Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1858-12-04
Sflistellalreous.

Mlistellalnons.
JackSOn'S Duel with Dickinson.
To the Editors Of the New York News:
Some time ago I saw in your paper
statement Of the duel between Gen. Jack
son and Dickinson; fought before the year
1900; Which accounts were erroneous in
several particulars DESTROYS Of correcting
these errors, / offered to furnish you an ac-
count of that duel, told me by Gen. Jack
sons biographer and intimate friend; John
H. Eaton. He and / were once travelling
together, and I inquired how he obtained
such accurate information about Gen. Jack
son, for that many CIRCUMSTANCES contained
in his book knew myself to be true. He
said he frequently visited Gen. Jackson,
and they used to sit up late taking over
events; and OH his return to his bedroom
he committed to paper what the General
said concerning himself.
The following is Gen. Jackson's own ac-
count of the duel told Gen. Eaton, who re-
lated the same to me:
Jackson settled at Nashville between the
years 1890 and 1900, and began the prac-
ticc Of law. Dickinson was already there
following the same profession. He was
great duellist, having killed several in du-
els, and almost certain to kill at the first
fire. His mode Of firing was uncommon.
Instead Of raising his pistol from his side to
FIRE, at the word he would bring it down
from above until he got it to the proper lev
Ell, and then fire All of the merchants in
Nashville had Dickinson retained in th 81"
behaIr, aud ho being tie only lawyer there
until jackson came, no redress could be OBJ
tanned by the opposite side. Gen. jackson
refused to re retained by these merchants
to the exclusion of ali other parties. The
consequence was that he issued sixty writs
Ito the first term Of the court at Nashville
He issued writs against the merchants,
who until then had gone scot free. This
irritated them, and they being DESTROYS of
getting Gen. jackson out Of the way, Incl
ted Dickinson to provoke duel. He be-
gan by acting on trials offensive to the Gen
eral.
He demonstrated with Dickinson, and
plainly told him that he would not submit
to such disrespectful treatment.
Dickinson PERSISTED, and General jack
son challenged him. The time and place
for the combat were fixed upon, and the
news spread for miles around. There was
at least two thousand persons on the ground
and bets were made as if it were horse
"a ce.
Dickinson himself bet that be would kill
jackson at the first fire. Dickinson fired
first, and his ball hit jackson on the right
pap and peeled his breast. He had a cal
lous lump there until the day Of his death.
As soon as the smoke of Dick;nson's pistol
cleared away, he saw General Jackson still
standing, and exclaimed :" 'Hav' Mt kill
ed the damned rascal yet? General
jackson told General Eaton that until til en-
he meant to give himhis life; but on hear
ing these words he raised his pistol, fired,
and killed Dickinson instantly
The HERM1rAcE.-Ag gentleman who has
just visited the Hermitage, the residence Of
Gen. Jackson, thus writes of what he saw
there:
Prominent among the curiogit;es was a
wooden pitcher. It was made Of wood from
the elm tree under which William Penn
made the celebrated Indian treaty. The
pitcher was made and presented by the coop
ers of Philadelphia, and although it is not
larger than common cream jug, it contains
$50 slaves The hoops, lip and handle are
silver, the bottom is a lnagnifying glass, by
looking through which one is enabled TO see
the joints, which are not visible to the ma
ked eye We will next notice Old Hickory.
This is double eup-that is two cups with
one bottom; SO that when one is turned up
the other is turn ed down. It is, as it's nane
implies, of hickory, and what is more singu-
lar about it, has natural handle. 1t is
simply block about one foot in length, and
was cut on Long Island from hickory sprout
the parent stem of which was severed by
cannon bali in the war fthe Revolution.
s'The next things We will mention are a
calumet of stone presented by some Indian
chief; bayonet, with large root growth
around it, found near the the battle ground
below New Orleans the cup and saucer out
Of which General Washington drank his last
tea, and small piece of candle found in the
tent Of Lord CORVALLIS when he surrender
ed to General Washington, and closed the
Revolutionary struggle. The last-named
article was given to General jackson with
the request that he would light it on each
Fourth Of July. Mrs. jackson remarked
that they had failed to do this for several
years owing to it's shortness."
~ An Irish friend of ours, hearing of a