The Shasta courier., 1868-12-19
COU RIER.
The Meeting Between General jackson and
Mr.. DickersOn.

Ihe Following details Oh the uuel between
Andrew Jackson and Mr.. Dickerson were re-
lated by DR.. James Overton, an old resident
of Tennessee. recently deceased. Gen. Jack
son was never communicative upon the sub
ject of this duel, and the doctor related it as
he heard it from his own uncle, General
Thomas Overton, a neighbor and bosom friend,
as well as second in this affair, of Old IIick.
ory;
Gen. Jackson and Dckerson's father in
law, named Erwin, had some misundertsand-
ing, probably about horses and horse racing.
The son-in law (Dickerson). undertook to re-
sent the affront. He, already good shot,
| repaired to Natchez, and spent there six
months, his chief employment being practice
with pistol. Returning to Nashville, Dick
erson despatched one of his friends to Jack.
son, with letter extremely abusive of the
General, and rejecting on the--virtue of his
beloved wife.
The messenger stated that if the General
would not reply with a challenge, the letter
| would be published in the newspapers. The
| challenge was sent. Col. Archibald Overton,
who was q brother to the relator of these par
| ticulars, and who at that time studied Claw
IN General Jackson's Office, saw the letter OF
| instructions given to the Generals second,
General L. Overton. 1t concludes in these
words: j." Accept no apology; nothing but
his blood will satisfy me-"
Time and place were appointed, and the
| affair, it seems, was well known in Nashville
1or, among other facts to give it publicity.
Dickerson offered $500 as bet that he would
kill his antagonist. Jackson's family had no
knowledge whatever of the affair. On the
appointed day, General jackson and OveIton,
MI hnuf
plclon about the aim of their journey, started
TOR the rendezvous. Dickerson and his sec.
ond, DR.. Cattal, were not on the ground, and
they waited considerable time before they
arrived. General Overton, who was as i'm
perious as Caesar, and as stormy as a tempest,
walked up to receive them: Gentlemen,
why did you let US wait so long; or is it your
manners to let old men wait for young ones ?''
His policy was to confuse Dickerson, but
he could not succeed. Dickerson was one
of the brayest of men, and his handling of
the pistol the most skilful have ever seen, "
were the words of General Overton, which
assertion, coming for one who passed through
the seven years of the Revolution without a
furlough, and who. on account of the unjust
attack upon his friend, forever hated the
man, goes far to establish the unquestionable
bravery of Jackson's opponent.
The next policy of General Overton was to
gain the power of giving the word, and the
third to extract Dickerson's first fire. To
guard against General Jackson's firing too
soon, it was agreed that his double-sprlng
pistol should not be sprung.
General 0verton threw up; who, accord.
ing to his own acknowledgment, could at
pleasure turn up head or tail The lot of
giving command naturally fell upon him. and
he ordered sthe two antagonists to their re-
spective pegs. The terms were: " To stand
with hands down, and arms close to the
body, until the words fire. While in expec-
tation for the word, General Overton saw or
imagined that Dickerson, who seemed very
anxious to fire, moved bis right arm where
upon he stepped up to him, took hold of both
bis arms, and in a stentorion voice exclaimed !:
Mr.. Dckerson, keep your arms still, and
remember the terms of the duel |" Then he
quickly gave the word. Dickerson fred, and
General Overton knew his principal was
wounded, because he saw the dust iy from
his coat. Jackson, after aiming, Instantly
cried out. g General, | cannot srng nv
pistol p Whereupon the latter, more vehe-
ment than ever. turned upon him with
Spring your trigger, Cd d-n itlD Jack
son did so, and Dickerson was shot dead.
Many years after, DIR. 0verton asked his
uncle, General Overton, whether Dickerson
really moved his arm, or he only imagined it
moved The old man, upon his word of
honor, declared that he could not tell "And
why did you use such language toward Gen.
jackson ?" The answer Of the old soldier
was that, according to personal experience,
wounded man does not for few seconds
feel his hurt so much as to disable him to
master his actions; but if these few seconds
pass by, the chance of retaliation is over
He wanted. with his storming, to awaken all
Jackson's energies.
few years before General Jackson's
death, DR.. Overton happened to ride with
him In bis buggy from Tyree Springs to Nash
vile. On the road they were conversing
about this duel with Dickerson, and the old
hero uncovered his bosom to show the wound
received IN the encounter. "Whv General.
1t seems to me you must have stood very
badly to receive such asswound," remarked
the Doctor. The old man became silent, and
did not recur any more to the subject.