[The Spirit Of Allegiance]

I’d venture that the gallantry Adams referred to would be a vain and showy, rather than a humble and serving, form of chivalry.

An eagerness to box or duel at any tiny slight, for example.

[Killborn]

Got it. That makes alot of sense. It was pretty weird because gallantry is more often associated with positive attributes. Thank you for the clarification.