turn a blind eye to this neutral ground. As large crowds watched from the St. Louis riverfront, Biddle and Pettis obeyed the commands to step, turn, and fire. When the smoke cleared, both men had fallen with mortal wounds. Before being carried off the island, both men were overheard to forgive each other for the altercation. Congressman Spencer Pettis died the next day, while Major Biddle lingered on until August 29. Both men were buried with full honors, eulogized for choosing death before dishonor. The funerals for both men were said to be the largest ever held in St. Louis in the 19th century. Spencer Pettis never married and had no children. William Henry Ashley was elected to finish Pettis's term in the House of Representatives. See also List of United States Congress members killed or wounded in office List of United States Congress members who died in office (1790–1899) References External links |- 1802 births 1831 deaths People from Culpeper County, Virginia Missouri Democratic-Republicans Jacksonian members of the United States House of Representatives from Missouri Secretaries of State of Missouri People from Fayette, Missouri American politicians killed in duels Deaths by firearm in Missouri Duelling fatalities