Daniel Showalter
Encyclopedia
Daniel Showalter was California
miner, state legislator, duelist, secessionist, soldier for the Confederate States of America
in Texas
.
and came to California in 1852. He lived in Mariposa County
where he was a miner. He ran for and won a seat in the California State Assembly
6th District in 1857–1858 and 1861–1862. In the heat of the struggle to elect a new Senator for California he insulted another state assemblyman, Charles W. Piercy from San Bernardino County, who challenged him to a duel.
Although dueling was officially illegal in California at the time, this duel took place on Saturday afternoon, May 25, 1861, near the residence of Charles S. Fairfax
, three miles west of San Rafael
in Marin County. The weapons chosen were rifles to be fired at a distance of forty yards. The first fire was ineffective and Showalter demanded another. On the second fire, Showalter shot Piercy in the mouth and killed him. This was the last of the duels between political figures in California.
As a fugitive as a result of the duel, Showalter made his way south to Los Angeles County joining with friends and fellow secessionist sympathizers who wanted to go east to join the Confederate Army. This party was caught at Minter Ranch on November 29, 1861 by a 1st Volunteer Cavalry
patrol under Second Lt. C. R. Wellman from Camp Wright, in the mountains southwest of the Warner's Ranch
in the San Jose Valley of eastern San Diego County. On December 10, fearing a large rescue party was coming from El Monte
the commander of Camp Wright sent them under guard to Fort Yuma
. Eventually they were released after swearing alliegence to the Union. Showalter then went on to Texas where he was made Lieutenant Colonel
of the 4th Arizona Cavalry Regiment.
In March 1864, Lt. Col. Daniel Showalter joined the force under John Salmon Ford
and led his regiment in fighting around Brownsville, Texas
to drive the union troops out of South Texas. After the Union troops evacuated it Showalter occupied Brownsville June 30. When his commander General Ford fell ill Showalter was found dead drunk and unable to command the army. On May 12, 1865, General Day attacked Showalter at Palmito Hill
, Showalter was drunk again and unable to command his unit and the enemy artillery caused the 4th Arizona to panic without leadership. George Giddings came up with his battalion and rallied the disorderly unit and stabilized the defense some miles east of Palmito Hill. Showalter was immediately relieved of command of the 4th Arizona and it was given to Major F. E. Kavanaugh.
After the Civil War he went to Mexico in August 1865 and managed a Mazatlán
hotel. There in 1866 he died of lockjaw
, a result of a bar fight.
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
miner, state legislator, duelist, secessionist, soldier for the Confederate States of America
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
in Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
.
Biography
Daniel Showalter was born in Greene County, PennsylvaniaGreene County, Pennsylvania
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 40,672 people, 15,060 households, and 10,587 families residing in the county. The population density was 71 people per square mile . There were 16,678 housing units at an average density of 29 per square mile...
and came to California in 1852. He lived in Mariposa County
Mariposa County, California
Mariposa County is a county in the U.S. state of California, located in the western foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains. It lies north of Fresno, east of Merced, and southeast of Stockton. As of the 2010 census, the population was 18,251 up from 17,130 at the 2000 census...
where he was a miner. He ran for and won a seat in the California State Assembly
California State Assembly
The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature. There are 80 members in the Assembly, representing an approximately equal number of constituents, with each district having a population of at least 420,000...
6th District in 1857–1858 and 1861–1862. In the heat of the struggle to elect a new Senator for California he insulted another state assemblyman, Charles W. Piercy from San Bernardino County, who challenged him to a duel.
Although dueling was officially illegal in California at the time, this duel took place on Saturday afternoon, May 25, 1861, near the residence of Charles S. Fairfax
Charles S. Fairfax
Charles Snowdon Fairfax was an American Democratic politician of California. He was of Scottish noble descent and was himself entitled to the title as the 10th Lord Fairfax of Cameron. Fairfax was lured west as part of the gold rush...
, three miles west of San Rafael
San Rafael, California
San Rafael is a city and the county seat of Marin County, California, United States. The city is located in the North Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area...
in Marin County. The weapons chosen were rifles to be fired at a distance of forty yards. The first fire was ineffective and Showalter demanded another. On the second fire, Showalter shot Piercy in the mouth and killed him. This was the last of the duels between political figures in California.
