Red Wing sentinel., 1860-05-30
From Partbn's Life Of An l,ewJ ckson]
THE ACKNOWLEDGMENT DUEL

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THE JACKsON.DlCKlNsO DUEL
The famous duel between Jackson
and Dickinson is generally known,
but Parton recent life Of the former
gives an excellent account Of the af.
fair, with some circumstances that arc
new. -...
Dickinson's second won the choice
opposition, and Jackson's the office Of
giving the word. The astutc Overton
cnnsidare.4l tho -s;~;"s VT the word n
mat ofgreat Importance, and he had
already determined how he would
give it it the lot fell to him. The
eight paccs were measured off, and
tho men place,l; both wer. perfectly
collected. AL the politcncss of such
occasions was strictly and elegantly
performed. Jackson was dressed in a
loose treck, buttoned carelessly over
his chest, and concc.ling in some de-
gree the extreme slendcrness Of his
figure. Dickinson was the younger and
handsomer man Of the two. Bat
Jacksons tall, erect figure, and the
still intensity Of lis dcmeanor, it il
said, gave him the most superior and
commanding air, as he stood under
the tall poplars on that bright May
morning, silently awaiting the moment
Of doom.
"Arc you ready ?" said Ovcr,on.
III am ready" said Dickinson.
II am really" said Jackson.
The words were no sooner pro
nounccd than Ovcrton, with sudden
shout cried, using his old country pro.
nunciation, "Fearc!''
Dickinson raised his pistol quickly
and fred. Ovcrton, 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
'Ilc is snrly hit," thought Overton,
"and in bad place, too, but h, does
not fall" Erect and grim as fate he
stood, his teeth clenchcd, raising his
pistol. Overton glanced at Dickinson
AMAZED at the wanted failure Of his
aim, and appalled, at the awful figure
and face before him, Dickinson had
unco, sc!onsly recoiled a step or tw~.
"Grcat God - he faltcred, shave
missed him -
"Back to the mark, sir - Numbered
Ovcrton, with his hand on his pistol.
Dickinson recovered his composurc,
stepped forward to the peg, and stood
with his eyes averted from his antaoo.
l,ist. .All this was but the work Of a
moment, though it requires many
words to tell it.
General Jackson took deliberate
aim and pulled the trigger: The pis-
tol neither snapped nor went off, He
looked at the trigger and discovered
that it had stopped at half cock. lie
drew it back to its place, and took
aim the second time, He fired, Dick.
inson's face blanched ; he rceled; his
friends rushed forward, caught him in
their arms, aud gently lail him Oh the
grass, leaning against bush. His
trowscrs rcddcned. They stripped off.
his cloths. 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
-''e skin. The ball had passed thro'
the body, below tho ribs. Such a
wound could not but be fatal.
Ovcrton. went forward and learned
tho condition Of the wounded man.
Rcjoinins his principal, he said: "Hc
won't want anything more of you,
General" and conducted him from
the ground. They had gono hundred
yards, Overton walking on one side: of
Jackson, the physician on the other,
and neither speaking \ word, when
tho physician observed that one of|
Jackson's shoes was filed with blood.
"Oh!I believe" replied jackson.
''that he has Ipinked me little. Let's
look at it. But say nothing about i'll
there pointing to the house.
lie opened his coat. Dickinson's
aim had been perfect. He had sent
the ball precisely where he thought
Jackson's heart was = beating. Butt
1ic thinncss Of his body and the loose.
ness Of his coat combined to deceive
Dickinson the ball hal only broken
rib or two, and rake,1 his breast bone.
It was somewhat painful, bad look.
ing wound, but neither severe or dan.
gcrous, and he was able to ride to- the
tavern without much inconvenience.
Upon approaching the house lie
went up to one Of the negro women
who was c''urning, and asked her if|
the butter had come. She said tha,
it was coming. He asked for some
Buttcrmilk. While she was getting it
for him, she saw him furtively open
his coat and look within it. Sho saw
that his shirt was saturated with
blood, AMI stood gazing in black horor
at tho sight dippcr in hand. Hel
saw her, and hastily ::buttoned up his
his coat again. She dipped out a quart
measure full Of buttcrmilk, and gave
il to him. He drained it of at a
'lraught, then he went in, took Off his
soat, and had his wounds carefully
dressed. This done, he dispatched |.
one Of his retinuc to Dr.. Callet, to cn.
quirc respecting the condition Of Dick
inson, and to say that the surgeon at. !:
tending himself would be glad to con
tribute lis aid towards Mr.. Dickiu.
sons relief. Polite reply was made