The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1860-03-07
The Desperate Duel Between jackson
and Dickinson.

buo OlSklnBOu.
The famous duel between Jackson and
Dickinson is generally known, but Parton's
recent life of the former gives an excellent
account Of the affair, with some circum-
stances that are new:
Dickinson's second won the choice of
position. and Jackson's the Office of giving
the word. The astute Overton consider.
ed this giving the word matter of great
importance, and he had already determine
ed how ne would give it. if the lot fell to
him. The eight PAGES were measured Of.
and the men placed; both we're perfectly
collected. All the politensss Of such oc>
casions was strictly and elegantly perform
cd. jackson was dressed in loose frock
ceat, buttonsd carelessly over his chest,
and concealing in some degree the extreme
slsnderness of his figure. Dickinson WAS
tho younger and hsndsoner man Of the
TWO. But Jackson's tall, erect figure,
and the still intensity of his dsmsanor, it
is said, gave him most superior snd
comman ding air, - hs stood under the
tall poplars on this bright May morning.
silently awaiting tho moment Of doom.
Are you ready'' said Ovsrton.
| i am ready said Dickinson.
i am resdy,' said Jackson.
The words were no sooner proneueed,,
than Overten, with sudden shout, cried
using his old country pronunciation,
'FEREl'
Dickinson raised his pistol quickly and
fred. Overton, who was looking with
anxiety and dread at jackson, saw . puff
of dust fly from the breast Of his coat, and
saw him raise his left arm, and place it
tightly across his chest. He is surely
hit,' thought Overton, 'and In bad place,
too, but he does not fall.' Erect and
grim as fate he stood, his teeth clsnehed
raising his pistol. Overton glanced
at Dickinson. Amazed at tho unwonsed
failure Of his aim, and appalled, at the aw.
full figure and face before him, Dickinson
had unconsciously reeoiled . pace sr
two.
| "Great Godl' he faltered, have I mis-
T sed him7' 47
Il Back to the mark, sirl thundered Over
ton, with his hand upon his pistol.
Dickinson recovered his composure
stepped forward to tho peg, and stood
f with eyes averted from his antagonist
All this was but the work Of q moment
5 though it requires many words to tell it.
General Jackson took deliberate ain
( and pulled the trigger. Tho pistol neithe
snapped nor went of. He looked at tn,
, trigger and discovered that it had stopped
, at half.eock. He drew it back to It
. place and took aim second time. HI
. fired, Dickinson's FACE blanched, he reel
+ ed; his friends rushed towards, caught biz
Q in their arms and gently seated him on tn
o grass, leaning against bush. His trew
, sers Redeemed. They stripped of hi
j.. clothes. The blood was gushing from
( his side in torrent. And, alas! here i
the ball not near the wound but abov
the opposite hip, just under the skin. Th
ball had passed through the body; bslo,
the ribs. Such wound could not but b
fatal.
9 Overton went forward and learned th
condition Of the wounded man. Rejoin
}, ing his principal, he said: He won
Q want anything moro Of you, General, an
4 conducted him from the ground. The
y had gone an hundred yards. Overto
J, walking on one side of Jackson, the SUI
'r geol on the other, and neither speaking
/" a word, when the surgeon observed tbs
o one of Jackson's shoes were full I
z blood.
:. oh! believe replied Jackson, chs
q he has pinked me little. Let's look Z
r it. But say nothing about it there poir
d ting to the house.
le He opeaed his coat. Dickinson's al
Re had been perfect. He had sent the ba
q. precisely where he supposed Jackso.
1t heart was beating. But the thinness
IS his body and the looseness Of his CO..
- combining to deceive Dickinson, the bs
ID had only broken rib or TWO. and raks
st the bresst.bone. It was somewhat pai
d; ful, bad-.ooking wound, but neither seve
,e nor dangerous, and he WAS able to ride
le the tavern without much ineonvenienc
er Upon approaching the house, he went ,
Y, to one Of the negro women who WAS chu
d, nisg. and asked her il the butter b.
I'd como. She said it WAS just coming. I
,g asked for some buttermilk. While q
was getting it for him, she observed hi
in furitively open his coat and look with
it.
She saw that his shirs was soaked wi
blood. and she stood gazing in blank he
in ror at the sight, dipper in hand.
to caught her eye, and hastily buttonsd
he his coat again. She dipped out qus
cd measure full Of buttermilk, and gave it
to him. He drank it of at draught, th
o. went in, took of his coat and had
10, wound carefully examined and dressed
. That done, he dispatched ono of his re
i'm nue. to DR.. Csllst. to inquire respecti
nd the condition of Dickinson, and to I
're that tho surgeon attending himself wor
to be glad to contribute his aid towards J
Bro Dickinson's relief. Polite reply Was
De-. tnrred that Mr.. Dickins on'a case Waa a