The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1860-06-01
AFrom the.Riei1,mone. Jliispatc1s. !.


position, and Jackson's the office of giving
the word. Mr.Overtop considered the Civ
ing of.tbe word a. matterfof great impor,
tance, and he had already determined how
he would give it if the lot fell to him. The
eight PAGES were measured of, and the men
placed; both were perfectly collected. All
the polteness Of such occasions was strictly
and elegantly performed. jackson was
dressed in loose frock buttoncd carelessly
over his chest, and concealiug in some de-
gree the extreme slendcrncSs Of lis figure.
Dickinson was tic youngest and handsomer
man Of Tic two. But Jackson's S tall, erect
figure and the still intensity Of his demeau-
or, i! is said gave Kim a most commanding
air as he stood under the tall poplars in this
bright May morning. silently awaiting this
moment Of doom.
'Arc you ready? sail Overton.
Il am ready said Dickinson.
4 ain ready said Jackson.
The words were no sooner pronounced
than Overton, with sudden shout, cried,
using his old country pronunciation,
"Feare?'
Dickinson raised his pistol quickly and
fired. 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 arm and place it tightly across
his chest. sIIo is surely hit thought Over
ton, 'and in bad place too, but he docs not
fall Erect and grim as fate he stood, his
teeth clenched, raising his pistol. Ovcrton
glanced at Dickinson. Amazed at the un-
wonted failure Of his aim, and appalled, at
the awful figure and face before him, Dick.
insou had unconsniously rccoilcd step or
two.
Great Godn he fnltered, havc I missed
hing -
>.ttBack to tho mark, sirr thundcrcd Over
ton with his hand upon his pistol.
Dickinson recovered his composure step
ped forward to the peg, and stood with eyes
averted from his antagonist. All this was
but the work Of a moment though it re-
quires many words to tell it.
General Jackson took deliberate aim and
pulled the trigger. The pistol neither snap
ped, nor went off. lIeIooked at the trig-
ger and discovered that it had stopped at
halfcock. lie drew it back to its place and
took aim second time. lie fired, and
Dickinson's face Llanched; he rccled-and
his friends rushed forward, caught him in
their arms, and gently laid him on the grass
leaning against a bush. His trowscrs red
dened. They stripped off lis clothes. The
blood was gushing from his side in tor
rent. 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 a
wound could.not but be fatal.
Oycrton vent forward and learned the
condition Of the wounded man. Rvjoning
lis pricipal, be said: He won't want any
more Of you, General and conducted him
from the ground. They had gouc a, hun
dred yards, Overton walking on one side of
jackson and bis surgeon on the other, and,
neither speaking word, when the surgeon
observed that one Of Jackson's shoes was full
Of blood. - 3 -.
'Oh, I believe replied Jackson, that he
has picked me little. : Let us look at it.
But say nothing about It there pointing to
the house. =" 3s-s
lie opened his<coat Dickinscn's aim
had been perfect. lie had sent the ball
precisely where he supposed Jackson's heart
wassbeating.. But the thinness of his BODY
and thelooseness of bis coat compincd to
decefse Dickinson, the ball had only bro
ken rib or Two, and raked the breast bone
1t vas a somewhat painful bad.looking
wound but neithsr severe or dangerous and
he sas aIlo to ridefs the tavern without
much ineonvehiepce.
Upo6 sppsSsehiDg the house he went up
to1one. oftbs pmen who was churn-
ing and asked'if the 6intear hsa;co Come. She
saidi! AID A. g. sasiss. g 3 Ha;afEcd for some
butter milf: Whfs9stis was getting It for
him, she'sa@ Hin furtively open his coat
and looked within it. She saw that his
shirt was saturated with blood, and stood
gazing With black horror at the sight dip.
peg in hsh9 He caught her eye, and has.
thy Sua0nsa ap big coat again. She dip:
pe6Saa daaSt daSt msasufe fnl1t ofibuttermilk
and gsSe & 70 him. lie drank it of at q
dradgbt, thenshe went in, took off his coat
and had his wound carefully examined and
dressed. Thatdone he dispatched one Of
lis :retihne to DR.. Cal'et, to inquire sespect.
ing tas condition of-Dickinson, and to sa, ia
tbJ. the surgss sat,ebaing himselfs .woult
begldds taseoptribute his aid towards Nj
Diehinsws raisf, Polite reply was return
ed tsatMr: sgidson's ca5ytwas sbeyont