Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1871-05-27
Duel between jackson and Dick.
inSOn,

The famous duel between jackson and
Dickinson is generally known but Parton's
Life Of the former gives an excellant &C.
count Of the affair, with some circum.
stances that are new.
Dickinson's second won the choice oi
positions, and Jackson's the Office giving
tke word. The astuto Overton considered
this giving the word matter Of grea,
importance, and be had already determin
ed how he would give it, if the lot fell te
him. The eight PAGES were measured
of, and the men placed; they were both
perfectly collected. All the politeness oi
such occasions was strictly and elegantly
performed. jackson was dressed in q
loose frock buttoned carelessly over his
chest, and concealing in some degree the
extreme slenderness in his figure. Dick.
son was younger and handsomer man Of
the two. But Jackson's tall, erect figure,
and the intensity Of his demeanor, it is
said, gave a most superior commanding
air, as he stood under the tall poplars on
this bright May morning, silently awaiting
the moment of doom.
Are you ready said Overton.
Il am ready said Dickinson.
l am ready said Jackson.
The words were no sooner pronounced
than Ovcrton, with a sudden shout. using
his old country pronunciation, cried,
"FIRE!"
Dickinson raised his pistol quickly and
fired. Overton, who was looking with
anxiety and dread at jackson, saw puff
of 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 he does not fall Erect and grim
as fate lie stood his teeth c!enched. and
raised his pistol. Overton glanced at Dick
inson. Amazed at the unwonted failure
of his aim, and appalled, at the awful fig.
urc and face before him. Dickinson had
uncousiously recoiled pace or two.
Great God! he faltered have missed him.
Back to the mark, SIR thundercd
Overton, with his hand upon his pistol.
Dickinson recovered his composurc,
stepped forward to the peg. and stood with
his eyes avcrted from his antagonist. All
this was but the work of 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 stopped at half cock.
He drew it and took aim second. lie
fred Dickinson face blanched he reeled ];
his friends rushed forward and caught him
in their arms, and quite gently seated him
on the grass, leaning against bush.
His trowscrs Redeemed. They stripped off
his clothes. The ball had passed through
below the ribs. Such wound could not
be but fatal.
Overton went forward and learned the
condition of the wounded man. Rejoining
his principle he said: He won't want
any more Of you, General, and conducted
him from the ground. They had gone a
hundred yards, Overton walking Gu one
side of Jackson, and the surgeon on the
other; when the surgeon observed that
one of Jackson's shoes were filled with
blood.
ooh. I 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 He had sent the
ball precisely where he had supposed
Jackson's heart was beating. But the
thinness Of his body, aud the looseness of
his coat combining to deceive Dickinson,
the ball had only broken rib or two,
and raked the breast bone. It was some.
what painful bad looking wound, but nei-
ther severe nor dangerous, and he was
able to ride to the tavern without much
Inconvenience. Upon approaching the
house, he went to one OF the negro
women and asked if the butter had
come. She said twas coming. He asked
for some buttermilk. While she was get.
ing it for him, she observed him furtively
open his coat and look within. She saw
his shirt was soaked with blood, and she
stood gazing in blank horror at the sight,
dipper in hand. He caught her eye and
hastily buttoued up his coat again. She
dipped out quart measure full Of butter.
milk, and gave it to him. He drank it off
at draught, then went in and took of his
coat and had his wound carefully examined
and dressed. That done he dispatched
one of his retinue to DR.. Catlct, to enquire
respecting the condition of Dickinson, and
to say that the surgeon attended himself
would be glad to tender his aid to Mr..
Dickinson relief. Polite reply was re-
turpnd that Dicl enson's ease was beyOnd
surgery. In the course of the day Jack.
son sent bottle Of wine to DR.. Catlet for
the use Of his patient.
But there was one qualification that Jack
son could not even in such circumstances,
grant him. A very old friend of Jack
sons writes to me thus: Although the
General had been wounded, he did not de-
sire it to be known until he had left the
vicinity and therefore had concealed it first