Southern shield., 1860-02-04

&-ss .le apart from the rest, they sed all the chances and probabilities I nIrn the single aim to decide upon course which should result in the disabling of Dickinson and the saving of Jackson.- The mode Of fighting which had been agreed upon was somewhat peculiar.- | The pistols were to be held downward until the word was given to fire; then each man was to fire as soon as he pleas | ed. With such an arrangement, 1t was scarcely possible that both the pistols should be discharged at the same moment. There was achance, even, that by extreme qulckness of movement, one man could bring down his antagonist without him. self receiving shot. The question anx- iously discussed between Jackson and Overton was this: Shall we try to get the first shot, or shall we permit Dickinson to have it? They agreed, at length, that it would be decidedly better to lct Dickin- son fire first. In the first place, Dickin- son, like all miraculous shots, required no time to take aim, and would have far better chance than Jackson in quick shot, even if both fired at once. And in spite of anything Jackson could do, Dick inson would be almost sure to get the first fire. Moreover, Jackson was certoiR he would be hit; and he was unwilling to subject his own aim to the chance of its being totally destroyed by the shock of the blow. For Jackson was resolved on hitting Dickinson. His feelings toward his adversary were embittered by what he had heard ofhis public practicings and boastfal wagers. ''I should have hit him, fine had shot me through the brain" said Jackson once. In pleasant discourse of this kind, the two men wiled away the hours of the long journey.
 A tavern kept by one David Miller, somewhat noted in the neighborhood, stood on the banks of the Red river, near the ground appointed for the duel. Late in the afternoon of Thursday, the 29th of May, the inmates of this tavern were surprised by the arrival of party of seven or eight horsemen. Jacob Smith, then employed by Miller as an overseer, but now himself a planter in the vicinity, was standing before the house when this unexpected company rode up. One of these horsemen asked him if the could be accommodated with lodgings for the night. They could. The party dismoun- ted, gave their horses to the attendant negroes, and entered the tavern. No sooner had they done so, than honest Jacob was perplexed by the arrival ot second avalcade-Dickinson and his friends, who also asked for lodglngs.- The manager told them the house was full but that he never turned travellers away, and if they chose to remaln, he would do the best he could for them.-- Dickinson then asked where was the next house of entertainment. He was directed to house two miles lower down the river, kept by William Harrison The house is still standing. The room in which Dickinson slept that night, and slept the night following, is the one now used by the occupants as diningroom.
 Jackson ate heartily at supper that night, conyersing in a lively, pleasant manner, and smoked his evening pipe as usual. Jacob Smith remembers being exceedingly pleased with his guest, and, on learning the cause of his visit, hearti- ly wishing h,m a.safe deliverance.
 Before breakfast on the next morning the whole party mounted and rode down the road that wound close along the pie turesoue banks of the stream
 About the same hour, the oyerseer and his gang of negroes went to the fields to begin their daily toil; he, longing to ven ture within sight of what he knew was bo,,f to toEn ,,looa