The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1871-10-13
Andrew JacksOn's Duel With Charles
Dickinson,


We find in southern exchange the
following account Of duel fought by
General Jackson with Charles Dickiu-
SON 1t took place May 30, 1906, at
Harrison'a Mills, on Rod river In Lo.
gan county, Kontuchy:
The place Of combat was long days
ride from Nashville, and the duelists
worc, consequently, Obliged t. start
twcnty.four hours previous. Dickinson,
beside his second, was accompanied on
the fatal journey by a number of gay
companions, who went out to see the
meeting and appeared to have cherish.
ed tho utmost confidence in tho proves
Of their friend. Tradition states that
Whenever the party stopped for refresh
mouts, Dickinson displayed his skill
with his weapon by shooting at mark
and so wonderfully accurate was his aim
that at the word of commend he put
four balls into a space covered by dol
lar, twcnty-lOur feet distant, At the
sanlr distance he repeatedly cut a small
string ruspcDdcd from tDugh, and
left 1t bcutul, with instruction to the
tavern fvcper TO show it to General
jackson tAo canc that way. 1t is also
) said tina! hc bet $500 he would hit his
j. enemy within half iuch of certain
g button Oh his coat. But whether these
= stories arc true or false, We know that
= Jackson and Ovcrton were employing
u themselves much more sensibly. Both
) were conscious that it was indeed to be
y a life and death affair, and they studied
the situation accordingly. Their delib'
% eraton5 resulted in Jaekson's deter
= mination to let Dickinson havo the first
fire and tako his chances for the second.
y lie felt perfectly confident that DICK
u inson would hit him, and equally con-
u fident that he would hit Dickinson. 81
should have hit him. said this iron
C man long afterward, "if he had shot
y me in the brain" The two parties
passed the night at different cabins on
'u the bank of the river, and Jackson 8
g reported to have taken hearty supper,
III smoked his usual pipe and INDUCED in
" cheerful conversation previous to retir-
As ing, Next morning before breakfast
X jackson and his friends were in the sad
UT die, and fording the shallow stream
IS proceeded to the appointed spot, level
piece of river bottom in the bosom OF
he - -. r .,,l,s, go, niol,inson was
r. equally prompt, and after exchanging
:" tho solutions business went on ut once.
le- The ground was met-iurcd, pegs driven,
IKE - . ,.I.o,.1 Aha. ,,fzt,l- Inodad. and
'tu all was ready but the word. inc CIV
ne ing Of this had been won by OVertoh'
'9S- and he shouted 1t out WIN INC strous
oh' old country accent" ERE! y Dlcklllson
10 raised his pistol quickly ana hreu
on the instant. The dust new Iroi., iD1,
irs' breast Of the loose fitting lroGN -
SEQ his left arm with tight grip across his
'fse chest; but ne neither staggered nor
TO turned pale. Dickinson. amazed at the
sipht of his foe still erect and apparent
vs." ly untouched, fell back n pace or two
,dit and exclaimed: "Grcat God have
eX- missed him?" Back to the mark
iere sir ~ said Overton, with hi. hand Oh
had his pistol. Dickinson resumed hi
he place, and stood firmly waiting the re
II OF suit. Jackson raised his weapon, tool
'Ies, deliberate aim, and pulled the trigger
dis 1t stopped al half cock. He cooke
'ghT again, again aimed as deliberately q
peio'o anu trS 'i'''o
ho,n lo"o"eN' "i''' io''..'C,' r.;,.,d
,oo,, "'e s'o"'''', we o''"s' aI,,,,,, Of -,
+rua anu '"tp0' to' ro,jdo,
been ell with blood and a brief examinatio
oIu' showed that the bal! haa passed. uArec
were ly tlp1ruh ihr lolV below the MP
want and lCGprd under the skin on the opp
res sito side from The Uoiut of cntranC