the story of dan fickles. he will be a familiar name to many viewers and is this specimen on display is one of the most frequently requested objects by our visitors here at the museum. dan was infamous before the war. his activities during the war elevated his stature, in a sense. and he went on to live a long life amazingly despite the events of the battle of gettysburg. before the civil war, dan fickles, as a congressman, was involved in a duel of sorts with the son of francis scott key. francis scott key's son had been engaged in a relationship with fickles' wife and he took issue and called him out on lafayette square. fickles killed key. he made a claim, he claimed that he had become so enraged by learning of this affair, that he had become temporarily insane. the jury was convinced by his argument and he is now known as the first person not being found not guilty by by reason of insanity. he had quite a name in washington circles. after the start of the war, he talked his way into a commission and eventua

we come to the story of dan fickles here in part of our civil war medical exhibit. fickles will be known by many. at theject is on display museum. dan sickles was infamous before the war. during the war stature, in a sense. he went on to live a long life, amazingly, despite the events at the battle of gettysburg, which i can tell you a little bit more about. before the civil war, dan congressman, was involved in a duel of sorts with the son of francis scott key. key's son philip barton key had been engaged in a fickles' wife,th teresa, and sickles took issue with the affair and called key ut on lafayette square, and challenged key to a duel. sickles killed key and was put on trial. sickles made an interesting claim, the first of its kind in the country. he claimed that he'd become so enraged by learning of this ffair that he had become temporarily insane. he jury was convinced by sickles' argument, and sickles is now known as the first person reason of uilty by temporary insanity. this is some years before the civil war. but sickles was already quite a name in washi