The Lambertville press. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1858-1???, 1861-04-17
Jackson's Duel with Dicken.
son.


the following grapic description of the
duel in which Charles Dickinson a
young lawyer of Tennessee, was killed
by Genaral Jackson in 1906.
Dickenson's second won the choice
of position, and Jackson's the Office
of giving the word. The astute Over
ton considered this giving of the word
a great matter of Importance, and he
already determined how he would give
it, if the lot fell to him. The eight
were measured off, and the men placed
Both were perfectly collected All
the politeness due on such an occa-
sion were very strictly and elegantly
performed. Jackson was dressed in a
loose frock coat, bottoned carelessly
over his chest, and conceaIlng, in some
degree, the extreme slenderness of his
figure. Dickinson was the Younger
and handsomer man of the two. But
Jackson's tall, erect figure, and the
grave demeanor, it is said, gave
him most superior and commanding
air, as he stood under the tall poplars
on the bright May morning waiting
the moment of DOOM
Are you ready ?" said Overton.
am ready" replied Dickinson.
am ready" said Jackson.
The words were no sooner pronoun-
ced than Overton, with a sudden
shout, cried, using his old-country
pronunciation, " FIRE"
Dickinson raised his pistol quickly
and fired: Ogertcn, who was looking
with anxiety and dread at Jackson,
saw puff of dust from the breast of
his coat, and saw him raise his left
arm and place it tightly across his
chest. He is surely bit thought Over
ton and in bad place too bnt no
he does not fall. Erect and grim as
fate he stood, his teeth clenched rails
ing his pistol. Overton glanced at
the unwonted failure of his aim, and
apparently appalled, at the awful fig
ure and face before him, Dickinson
had unconsciously recoiled a pace or
two.
Great God, " he faltered "I have
missed him."
Back to the mark sir ?" shrieked
Overton, with his hand upon his pis-
toll.
Dickinson recovered his eomposure,
stepped forward to the peg, and stood
with his eyes averted from his antago-
mist. All this was the work of mo-
ment; though it requires many words
to tell it, General jackson took de-
liberate aim, and pulled the trigger.
The pistol neither snapped nor went
off. He looked at the trigger, and
discovered that it had stopped at half
cock He drew it back to its place
and took aim the second time. He
fired Dickenson's face bIanched, he
reeled ; his friends caught MIN 10
their arms, and gently seated him
on the ground, leaning against a bush.
His trowsers Redeemed They strip
off Lis clothes The blood gushed
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 thro'
the body, below the ribs. Such a
wound could not but be fatal
Oyerton went forward and learned
the condition of the wounded man.
Rejoining his principal, he said He
wont want anything more of you Gen.
eral, and conducted him from the
ground. They had gone o hundred
yards, Overton walking on one side
of Jackson, the surgeon. on the other
and heither speaking word, when
the surgeon observed that one of
Jackson's shoes wa full of blood
"My God General Jackson, are
you hit ?" he exclaimed, pointing to
the blood.
o, | believe, replied Jackson, that
he has pinked me little. Let's look
at it. But say nothing about it there,
pointing to the house.
He opened his coat. Dickenson's
aim had been perfect. He had sent
the ball precisely wi ere he supposed
Jackson's heart was beating But
the thinness of his body, and the loos-
ness of his coat combining to deceive
Dickinson, the ball had only broken
rib or two, and raked the breast. It
was somewhat painful, bad looking
wound, but neither severe nor danger
ons, and he was able to ride to the
tavern without much inconvenience.
Upon approaching the house, he went
up to one ofthe negro women Who was
churning, and asked her if the butter
had come. She said it was just COM
ing. He asked her for some butter
milk While she was getting it for
him, she observed him furtively open
his coat and look within it. She saw
that his shirt was soaked with blood.