Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1860-04-06
Duel Between jackson and
Dickinson.

cident in the life of jackson taken from
) Parton's recent biography, is the most
, vivid and graphic sketch of that affair,
; which we have ever read
/, Dickinsons second won the choice of
D giving the word The astute Overton con
: sidered this giving of the word a matter
of great importance, and be had already
, determined how he would give IL, if the
lot fell to him. The eight PAGES. were
: measured of, and the men placed both
were perfectly collected. All the polite
, ness Of such occasions was strictly and
elegantly performed. Jackson was dress
ed in a loose i'rock coat, buttoned careless
ly over his chest, and concealing in some
degree the extreme slenderncss of his fig
urc. Dickinson was the younger and
handsomer man of The two. But jack
sons tall, erect figure. and the still inten-
: sity of his demeanor, it is said, gave him a
most superior and commanding air, as he
stood under the tall poplars on this bright
May morning, silently awaiting the mo-
ment of doom.
Are you ready? said Overton.
Il am ready, said Jackson.
The words were no sooner pronounced,
thar Overton, with sudden shot, cried,
using his old.country pronunciation,
. FIRE"
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 left arm, and place it
tightly across his chest. HE is surely
hit" thought Overton, "and in bad
place, too but no he does not fall"
Erect and grim as fate he stood, his teeth
clcnched, raised his pistol Overton
glanced at Dickinson Amazed at the un-
wonted failure of his aim. and appalled, at
the awful figure and face before him, Dick
inson had unconsciously recoiled pace
or two.
Great God he faltored, have l missed
him?'
Back to the MARK, sirl shricked Over
ton, with his hand upon his 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.
I Gen. Jackson took deliberate aim, and
pulled the trigger. The pistol neither
snapped nor went off. lie looked at the
trigger, and discovered it had stopped at
half cock. He drew it back to its place,
and took aim second time He fred
Dickinson's face blanched he reoled; his
friends rushed towards him, caught him
in their arms, and gently seated him on
the ground leaning against bush His
trowers reddened. They strippel 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 his body, below
the ribs Such wound could not but be
fatal.
Ovorton wont forward and learned the
condition Of the wounded man Reioin
ing his principal, he said, He won't want
anything moro you, General : aud con
Quoted him from the ground. They had
gone an hundred yards, Overton walking
on one side of Jackson, and the surgeon
on the other, and neither speakinga word
when the surgeon observed that one off
Jackson's shoes was full Of blood,
MY God! General Jackson, are you hit?' |
he exclaimed pointing to the blood.
ooh | believe, replied Jackson, that
he has pinked me little. Lets look at
it, But say nothing about it up there,
pointing to the house.
He opened his coat Dickinsons aim
had been perfect He 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
combining to deceive Dickinson, the bali
had only broken n rib or two, and rakcd
the breast bone. TWAS a somewhat pain
full, 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 negro women who wGs churn.
ing, and asked her if the butter had come.
She said it was Just coming. He asked forl
some butter milk, While she was getting
/ it for him, she observed him furtivcly open
his coat and look within it, She saw that
! his shirt was soaked with blood. and she
stood gazing in blank horror at the sight
dipper in hand. He caught her eye and
hastily buttoned his coat again She din
ped out a quart measure full of milk, and
gave it to him He drank it of at
] uf1ughtj tHcn went III, TOOK OH MS coat
aud had his wound carefully examined
and dressed. That done, he dispatched
one of his retinuo to DIR. Callet. to inquire
respecting the condition Of Dickinson, and
to say that the surgeon attending himself
would be glad to contribute his aid toward
Mr.. Dickinson's relief Polite reply was
returned that Mr. Dickinsons case wns
past surgery, In the course of the day.
General Jackson sent bottle Of wine to
Doctor Calet, for the use ofhis patient
! But there was one qualification which
Jackson. could not; even in such circum-
stances, grant him A very old friend Of.
Gen Jackson's writes to me thus:
Although the General had been wouu
ded. he did not desire il should be known
untilhe had left the noiglborhood, and