Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1871-05-11
The Desperate Duel Between Jack
son and Dickinson,

The Desperate Duel Between Jack
son and Dickinson.
The famous duel between jackson
and Dickinson is generally known,
but Parton's Life of the former gives
an excellent account Of the affair,
with some circumstances that are
new.
Dickinson's second won the choice
of positions, and Jacksons the Office
of giving the word. The astute
Overton considered this giving the
word matter of great Importance,
and he he'd already determined now
he would give it, if the 10 fell to
him. The eight PAGES were meas
ured off, and the men placed; both
were perfectly collected. All the
politenessof such occasions was strict
l. and elegantly performed. Jackson
was dressed in loose irocls coat, out
toned carelessly over his chest: and
conccaling in some degree The eN-
irene meslenderness of his figure Dick
;nson Was the younger and hand
s2mer man Of the two. But Jack
sons tall, erect figure, and the inten-
sitv of his demeanor, it is said. gave
hin most superior commanding air.
rs he stood under the tall poplars or
;his bright May morning, silently
awaiting the moment Of doom.
Are you ready?" said Overton.
| am ready" said Dickinson.
9; | am ready" said Jackson.
The words were no sooner pro
nounced. than Overton, with sud
den shout, using his old country pro-
nnnciation, cried. Fire T.
Dickinson raised his pistol quickly
and fred. overton, who was looking
with anxiety and dread at Jackson,
}w q puff OF dust fly from the breast
of his coat; and saw him raise his
LETT hand, and place it tightly across
his chest. He is surely hit, though,
0verton, and in a bad place too. bai
re does not fall. Erect and grim as
fate he stood, his teeth clenched, and
raised his pistol. Overton glanced a;
dickinson. Amazed at the unwon-
ted failure OF his aim. and appalled,
& the awful figure and face before
him. Dickinson had unoonsciousiy
rccoiled pace OF two. Grea;.God =
he ial+ered have | missed him .
Back to the mark. sir. thuNder-
ed 0verton, with his hand fipon his
pistol.
Dickinson recovered his conpo-
sure, stepped forward to the peg, and
stood with his eyes averted from his
antagonist. All this was but the
work Of q moment, though it requires
many words 10 tell it.
Jackson tcol deliberate aim, and
pulled the trigger. The pistol Meth
er snapped nor went off. He looked
ut the trigger and discovered it had
stopped at half cock. lie drew it
back to its place and took aim u sec
ond time. He fired, Dickinson's face
blanched he recled his friends rush
ed forward and caught him in their
arms and gently seated him on the
9. lass, leaning against bush; his
trowsers reddened. They stripped |
off his clothes. The ball passed |
through below he ribs, Such a
wound could not be but fatal.
Overton went forward and learned |
The condition OF the wounded man
his principal, he said :
f" He won't want any more OF you.
General and conducted him from
the ground. They had gone an hun-
lred yards, overton walking on one
side of Jackson. the surgeon on the |
other, when the surgeon observed
that one Of Jacksons shoes was filed
with blood.
oh, 1 believe said Jackson,
. th 1t he pricked me a little. Lets
.ool at it, But say nothing about ii,
there" pointing to the house.
H. opened his coat. Dickinson
aim mad been perfect. He sent the
oall precisely where he supposed |
Jacl; o,ls heart was beating. But
,he ininness of his body and the
oosene OF his coat combining tode-
,eive Dickinson, the ball had only
broken q rib or two, ana rai1ed The
breast bone. 1t was a somewhat
painful, bad looking wound, utneith-
n severe nor dangerous, and be was
.bie 70 ride to the tavern without
much inconvenience. Upon approach
ng the house, he went to one of The
legro women who was churning, ans
.slSed if the butter had come. She
aid it was coming. He asked for
ome rmilk,-while she was ret
ing it for him, she observed MIA
urtively open his coat and look with
q. She saw his shirt was soaked
nth blood, and she stood gazing with
lank horror at the sight, dipper in
and. lie caught hereye and hastily
uttoned up his coat again: She
ipped onta quart measure full OF
uttermilk, and gave it to him. He
rank ;tsoEs ata draught, then went
/ and tooE;off his eoatr and had his
'oppd carefully examined, nd dress
That. done he diispyts1tcbed one Of
is fe$inae to Dr.. Catles tosinqmre
ssnee 1T Pse tondition.r2f I1ickInaon;