Dueling Congressmen

Source

"...the famous duel in which Jonathan Cilley of Thomaston was killed by William J. Graves of Kentucky. Next to the duel between Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr, no event of the character ever attracted more attention, than that between Graves and Cilley...".

Source

The Collections and Proceedings of the Maine Historical Society's article about the duel:

[See link for transcript of the letter]

"A charge of corruption against a senator in Congress, made by 'The Spy In Washington,' Matthew L. Davis...".

"The charge [of corruption] led to an excited debate, in which one of the members was savagely severe on all newspapers, newspaper editors, and newspaper letter writers. In this debate, Jonathan Cilley, one of the members from Maine, was particularly severe on the character of Colonel James Watson Webb, of the Courier and Enquirer. On reaching the attention of that gentleman, he immediately started for the national capital to obtain satisfaction. Those who were connected with the press and politics in that year will never forget the excitement the appearance of Webb in Washington, and the subsequent tragical scene near that city, produced throughout the country." [Source]