The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1867-08-06
n. - q 81 Iannln -

We End ihe folluoiag 81 the San
Francsueo BULLETIN. from . ooyre-
pondeat
A. tie time alluded II Gen. Shiclds.
Mr. Lincoln and Mari Todd, the af-
famed Il MF. Lincoln, wcrc all rest
dents az Springfield. Gen. Shields
had inst returned From the Mexican
war. iIis publie On private life bad
not been Il the highest standing, bat
being ~ = haurhiy uafare, and look
inx With some degree u disiain upon
"Honesf Abe. hs sought On one &C
caaion 10 force Miss Todd 90 accepi
his company. during which time
some thing occurred which gave her
great offence. She wrote q severe
and sarcastic article, accompanied by
8 piece q poetry, all Of which was a
most scaihing and cutting rebuke 10
General Shields. and handed Il TO Mr
Lincoln 10 have il Published in the
Springfield paper. Mr.. Lincoln hesi-
tated a little. bat having confidence
IN hiS judgement and good sence 10
manage such an affair, hc took il 10
the editor, snioined tho strictest Sc
crcsy, and il was published. IL was
labored comment upon much Of
Shields public as well as private ca
reer, and be writhcd like a chained
tiger under the goad. Although
his name Was not mentioned, every
thing pointed directly 10 him, and he
sought BY every means 20 find out
the authors name. AT last he threat
ened the editor with immediate pros
ccuiion ifhc did not Disclose il to him
and gave him bat short time for a
reply.
The editor went to Mr.. Lincoln's
Office, laid the whole matter before
him and asked his advice. Mr.. Lin
coin sat moment in deep study, and
then, with his Characteristic GOODNESS
said: ''TeIl Shields Abe Lincoln
wrote that article" The editor re-
paired 10 his office, where he found
Shields In waiting, and when he
heard the information, vowed ven
gence upon the country pettifoger."
Mr.. Lincoln waited the result with a
good deal Of anxiety, expecting per
sonal encounter pith Shields the first
time met, but instead he Immediately
received challenge to fight duel
This was unexpected TO Dir. Lincoln
but not doubling his ability TO still
bring the matter TO pleasant issue,
he proceeded with the affair. But |
viii use bis own language in relating
1t afterwards. He said: III thought
if should fail, after leading the Gen
along as far as | conld on his road Of
honor and Shields being small
man and very tall with exceedingly
long arms, thought sword would
serve me as well as anything, and
chose long swords as the weapons.
Everything being arranged. the
parties met, and when the final issue
was about to come, Shields being per-
fectly incorrigible and Mr.. Lincoln
seeing there was no other alternative
looked Shields earnestly in the face
and said
Shields, do you want to know
who wrote that article n
"Did you do il ? said Shields.
"No, Mary Todd wrote it" said
Mr.. Lincoln, with a smile upon his
countenance.
The friends present burst into a
roar of laughter, joined by Mr.. Lin
coin. In few moments Shields step
ped forward, gave Dir. Lincoln his
hand, and joined in the merriment.
Tus ended Dir. Lincoln's duel. He
soon had an interview with Mary
Todd, who had known nothing of the
affair, relating the circumstances to
her, and sought herpardon for finally
disclosing her name. OF course he
was forgiven. To Shields the affair
was ever afterward annoying, but to
Mr.. Lincoln, viii his quick sense of
the ridiculous and the nice apprecia-
ton Of humor 10 characteristic of the
man, the whole affair was ever
laughable one when referred TO in
after years.