Brooks knew all about dueling, having been wounded in a duel in 1841 with Sen. Louis T. Wigfall. Brooks, seconded by John L. Manning was shot through the hip, Wigfall, seconded by Pierce M. Butler, was shot through both thighs. Interestingly, both Manning & Butler later served as Governor of South Carolina.
Quite a duel. And the great irony of it all - the shot through the hip caused Brooks to require a cane to walk, which in turn he used to beat Sumner!