The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1869-02-05
A FAMOUS DUEL.
The Meeting Between Gen. Jackson an
Mr. Dickerson.

The following details of the duel
between Andrew Jackson and Mr.
Dickerson we're related by DR. james
Overton, an old resident of Tennessee
recently deceased. Gen. Jackson wal
never communicative upon the sub
ject of this duel, and the doctor re
lated it as he heard it from his owl
uncle, Gen. Thos. Overton, a neigh
Dor and q bosom friend as well as &
second iu this affair of old Hickory.
Gen. Jackson and Dickerson's faith
er in law, named Erwin, lad some
misunderstanding, probably about
horses and horse-racing. The son-in-
law (Dickerson) undertook to resen
the affront. He, already good shot
repaired to Natchez, and spent there
six months, his chief employment be-
ing practice with pistol. Returning
to Nashville, Dickerson dispatched
one of his friends to Jackson with o
letter extremely abusive of the Gen
eral, and rejecting ON the virtue OF
his beloved wife.
The messenger stated that if the
General would not reply with chal-
lenge, the letter would be published
in the newspapers. The challenge
was sent. Col. Archibald Overton
who was brother of the relator ol
these particulars, and who at that
time, studied law in Gen. Jackson's
office, saw the letter of instruction
given to the Generals second, Gen.
7. 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 family
had no knowledge whatever of the
affair. On Tie appointed day Gen.
Jackson and Overton, without saying
a word or creating any suspicion
about the aim of their journey, start
ed Sor the rendezvous. Dickerson
and his second, DR.. Cattal, were not
on the ground, and they waited q
considerable time before they arriv.
ed. Gen. Overton, who was as i'm.
perious as Cesar, and as stormy as 8
tempest, walked up to receive them
"Gentlemen, why did you let us wal
so long; or is it your manners to le'
old men wait for young ones ?"
J His policy was to confuse Dicker
son, but he could not succeed. ''Dick
erson was one of the brsvest Of meI
and his handling of the pistol the
most skillful have ever seen," were
the words of Gen. Overton, which
assertion, coming from one who had
passed through the seven years of the
Revolution without furlough. and
who, on account of the unjust attach
upon his friend, forever hated the
man, goes far to establish the unques
tionable bravery of Jackson's oppo
nent.
The next policy of Gen. Overtor
was to gain the power of giving the
word, and the third to extract Dick
erson's first fire. To guard against
Gen. Jackson's firing too soon, it was
agreed that his double-spring piste
should not be sprung.
Gen. Overton threw up-who, &C
cordIng to his own acknowledgment
could at pleasure turn up head or tail
The lot of giving command naturally
fell upon him, and he ordered the two
antagonists to their respective pegs.
The terms were: "To stand with
hands down, and arms close to the
body, until the word "fire" While
in expectation for the word, General
Overton saw, or imagined that Dick
erson, who seemed very anxious to
fire, moved his right arm T; whereupon
he stepped up to him, took hold of
both his arms, and in q stentorian
voice exclaimed: "Mr. Dickerson,
keep your arms still, sir, and remem-
ber the terms of the duelp' Then he
quietly gave the word. Dickerson
fired, and Gen. Overton knew his
principal was wounded, because he
saw the dust fly from his coat. Jack
son. after aiming, instantly cried out !:
General, l can't spring my pistoli"
Whereupon the latter, more vehe-
ment than ever, turned upon him
with "Spring YOUR trigger.