Bladensburg Dueling Grounds

Throughout much of the nineteenth century, the Bladensburg Dueling Grounds were well known as a place to settle differences. The secluded site was close to taverns and lay outside Washington D.C.'s boundaries, where dueling was prohibited. The first notable fight there was between two members of Congress in 1808. More than 26 recorded and 50 reported duels were fought in the 1800's, including the 1820 duel between Commodore Stephen Decatur and Commodore James Barron. Although both were captains in the Navy, Decatur had served on a court-martial board that found Barron guilty of neglect of duty. They dueled with pistols at eight paces, and Decatur was killed while Barron was wounded. Maryland officially banned duels in 1839, but they likely continued there until the Civil War, when the site was used as a camp adjacent to Fort Lincoln. During the battle, Commodore Joshua Barney took position on the hills above the dueling grounds, gaining a tactical advantage. He held his cannons until the British were within a few hundred yards, then fired the massive eighteen-pounder and cleared the road several times, forcing the British to retreat to the safety of the natural ravine.

Colmar Manor, Maryland · United States