The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-05-06
The Duel Between jackson and Dick
inann.

tnBOns
The famous duel between jackson and
Dickinson is generally known, but Parton's
Life Of the former gives an interesting ac-
count of the affair with some circumstances
that are new:
Dickinson's second won the choice OF
positions, and Jackson's the office of giving
the word. The astute Overton considered
this giving the word matter of great i'm
portance and be had already determined
how he would give it, if the lot fell to him.
The eight PAGES were measured off, and
the men placed both were perfectly COL
lected. All the politeness of such occa-
sions was strictly and elegantly performed.
Jackson was dressed in loose frock
coat, buttoned carelessly over his chest,
and concealing 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 demeanor, it is said,
gave 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.
II am ready" said Dickinson.
II am ready" said jackson.
The word was no sooner pronounced,
than Overton, with sudden shout, using
his old country pronunciation, cried
"FIRE"
Dickinson raised his pistol quickly and
fred. Overton, who, 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 he
stood, his teeth clenched, and raised his
pistol. Overton glanced at Dickinson.
Amazed at the unwonted failure of his
aim, and appalled, at the awful figure and
face before him, Dickinson had uncon-
sciously recoiled a. pace or two.
"Great Godl" be faltered, shave l
missed him? ?"
"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 eye averted from his antagonist.
ALI this was but the work Of moment,
though it requires many words to tell it.
jackson took deliberate aim, and pulled
trigger. The pistol neither snapped nor
went off. He looked at the trigger, and
discovered it had stopped at half-cock =
He drew it back to its place and took aim
a second time. He fred Dickinson S
face blanched; he reeled his friends
rushed forward and caught him in their
arms and gently laid him on the grass,
leaning against bush. His trowsers red
dened. They stripped off his Clothes
The ball passed through below his ribs.
Sucha wound could not be but fatal.
Overton went forward to and learned
the condition of the wounded man. Re-
joining his principal he said ale won't
want any more of you, General" and con-
Quoted him from the ground. They had
gone an hundred yards, Overton walking
on one side of jackson, the other surgeon on
the other. when the surgeon observed that
one OF Jaeksoas shoes was filled with
blood.
"Ob, believe he pricked me little.
Let's look at it. But say nothing about it
there" pointing t. the house.
He opeEed his coat. Dckinson's aim
had been perfect. He had sent the ball
precisely where he had supposed Jackson's
heart was beating. But the thinness of