The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1871-07-15
The Desperate Duel Between
jackson and Dickinson.

positions. aud Jackson's the Office of
giving the word. The astute Overton
considered Ibis giving the word a mat
ter of great Importance, and he had al
ready determined how he would give Il,
if the lot fell to him. The eight PAGES
were measured of, and the men placed
both were perfectly collected. All the
politeness Of such occasions was strict
ly and elegantly performed. Jackson
was dressed IL loose frock coat, but
toned carle4sly over his chest, and con-
cealing in some degree the extreme
slenderness of his figure. Dickinson
was the younger and handsomer man of
the two. But Jackson's tall, erect
figure, and the intensity of his demean-
or, it is said, gave him a m, 6 superior
commanding air, as be stood under the
tall poplars on this bright May morn
ing. silentl y awaiting the moment of
doom.
Are yoa ready" said Overton.
Il am ready said Dickinson.
IL am ready" said jackson.
The words were no sovner pronounced,
than OVergon with u sudden shout,
using his cid country pronunciation,
cried. Fire.
Dickinson raised his pistol quickly
and fired. OTerton. who was looking
with anxiety and dread at Jackson.
saw apnff If dust fly from the breast
of his coat. and saw him raise his left
hand. and place it tightly across his
chest. he is surely hit, thought
Overton, and in bad place too, but be
does not fall. Erect and grim as fate
he stood, his teeth clinched, and raised
his pistol. OVerton glanced at Dick
inson. Amazed atthe unw"nted failure
of his aim. and appalled, at the awful
figure and face before him, Dickinson
had uncons ciously recoiled a pace or
two. Great God" he falcered, "have
| missed himi"
Back to the mark, SIR" Numbered
Overton, with his hand upon his pistol.
Dickinson recovered his composure,
stepped forward TO the peg, and stood
with his eyes averted fir, m his antac
onist. All this was but the work of a
moment, though it requires many
words to tell it.
jackson took deliberate aim, and
pulled the trigger. The pistol neither
snapped nor went off. He looked at
the trigger and discovered it had stop
ped at half cock. He drew it back 10
its place and took aim second time.
He fired, Oickinson's face blanched;
he reeled; his friends rushed forward
and caughz him in their arms and gent
ly seated him on the grass, leaning
against a hush; his tfowsers Redeemed.
They stripped off his clothes. The ball
passed through below the ribs. Such
q wound could not be but fatal.
Oyerton went forward and learned
the condition of the wounded man Re
joining his principal, he said:
lie wont want any more of you,
General" and conducted him from the
ground. They had gone a hundred
yards, Overton walking on one side OF
Jackson, the surgeon on the other,
when the surgeon observed that one
of Jackson's shoes was filled with
| blood.
"Oh, believe, said Jackson, that
he pricked me little. Let's look at
it. But say nothing about it there
pointing To- the house
| He opened his coat. Dickinson's
aim had been perfect. He sent the
ball precisely where he supposed Jack
sons heart was beating. But the thin
ness of his body, and the iooseness Of
his coat CO nbining to deceive Dickin
son, the ball had only broken a rib or
two, and raked the breast bone. Ii
was somewhat painful, bad looking
wound. bu neither severe nor danger
Gus, and he was able to ride to the tav-
ern without much Inconvenience.
Upon approaching the house, he went
to one of che negro women who was
churning, and asked if the butter had
come. She said it was coming. He
asked for some buttermilk,-while she
was getting t for him, she observed
him furtively open his coat and look
within. Sle saw his shirt was soaked
with blood and she stood gazing with
blank horror at the sight. dipper in
hand. He caught her eye and hastily
buttoned ~ his coat again. She dip
ped out q hart measure fu of butter
milk, and gave it to him. He dtank it
off at dra lght. then went in and took
his coat and had his wound carefully
examined aud dressed. That done he
dispatched one of his retinue to DR..
Catlet, to inquire respecting the con
dition of Dickinson, and to say that
the surgeur attending himself would
be glad TO sender his aid to Mr.. Dick
inson's relief Polite reply was re-
turned that Dickinsun's case was be-
yond surgery. In the course of the
day jackson sent bottle Of wine to
DIR. Catlet, for the use of his patient.
But there was one qualification that
jackson could not, even in such cir
cumstances. grant him. A very old
friend of jtckson's writes to me thus:
Although the General had been wound
ed. be did not desire it to be known un