A Street Fight In Monroe

My eyes widened a bit when I read this! It seems two Civil War vets had a beef (um…literally) which lead to one trying to kill the other in downtown Monroe! The two combatants are very well known in Monroe. They are William Henry Awl (49 at the time) and Wiley Polk Renwick (57). Renwick was wounded at the battle of Vicksburg with the 3rd LA, and Awl, I have told you about before. Both are buried in the Old City Cemetery.

William Henry Awl

New Orleans Times-Democrat, Monday, June 20, 1898, Page 8

MONROE, LA.
Councilman Renwick Wounded in
Three Places.

Special to The Times-Democrat.
Monroe June 19. – The usual Saturday night’s excitement occurred on Desiard street last evening in front of Batte’s drug store. The participants in the affray were men of some prominence, and the remarkable thing about the whole affair is that someone was not killed, as the street was crowded with Saturday night shoppers. It was just a few minutes before 9 o’clock when ex-Policeman W. H. Awl met City Councilman Renwick in front of the drug store and remarked to him, “I will now get even with you.” and at the same time pulled one of the two pistols he had provided himself with and began firing on Renwick, and did not stop until he had emptied every chamber, and was about to pull his other pistol, when ex-Mayor Herring and friends interfered and prevented him from using it. Had it not been for Renwick grabbing the barrel of Awl’s pistol no doubt he would not be living to-day.
Three of the shots took effect, one in the left hip near the groin, and two in the left breast just below the nipple, none of which will prove fatal.
The trouble, it seems, originated over one of the councilman’s cows having broken into the ex-policeman’s flower yard and destroyed some of his choicest plants, and at which the ex-officer took umbrage.
Awl was placed under arrest, and was released under a $500 bond by Judge Potts for his appearance at the next term of the District Court.