The Natchez Historical Society has been hosting monthly meetings for more than 65 years now. Most of our meetings are focused on scholarly lectures and detailed studies of books significant in the history of the Natchez region.

Rarely, therefore, do we as historians and as Natchezians all have the opportunity to witness a living example of a rare historical event. With the many house tours and our yearly pageants, we have the chance here in Natchez to enjoy a great deal of living history, but, some historical events, like duels, receive less focus than others, and this month we will have the chance to see the real thing!

Duels were once a part of life in the volatile, violent and hot-tempered South, where personal honor was often the only possession a man owned. Northerners, even today, seem shocked by the emphasis Southerners place on honor, and though duels seem long a thing of the past, they often haunt the mind in a Southerner’s repertoire of vindication.

When I consider my ancestors, let’s give credit where credit’s due. They were handsome people, stylishly dressed. Their drinking was of bacchanalian legend, and it seems they were willing to gamble on, well, anything! They were hard, fast-living, beautiful and well-armed.

They carried their honor on one shoulder and virtue on the other, and woe be to anyone who didn’t tread carefully in their midst. Southerners are known for their quick tempers followed by magnanimous forgiveness. Dueling is as much a part of our South as sweet tea!

The duel to be reenacted at Jefferson College on Tuesday will, as much as possible, attempt to recreate that particular duel which took place near Natchez in the year 1810 between local attorney Andrew Holmes and a young ensign named Stephen Rose. Holmes, is thought to be the younger brother of our state’s first Governor David Holmes. Following his brother, Andrew scurried on down to the wild, wooly country around Natchez to make his home.

The Holmes brothers were educated for that day and Andrew, apparently complied enough to pass the local bar, becoming a lawyer.

This duel apparently had its roots in some “off color” remarks which attorney Holmes made against Ensign Rose during a trial in which he was prosecuting Mr. Rose.

Although Mr. Holmes later claimed that he meant the remarks in no way as personal insults, Mr. Rose, young and fresh off the frontier, however, didn’t take it so lightly and within a few days had encouraged his seconds to contact Holmes and demand an apology or that word no one wanted to hear, satisfaction.

Although both sides worked feverishly to stop the hostilities, it became clear that Rose simply wanted his day with Holmes, and — finally— he got it!

And you can get it too at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, on the grounds of Jefferson College, just North of Natchez on U.S. 61. We will first have wine and hors d’oeuvres and then a brief talk on dueling when the gallant duelists, portrayed by local re-enactor and gun expert, Finley Hootsell and local re-enactor and historian Clark Burkett, take the field surrounded by their entourage, all whom will be in perfect period costume.

See the website www.natchezhistoricalsociety.org for more details. Bring your honor, but leave your temper behind!

To see how it all turns out, you’ll have to be there at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, on the grounds of old historic Jefferson College on U.S. 61, just North of Natchez.

Holmes Sturgeon is the president of the Natchez Historical Society.