DUELLEST'S GRAVE - Georgia Historical Markers on Waymarking.com

The epitaph to James Wilde on the nearby tomb is a melancholy reminder of the days of duelling and, particularly, of a tragic affair of honor fought January 16, 1815, on the Carolina side of the river near Savannah. Lieutenant Wilde was shot through the heart in a fourth exchange of fire by Captain Roswell P. Johnson, referred to in the epitaph, in bitterness, as “a man who a short time before would have been friendless but for him.” The duellists were officers in the 8th Regt. U.S. Infantry.

The nature of their quarrel is unknown.

Richard Henry Wilde, the poet and statesman, was the brother of the young officer. Lieutenant Wilde had served in the campaign against the Seminoles and his vivid description of Florida suggested to the poet an epic poem, which, like the life of James Wilde, was cut short by the fatal bullet/

The unfinished poem is remembered for the beauty of a single lyric, the opening stanza of which is:

“My life is like the Summer Rose,
That opens to the morning sky;
But ere the shades of evening close,
Is scattered on the ground - to die.”


025-22 GEORGIA HISTORICAL COMMISSION 1954

Type of Marker: Park Marker #: Not listed Date: Not listed Sponsor: Not listed

Visit Instructions:
Take a picture of the marker, yourself at the marker, your gps at the marker, or anything specific to the text on the marker. And don't forget to enjoy your visit.

Recent Visits/Logs:

Date Logged Log User Rating   12/30/2022 comtg visited it 11/15/2022 Babushka_Qc visited it 08/15/2019 Sneakin Deacon visited it 01/28/2016 kdalemama visited it 05/11/2011 petendot visited it 06/26/2010 3newsomes visited it 08/04/2009 debbado visited it 06/29/2009 ChapterhouseInc visited it 10/14/2008 Windsocker visited it 09/01/2008 Lat34North visited it 07/29/2008 onfire4jesus visited it 11/10/2007 GA Cacher visited it 07/12/2007 BluegrassCache visited it 11/01/2000 Markerman62 visited it

View all visits/logs