Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1860-01-06
MISCELLANY
JacksOn'S Duel with Dickinson.

lite on jackson, just issued, gives the FOL.
lowing graphic description of the duel in
which Charles Dickinson, young lawyer
of Tennessee, was killed by Gen. jackson,
in 1906:
Dickinson's second won the choice of DO
sition, and .Iackson's the office of giving
the word. The astute Overton considered
this giving the word matter of great i'm
portance, and he had already determined
ho,O he would give il, if the lot fell to him.
! The eight PAGES were measured off and the
men placed. Both were perfectly collected.
All the politeness of such occasions were
very strictly and elegantly performed.
jackson was dressed in a loose frock coat.
buttoned carelessly over his chest, and con-
cealing in some degree the extreme slen-
derness of his figure. Dickinson was the
younger and handsomer man of the two
But Jackson's tall erect figure, and the
| still intensity of his demeanor, it is said,
gave him most superior and commanding
air, as he stood under the tall poplars on
this bright May morning, silently awaiting
the moment of doom.
'Are you ready said Overton.
i am ready replied Dickinson.
Il am ready said jackson,
| The words were no sooner pronounced
than Overton, with sudden shout cried
using his old-country pronunciation, FEREr
Dickinson raised his pistol quickly and
fired. Overton, who was looking with anx-
Eiety and dread at jackson, saw puff of
dust fly from the breast of his coat, and
saw him raise his left arm and place il
al, To =
thought Overton, and, in bad place, too,
but no; he does not fall Erect and grim
as fate he stood, his teeth clenched, raising
his pistol. Overton glanced at Dickinson.
Amazed at the uuwonted failure of his
aim, and apparently appalled, at the awtAi
figure and face before him, Dickinson had
recoied pace or two.
Great God!' he falteFed, have
missed him p
Back to the MARK, sir shrieked Over
ton, with his hand upon bis pistol.
Dickinson recovered his composure stepped
forward TO the peg, and stood with his eyes
averted from his antagonist. All this was
the work of moment, though it requires
many words to tell it.
General jackson took deliberate aim,
and pulled The trigger. The pistol neither
snapped nor went off. lie looked at the
trigger, and discovered that it had stopped
at half cock. He drew it back TO its place,
and took aim a second time. He fired.
Dickinson's face blanched, he reeled his
friends rushed toward him, caught him in
their arms, and gently seated him on the
ground, leaning against abush. His trows-
ers reddered. They stripped off his clothes.
The blood was gushing from his side in
torrent. And alas here is the ball, not
near the wound, but above the opposite
hip, Just under the skin. The ball had
passed through the body, below the ribs.
Such wound could not but be fatal.
Overton went forward and learned The
condition of the wounded man. Beje'ning
his principal he said, He wont want any
thing more from you, General and CON
Quoted him from the ground. They had
gone a hundred yards, Overton walking on
one s.ds of Jackson, the surgeon on the
other. and neither speaking a word, when
the surgeon observed that one oi Jackson's
shoes was full of blood.
.My God General jackson, are you
hit p he exclaimed, pointing to the blood.
sOh! | believe he has pinked me lit
tie. Let's look at it. But say nothing
about il there pointing TO the house.
He opened his coat. Dickinson's aim
had been perfect. lie had sent the ball
precisely where he supposed Jackson's
heart was beating. But the thinness of his
body and the looseness of his coat combin-
| ing TO deceive Dickinson, the ball had
#only brotsa { sib ou two, ana rahed the
breast bone. 1t was somewhat pa
bad-looking wound, but neither severe nor
dangerous, and he was able to ride TO the
tavern without much inconvenience. Upon
approaching the house, he went up TO one
of the neuro women who was churning,
and asked her if the butter had come. She
said il was Just coming. He asked for
ne butiermilk. While she was getting
or him, she observed him fur.ively open
coat and look within if. She saw his
,,rt was soaked with blood, and she stood
azinq in blank horror at the sight, dipper
hand. lie caught her eye, and hastily
u,,oned his coat again. She dipped out a
mart measure full of buuermiik and gave
IN him. He drank il off at draught !;
zen went in, took off his coat, and had ms
ound carefully examined and dressed.
hat done be dispatched one of his retInue
Dr. Cmlelt, 10 inquire respecting the
ndition Of Dickinson, and TO say that the
recon attending himself would be glad to
ntriburc his aid toward Mr.. Dickinson's
lief. Polite reply was returned that Mr..
NIekinsons case was past surgery. IN the
urse of the day General jackson sent a
Ibogile Of wine to Dr. Cstlett for the use Of
n..pafitsflfe
mG ~ qualification which
n.s such eiraamstan-