Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-06-14
The Desperate Duel between jackson ana
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The Desperate Duel between jackson and
Dickinson. r..rs-3 @
The famous duel between Jackson and
Dickinson is generally known, but Parton's
life of the former gives an excellent account
of the sfiir with some circumstances that
are new. dEa t taa 'al lfa -
Diekinson's second won the choice Of po-
sition, and JaGksOn's the Office Of giving the
word. The astute 0verton considered this
giving Of the word matter of great import
ance, and he had already determined how be
would give it. 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 was strictly
and elegantly performed. Jackson was
dressed in loose frock coat buttoned care
lessly over his chest and eonoealing in some
degree the extreme slenderness Of his figure,
Dickinson was the younger and handsomer
man of the two. But Jacksons tall, erect
figure and the intensity Of demeanor, Il is
said, gave him a most superior commanding
air, as he stood under the tall pOplars on this
bright May morning, silently awaiting the
moment Of doom. So
care you ready o. said Overton
~ am ready said Dickinson.
81 am ready, said Jackson.
The words were no sooner pronounced,
than 0verton, with sudden shout, cried, US
ing his old country pronunciation, i'FERE y
Dickinson raised his pistol quickly and
fred. OvertOn, who was looking with ahxi-
ETY. and dread at jackson, saw a puff Of dust
fly from the breast of his coat, and saw him
raise his left arm, and place it tightly across
his chest. she is surely hit, thought Over
ton, sand in bad place too, but he does not
fall" Erect and grim as fate be stood, his
teeth clenched, raising his pistol. Overton
glanced at Dickinson. Amazed at the IN
wonted failure of his aim, and appalled, at the
awful figure and face before him, Dickinson
had unconsciously recoiled pace or two.
"Great GodP he faltered, have | missed
himT'
aBaek to the mark, sir p thundered 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
but the work of G moment though it requires
many words to tell it. Cd.
jackson took deliberate aim, and pulled
the trigger. The pistol neither snapped nor
went of. BE looked at the trigger and dis
covered that it had stopped at half cock
He drew it back to its place and took aim a
second time. He fired, Diekinsons face
blanched; he reeled; his friends rushed tow
ards, caught him in their arms and gently
seated him on the grass, leaning against a
bush. His trowsers Redeemed. They strip
ped of bis clothes. The blood was gushing
from his side in a torrent. And alasl here
is the ball, not near the wound, above the Op-
posite hip, just under the skin. The ball had
passed through the body below the ribs
Such a wound could not be but fatal.
0verton went forward and learned the con-
dition of the wounded man. Rejoining his
principal, he said 'iHe won't want anything
more Of you, General" and conducted him
from the ground. They had gone hundred
yards, 0Yerton walking on one side of jack
son, the surgeon on the other, and neither
speakinga word, when the surgeon observed
that one Of Jackson's shoes was filed with
blood.
"Oh I believe" replied jackson, ''thst he
has pricked me little. Let's look at it,
But say nothing about it there" pointing to
the house. .sii
He opened his coat. Dickinson's aim had
been perfect. he had sent the ball precisely
where he supposed Jackson's heart was beat
ing. But the thinness Of his body and the
lOOseness of his coat combining to deceive
| Dickinson, the ball had only broken rib or
two, and raked the breast bone. 1t was a
somewhat painful, bad looking wound, but
neither severe nor dangerous, and he was
able to ride to the tavern without much in
convenience. Upon approaching the house,
/ he went up to one of the negro women who
was churning and asked her if the butter had
come. She said it was Just coming. He
asked for some buttermilk While she was
| getting it for him, she observed him furtively
| open bis coat and look within IT, She saw
| his shirt was soaked with blood, and she
| stood gazing in blank horror at the sight, dip
| per in hand. He caught her eye, and hastily
| buttoned up his coat again. She dipped out
a quart measure full Of buttermilk, and gave
it to him. BE drank It of at draught then
went in, took of his coat, and had his wound
carefully examined and dressed. That done,
he dispatched one of his Tetinue 10 DR.. Cat
LET, to inquire respecting the condition of
Dickinson, and to say that the surgeon at
| attending himself would be glad TO contribute
L us hL4 AOMAIus OlShLlsOu IElAcls I OAAtS
reply was returned that Mr.. Dic1inson's case
was past surgery. In the course Of the day.
Gen, jackson sent bottle of wine to DR.. Cat
let, for the use of his patient. o
But there was one qualification which Jack
son could not, even in such circumstances
grant MIN. A very old friend of General
Jaekson's writes to me thus ALTHOUGH the
J General had been wounded, he did not desire
it to be known until he had left the neighbor-
hood, and therefore concealed 1t first from his
friends His reasons for doing this, as he at
once stated to me, was, that ss Dickinson con-
sidered himself the best shot in the world, and
was certain Of killing him the first fire. he
did not want him TO have the qualification
even Of knowing that he had touched him.
Riehmend Dsm0crnEic Convention.
The special dispatch from Richmond Of
the 18th to The Cincinnati Commercial says ::
The Convention has carefully avoided the
discussion Of their points of difference. The
Z - T. DIE H. i