guns a smooth bores when it fact the pistols were rifled. A 2003 dated notarized letter from the consignor states the two Brown letters were received by him from Mr. Brown, a resident of Memphis in 1974, and the pistols "belonged to Mr. Brown’s ancestor, the second for Ed Hamlin. Ed Hamlin was killed by Ed Freeman using these pistols in a duel in Mississippi just south of Memphis, TN on August 26, 1870." The rifled bright Damascus barrels have "DAMAS D'ACIER DE PARIS" in gold and inside a tapered panel on a blue background on the top flats and a Liege "ELG" proof on the left flats. The lock plates are marked "LEPAGE A PARIS" around the hammers. Gun "A" has the number "1" in gold on the breech plug, and gun "B" has the number "2" in gold on the breech plug. A fine floral scroll engraving is featured on the lock plates, hammers, breech plugs, barrel tangs, spur triggers and trigger guard finials. The lock plates have additional floral style borders, and the buttcaps have an engraved floral blossom. The pistols are fitted with set triggers, dovetailed German silver blade front sights and adjustable rear sights. The half stocks feature a unique high relief lion's head carved forend tip, single barrel wedge with silver oval escutcheons, carved fish scales on the grip and carved leaf motif along the back edge of the grip and flared butt. The case features highly figured veneer, wine colored velvet lining and brass corner and edge protectors and folding handle. The case contains a mallet, cleaning rod with attachments, ramrod, wooden cap container, bullet mold, small powder flask, screwdriver/wrench combination tool, oiler and lead balls. Decades of research complied by the consignor is also included with this set. The extensive archive includes the aforementioned documents, photocopies of period newspapers and other related historical content, correspondence with organizations providing research services and publications. The pistol set was featured in the July 2002 issue of "The Gun Report" in the article "Hamlin vs Freeman: The Duel" and the fall 2006 issue of the "VMI Alumni Review" in the article "Hamlin, Class of 1867, vs Freeman, Class of 1862." These issues are included. Two buttons and a bullet purportedly from the New Market battlefield are also included.

Very fine. The bright barrel retains 90% of the Damascus pattern showing minor pitting on the face of the muzzle. The remaining surfaces have a mix of smooth and mottled gray patinas. The stock is fine showing some minor handling marks and overall, a crisp carving. The engraving is also crisp. Mechanically excellent. The case is fine with the faded lining showing wear and minor to moderate handling/storage marks.

As described in "A."

Very fine. The bright barrel retains 85% of the Damascus pattern. The remaining surfaces have a mix of smooth and mottled gray patinas. There is some minor pitting on the face of the muzzle and trigger guard tang. The stock is fine showing some minor handling marks and overall, a crisp carving. The engraving is also crisp. The action needs work as the set trigger does not function. An intriguing pair of Le Page percussion pistols linked to an 1870 duel that would be a great conversation piece to a post-Civil War firearm collection.