As a fugitive as a result of the duel, Showalter made his way south to Los Angeles County joining with friends and fellow secessionist sympathizers who wanted to go east to join the Confederate Army. This party was caught at Minter Ranch on November 29, 1861 by a 1st Volunteer Cavalry
1st Regiment California Volunteer Cavalry
The 1st Regiment California Volunteer Cavalry was a cavalry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It was first formed of five companies as 1st Battalion, 1st Regiment California Volunteer Cavalry between August and October 31, 1861, at Camp Merchant near Oakland...
patrol under Second Lt. C. R. Wellman from Camp Wright, in the mountains southwest of the Warner's Ranch
Warner Springs, California
Warner Springs is a small unincorporated community in northern San Diego County, California. It is associated with two National Historic Landmarks, the Oak Grove Butterfield Stage Station and Warner's Ranch, both connected to the Butterfield Overland Mail stagecoach line. It is also near the...
in the San Jose Valley of eastern San Diego County. On December 10, fearing a large rescue party was coming from El Monte
El Monte, California
El Monte is a residential, industrial, and commercial city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The city's slogan is "Welcome to Friendly El Monte," and historically is known as "The End of the Santa Fe Trail." As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 113,475,...
the commander of Camp Wright sent them under guard to Fort Yuma
Fort Yuma
Fort Yuma is a fort in California that is located in Imperial County, across the Colorado River from Yuma, Arizona. It was on the Butterfield Overland Mail route from 1858 until 1861 and was abandoned May 16, 1883, and transferred to the Department of the Interior. The Fort Yuma Indian School and a...
. Eventually they were released after swearing alliegence to the Union. Showalter then went on to Texas where he was made Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
of the 4th Arizona Cavalry Regiment.
In March 1864, Lt. Col. Daniel Showalter joined the force under John Salmon Ford
John Salmon Ford
John Salmon Ford , better known as "Rip" Ford, was a member of the Republic of Texas Congress and later of the State Senate, and mayor of Brownsville, Texas. He was also a Texas Ranger, a Confederate colonel, and a journalist...
and led his regiment in fighting around Brownsville, Texas
Brownsville, Texas
Brownsville is a city in the southernmost tip of the state of Texas, in the United States. It is located on the northern bank of the Rio Grande, directly north and across the border from Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico. Brownsville is the 16th largest city in the state of Texas with a population of...
to drive the union troops out of South Texas. After the Union troops evacuated it Showalter occupied Brownsville June 30. When his commander General Ford fell ill Showalter was found dead drunk and unable to command the army. On May 12, 1865, General Day attacked Showalter at Palmito Hill
Palmito Ranch Battlefield
The Palmito Ranch Battlefield preserves the location of the last major battle of the American Civil War. Fought near Brownsville, Texas, the Battle of Palmito Ranch was a victory for the Confederacy. Today the area is relatively unchanged and the marshy, windswept prairies are almost the same as...
, Showalter was drunk again and unable to command his unit and the enemy artillery caused the 4th Arizona to panic without leadership. George Giddings came up with his battalion and rallied the disorderly unit and stabilized the defense some miles east of Palmito Hill. Showalter was immediately relieved of command of the 4th Arizona and it was given to Major F. E. Kavanaugh.
After the Civil War he went to Mexico in August 1865 and managed a Mazatlán
Mazatlán
Mazatlán is a city in the Mexican state of Sinaloa; the surrounding municipio for which the city serves as the municipal seat is Mazatlán Municipality. It is located at on the Pacific coast, across from the southernmost tip of the Baja California peninsula.Mazatlán is a Nahuatl word meaning...
hotel. There in 1866 he died of lockjaw
Lockjaw
-Medical conditions and diseases:* trismus, a pathological condition in which the mouth is held shut by sustained spasm of the masseter muscle, often observed in cases of tetanus.* tetanus, an infectious disease of the central nervous system.-In music:...
, a result of a bar fight.