"The Last Duel", A Sword Fight In Sunbury, 1812

The Donnel House, located between the current day Daily Item building and Masonic building in Sunbury, was the scene of a sword fight, or duel, in 1812

 The 1812 altercation in Sunbury was more of a bar room brawl than a duel, it was nothing like the formal duel staged  in Montandon in 1805.  But it was a sword fight, nonetheless.

It's said that no one knew the cause, and that no one realized what was occurring until they suddenly heard the heavy clash of steel swords.  The two men had been close friends until that day.  On that day however,  General Hugh Brady and Daniel Levy  battled one another until Samuel Awl and tavern keeper Michael Kutzner threw enough furniture between the men to separate them.   For many years, until the property was remodeled, a deep gash remained in one of the windowsills, caused by General Brady's sword.

Later newspapers quoted a  "Publicity Commission", which stated:

"The last duel fought in  Pennsylvania, before that method of settling disputes was banned, did not occur on the field of honor at dawn.' Neither were there such formalities as 'name your seconds,' choose your weapons,' or the dropping of a handkerchief to signal the opening of hostilities. 

The last encounter in this state was fought in 1812 by two gallant soldiers,  General-Hugh Brady and Captain Daniel Levy who were met, after a battalion parade, in Michael Kutzner's tavern which still stands in Sunbury.

Drinking to each other's health, they sat at a rough table, where they discussed official papers between them. A dispute arose suddenly, oaths rang out, and the lie passed, 

Drawing swords swiftly, both sprang up, to fight for life. 

First blows were across the table, but Levy was at a disadvantage and moved into the open room. After furious fighting, Brady stood on tiptoe, aimed vertical stroke. Levy dodged, raised his sword; but the blow wounded his shoulder, cut off the 'pigtail' [cue] of his white wig. 

Brady continued to attack but his next blow missed and cut a gash in the woodwork. The right was halted by a barricade of tables and chairs thrown between the two by friends, but the duelists never were reconciled."

The event occurred during the Battalion day gathering.

"Muster Day", or "Battalion Day",  was an annual review of the area militia in the area. Militia officers arrived in faded regimentals, farmers and hunters in homespun clothes with rabbit skin caps.  

 The event had all the features of a country fair and a horse market, as merchants lined Sunbury's town square.  The event, which brought hundreds of horses, carriages, and people, to town, featured music, games, and dances.  Merchants sold root beer, lemonade, candies, and pickled oysters, to the spectators and visiting militia.

There were approximately half a dozen taverns in Sunbury in 1812, and they were all stocked and ready for the crowds brought by the annual review. One such tavern was operated by Michael Kutzner, in a building opposite the old courthouse on Market Square.

"It was here that Daniel Levy and General Hugh Brady dueled with swords in 1812; 

Levy sustained a wound in the shoulder and the loss of his cue, while Brady broke his sword, and more serious consequences might have occurred 

if Michael Kutzner and Samuel Awl had not separated the combatants " - Bells History of Northumberland County

Emile Clay, and Lucy Gibson, granddaughters of Judge Charles Donnel, in the doorway of the Donnel house located on Market Street in Sunbury. Judge Donnel purchased the house for $1,000.  It is believed to be the oldest brick structure in Sunbury, with the earliest section constructed in 1779 by Jacob Preisinger.  At once time, it served as a tavern, and at least two duels were fought there, including the Brady & Levy sword fight in 1812.

"Daniel Levy, Esq., outlived all the old lawyers except Mr. Bellas. He was a conceited man, active as a cat, an Insatiable dancer, a hard fighter and great boxer. The interesting fact In Levy history Is. that of the two duels fought in Northumberland county he was one of the participants. 

A military gathering took place in 1812 at Michael Kutzner's hotel, on the corner of Market and Second streets, (Sunbury) the house being now occupied by the widow of Hon. C. G. Donnel. During the time of the gathering a dispute arose between Daniel Levy and. General Hugh Brady, a man of six feet, active, strong and as brave as Caesar. He was the last survivor of the Brady family, and died at Detroit, Michigan, in 1851. 

No sooner did this dispute arise than, without further preparations, they attacked one another with their swords. In the fight Brady cut off Levy's cue, wounded him in the shoulder and also broke his sword. 

Samuel Awl, Esq., Michael Kutzner and others, put chairs between the duelists and in this way separated them. This took place in the bar-room of the then new hotel. A sword of one of the duelists missed its mark and hit the window sill with great force, making a deep mark which remained for years, until the room was repaired for a private residence." -The Annals Of The Buffalo Valley, by John Blair Lynn

A 1940 newspaper recorded, "As Levy staggered backwards, Brady again lunged at his opponent but missed and his sword was broken as it came in contact with the window sill.  In the intervening time, Kutzner and Awl had continued to toss all of the furniture in the room between the two men and the duel came to an abrupt close, as hundreds jammed about the windows outside watching the combat.

Sheathing his broken blade, Brady demanded a drink from the keeper, and all present breathed easier.  Amicable relations were finally established between the duelists, and Captain Levy soon recovered from his wounds."

Hugh Brady

The sixth son of Captain John Brady

Daniel Levy

Levy died in 1844 "after over half a century of service in the Northumberland County Courts."  He is buried in Sunbury Pa.  The masonic records list him as the son of Aaron Levy, founder of Aaronsburg Pa.

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• The word "queue" comes from the french word for tail, and originally referred to a braid of hair worn straight down the neck. One report names the cue as the braid of Levys wig.
• Freemasonry in Northumberland & Snyder Counties, Pennsylvania Dating from the Constitution of Lodge No. 22, October 4, 1779, and Including a History of Charity Lodge, No. 144, Until Warrant was Removed to Lewisburg; Perseverance Lodge, No. 148; Lafayette Lodge, No. 194; Shamokin Lodge, No. 255; Milton Lodge, No. 256; Mt. Carmel Lodge, No. 378; Watsontown Lodge, No. 401; Eureka Lodge, No. 404; Elysburg Lodge, No. 414; Middleburg Lodge, No. 619; and Maclay Lodge, No. 632; Also a Sketch of the Several Other Masonic Bodies Warranted in this District, Comp. from Actual Records and Other Reliable Sources · Volume 1 By Frederic Antes Godcharles · 1911
• Bells History Of Northumberland County
• Brady Family Reunion and Fragments of Brady History and Biography By William Gray Murdock · 1909
• Annals of Buffalo Valley, Pennsylvania, 1755-1855 By John Blair Linn · 1877

Samuel Awl, who helped part the duel, was the son in law of William Maclay