The Black Knight was, at the time, the most famous, or infamous, person to be buried at City Cemetery

VICKSBURG, Miss. by Evan Winschel (VDN)— “But more gladly I’d spring to thy arms, O, Death come soon, come soon!” -Excerpt from Alexander McClung’s suicide poem. (Death’s Ramrod/Black Knight)

Alexander sat dressed in his finest attire in his rented room at the Eagle Boarding House in Jackson, MS. With quill in hand, he feverishly worked to complete his poetic composition. It had been an incredibly difficult year defined by drunkenness and moments of insanity that left his once illustrious reputation in tatters. With the final line completed, he placed his freshly written prose down on the table and retrieved a specially designed wooden plank from under his bed. Prior to this day, Alexander had commissioned a carpenter to cut him a board with a deep notch at one end. No doubt an odd request, but one the carpenter knew not to question, as everyone was well aware of Mr. McClung’s easily flammable temperament. Positioning the board at an angle against the bed, Alexander inspected his appearance in the mirror before lying down on the bed. Placing his head within the confines of the notch, he pulled from his side the silver-mounted derringer that had snuffed the life of many a man. It would have one final victim…

His storied life began in Fauquier Co., Virginia in 1811. He was the seventh child of Judge William McClung and his wife Sarah Marshall, the sister of Founding Father, John Marshall.  Perhaps foreshadowing the future ahead, his adolescence was plagued by behavioral issues. Seemingly untamable, he eventually joined the Navy before his career unceremoniously ended in 1829 when his captain left him ashore in Buenos Aires, Argentina. At just 18 he had already been involved in two duels. Eventually finding his way back to this country, he enrolled in the study of medicine before turning his attention to a career in law. By 1832, Alexander had relocated to Columbus, Mississippi were he set up a modestly successful law practice. Even with a relatively mediocre skill for law, he managed to infiltrate the inner circles of the state’s most prominent politicians. Never one to remain one place for too long, McClung headed further south. Passionate for the Whig Party, he was quick to challenge any opposition to a duel in the name of gentlemanly honor. In quick succession he would participate in duels with Sergeant S. Prentiss and famously State Legislator Augustus Allen, whom he afflicted a “horrific” death upon in front of a crowd of 3,000 people.

By 1838, Alexander had already established his reputation as a “homicidal miscreant” with moments of erratic brilliance. With a penchant for writing, he eventually would run the Jackson papers Southern Sun and The True Issue. Platforms he would use to further his political views through editorial attacks. In 1845 he sought to transition from the role of a political observer to that of an elected representative when he ran for a seat in the Mississippi House of Representatives. His campaign proved unsuccessful but “established his reputation as a skilled, dramatic orator.” His political aspirations were momentarily interrupted by his service as a Lieutenant Colonel during the Mexican-American War with the 1st Mississippi Regiment, until he was severely wounded at the Battle of Monterey in 1846.

The following year he announced his candidacy for one of the Mississippi seats in the U.S. Congress in opposition to Jefferson Davis. The ensuing campaign would eventually lead to a mutually hostile relationship between the two men. According to legend, Jefferson Davis would purposefully provoke McClung into challenging him to a duel. In those days, whoever initiated the challenge did not get to choose the manner in which they dueled. Jefferson Davis was no match to McClung’s prowess with a firearm, but he was a very gifted swordsman. McClung, being no fool and reliant on his weapon of choice, refused to give in to temptation…choosing instead to vigorously campaign against any of Jefferson Davis’ future pursuits.

With each passing year, and each pull of a trigger, his financial and career outlook became bleak. So bleak that he would eventually accept the undesirable post of Charge D’Affaires in Bolivia against his friends’ advice. He would remain in that position until 1851 when he was recused back to the United States after insulting the Bolivian foreign minister, but not before killing an “overbearing Englishman.” A few years after his return , whispers of secession permeated the air. Staunchly opposed to the idea, he threw all his support behind his ally Henry Foote in his election run against Jefferson Davis. By 1852, his legal career had dwindled into inconsequence, and he had accumulated significant debts. Drowning his troubles with excessive alcohol consumption, he became known for “alcohol fueled psychosis and erratic, frightening words and actions.” Attempting to right the ship one final time, he sought positions within the military but was denied entry on account of his reputation. With no prospects in sight, he spiraled further into the realm of insanity and concocted his final escape.

Laying in his finest attire with his head cradled by the board and his pistol cocked and loaded, he placed the barrel to the side of his head and pulled the trigger. From the confines of the notch ran his blood down the length of the board where it pooled at the floor. His design had achieved its purpose as not a single drop of blood stained his fine clothing. With the termination of his life came the birth of his lore.

His remains were buried in a relative’s plot in Cedar Hill Cemetery.

Alexander McClung was alleged to have killed over eighteen men in duels during his lifetime, with several in Vicksburg. He referred to himself as the “Ramrod of Death”.