Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1868-01-14
From the Land We Lowell
General jackson His Duel with Dick
erSon.

deemed it right to forward TO you leaI OF
my sScrap- book, /" before some accident might
render impossible its appearance in print
1t is the duel of General jackson and Dick
erson, the details of which l received from
the lips of DR.. James Overton, a man of fine
erudition and brilliant parts, who, in spite OF
the fact that the life-long torments OF dys
pepsia incapacitated him for any active parts
cipation in public affairs may justly be cousid-
cred the father of the Nashville and Chatta-
nooga railroad. He came to Tennessee in
1918, and settled in Neely's Bend of Cum
berland river, opposite to the Hermitage
Being Democrat and gentleman, he was
a frequent and welcome visitor at the house
of the hero of New Orleans. He died two
years ago, an octogenarian, in full possession
of all his strong and mental faculties. Gen.
jackson was never communicative upon the
subject OF his duel, and the Doctor related
it to me as he heard it Of his own uncle,
General Thomas Overton, neighbOr and bo-
som friend as we'll as second in this affair of
Old Hickory.
General Jackson and Dickerson's father
in-law had some misunderstanding, probably
about horses and horse>racing. The son-in-
law undertook to resent tie atfront. He, al
ready good shot, repaired to Natchez, and
spent there six months, his chief employ
menL DeInS pTacLlce Will plSlOl. 1lelulu-
ing to Nashville, Dickerson dispatched one
of his friends to jackson with a letter ex-
tremely abusive of the General, and reflect
ing on the virtue of his beloved wife. The
messenger stated that if the General would
not reply with challenge, the letter would
be published in the newspapers. The chal-
lenge was sent. Colonel Archibald Overton
who was brother to the doctor, and who at
that time studied law in General Jackson's
office, saw the instruction given to the Sec
ond, Gen. L. Overton. 1t concluded in these
words, "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 !;
for, among other facts to give it publicity,
Dickerson offered $500 as bet that he would
kill his antagonist. Jackson's and T. Over
toms families had no knowledge whatever of
the affair. On the appointed day, Generals
jackson and Overton, without saying word
or creating any suspicion about the aim of
their journey, started for the rendezvous
Dickerson was not on the ground, and they
waited a considerable time before he and his
second arrived. General Overton who was
as imperious as Caesar, and as stormy as
tempest, walked up to receive them: "Gen-
tlemen, why did you let US wait so long or
| is it your manners to let old men wait for
young ones Z"
His policy was to confuse Dickerson, but
he could not succeed. "Dickerson was one
of the bravest of men, and his handling of
the pistol the most skilful have ever seen,"
were the words of General Overton, which
assertion, coming from one who passed through
the seven years of the revolution without a
furlough, and who, on account of the un-
Just attack upon his friend, forever hated the
manages far to establish the unquestiona-
BILE 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 Dickson's first fire; and
to guard against General jackson firing too
soon, it was agreed that his double spring
pistol should not be sprung.
General Overton threw up, who, according
to his own acknowledgment, could, at plea
sure, turn up head or tail. The lot of giving
command naturally fell upon him, and he
| ordered the two antagonists to their respec~
tive pegs. The terms were: "to stand with
heads down, and arms close to the body until
the word fire." While in expectation for the
word, General Overton saw, or imagined that
Dickerson, who seemed very anxious to fire,
move his right arm, whereupon he stepped
up to him, took hold of both his arms and, in
| stentorian voice ex claimed: "Mr. DicGerson!
| keep your arms still, sir, and remember the
terms of this duel" Then quickly gave the
word. Dickerson fred, and General Overton
knew his principal was wounded, because he
saw the dust fly from his coat jackson
instantly cried out General, can not spring
my pistol" whereupon the latter, more vehe-
ment than ever, turned upon him with,
! ''Spring your trigger, G-d-n it'll" jack
son did so, and Dickerson was shot dead.
Many years after, DR.. Overton asked his
uncle 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 violent language toward General Jack
son. The answer Of the old soldier was, that,
according to his personal experience, wound
ed man does not, for a few seconds feel his
hurt SO much as to disable him to master his
actions; but if these few seconds fly by, the
chance of retaliation is over. He wanted,
with his storming, to awaken all Jackson's
energies.
A few years before General Jackson's DEATH
Dr. Overton happening to ride with him in
his buggy, from Tyree Springs to Nashville,
| on the road they were conyersing about this
! duel with Dickerson, and the old hero un-
covered his bosom to show the wound receiv-
ed in the encounter. "Why General, it
seems to me you must have stood very badly
to receive such wound, +" remarked the doc
tor The old man became silent, and did not
recur any more to the subject.
n. B. The fatherin-law of Dickerson was
Erwin, and his second in the duel DIR. Cat
tal.. spell the name according to DR.. James
Overton's way Dickerson, and not Dickin>
son, as it is written by others.
"A passenger train was fred into by ne
groes on Saturday night last, between Co.
lumbia and Branchville, South Carolina
No one was hurt, but to allay public appre-
C.. q q L