A Rare and Unique Seminole War Broadside

Dated Tallahassee Fla. 1839, this broadside is in honor of Col. Augustus Alston! Deceased. It is print signed by most of the prominent men in Florida at this time, such as Judge McCants, General Samuel Parkhill and three of the Randolph’s. There are approximately 70 names mentioned. The population of Florida at that time was quite small, so this is one of the largest gatherings of the prominent men to honor one of their own. It was only the beginning of a dispute between Col. Alston and Brig. General Leigh Read. Col. Alston had been killed on Dec. 12, 1839 in a duel with Brig. General Leigh Read, at Mannington’s just over the Georgia line. They were there because dueling was illegal in Florida. They marched to the count of three and then the order to wheel was given. Col. Alston turned, fired and missed. Gen. Read then took aim with his rifle, fired and struck Col. Alston in the chest, killing him. Some called Gen. Read a murder and dug the shot round from Col. Alston’s body and sent it to his brother in Texas, asking him to kill Read. The brother Willis Alston traveled to Florida and called out Gen. Read. Fire was exchanged by the two, but no one was injured. Willis later made another attempt at avenging his brother when he fired at Gen. Read and his wife as they passed in a carriage, missing both. After this altercation, it was thought Willis had returned to Texas, but in April of 1841, he stepped out of a doorway and shot Gen. Read in the back with both barrels of a shotgun. He was arrested, but later escaped and returned to Texas. Gen. Leigh Read was a hero of the Seminole Wars. Andrew Jackson appointed him Brig. General of Militia in 1836. Buyer pays $50.00 packing and shipping.  Please see Contact/Terms.

Price $900.00