Duke lived in (St. Louis) at the outbreak of the war, and was called B. Wilson Duke to distinguish him from Basil Duke, a lawyer, who still resides here. When Claib Jackson was planning his treason and had a Legislature which went hand in hand with him, a law was passed reorganizing the police force of this city, and putting it under the control of five Commissioners of his appointing. He appointed of course five strong secessionists, and Duke was one of them. After the Camp Jackson emeule he was released from the arsenal along with the other prisoners captured there and went to Kentucky and joined Morgan, who I think is his cousin. During the Kirby Smith invasion of Kentucky, he married a young lady of Bourbon or Woodford counties. He was an active Douglas politician at the last Presidential election, and made frequent speeches during the canvass.
-Daily Evening Bulletin (San Francisco), January 27, 1863
I'm well aware of the duel Basil Dukes in St. Louis during this era and to make matters even more confusing, they were both lawyers. They were also cousins and our Basil Duke, ballplayer and soldier, came to St. Louis to practice law with his relative.
The young lady who Duke married was Morgan's sister and the two men were in-laws rather then cousins.