New Orleans Republican., 1873-06-22
From the Baltimore Americana
President LinC oln,A Duel.

Strangely enough, the murder of Mans
! field T. Walworth by his son recalls the
story Of Abraham Lincol1s duel. The
mother of Frank Walworth is the daughter
OF Colonel John j. Hardin, who saved Mr.
! Lincoln from the remOrse which would
have overshadOwed his lite if he had killed
General Shields. The hostile meeting be-
tween Mr.. Lincoln and General Shields was
brought about in this way A witty young
lady wrote communication for one of the
Springfield papers, in which there were
several passages which the General was
pleased to consider as personally offensive.
He was testy Irishman, and had a great
deal of troublesome dignity, and could
never appreciate Joke at his own expense
He forthwith went to the newspaper office
and demanded the name of the correspond
ent. and this being refused, he gave the
EDITOR three days in which to make up his
mind either TO refer him to the writer or
take a whipping himself. The poor man
was greatly distressed. He did not like to
be guilty Of the ungallant act Of betra wing
his lady correspondent, and he did not care
to have fight with General Shields, who
was much stronger man. In this dilemma
he came to Mr.. Lincoln and told him of his
trouble. He said to him: "When Shields
comes around with his club, tell him that
Abe Lincoln wrote that letter. The editor
acted upon the suggestion, and when the
lrate politician appeared. ready to carry his
threat into execution, he was politely re-
quested to call upon Abraham Lincold for
satisfaction.
This put new face on the matter. Gen
eral Shields knew better than to come fool
ing about Mr.. Lincoln with his cane. He
was at that time great. long armed, mus
cular fellow, good-natured, bnt resOlute.
and when the occasion demanded he could
hnoI hlAvr ,ry,% 4, 20 %,ko L.
antagonist think that rail splitting was his
pastime. If he had been attacked by Gen
eral Shields. and had supposed that it
would add anything to the humOr of the
fight. he would have bent his assailant over
his knee and administered punishment after
the manner of cOnscien rious mothers
But, after all his treatening and buster.
General Shields could not back out with.
out suhjecting himself to the ridicule of
his tOwnsmen, so he concluded to chal-
lenge Mr.. Lincoln. The challenge was &C.
cepted, but to the great dismay OF the chal-
lenger. Abraham named long swords as
the weapons. He had no skill in the use of
the sword, but with his tremendous reach
OF arm, and great muscular strength. he
would have cut off General Shields head
before he got himself into position for one
of his scientific thrusts.
The time and place of meeting were
agreed upon. Mr.. Lincoln went to the
ground early with his second, and there
being some bushes in the plat selected for
the fight. he set to work to clear them away
with hatchet. While he was engaged at
this, other gentlemen came on the field, and
they were SO struck with the ludicrous
scene that they could not refrain from
laughter. just then Colonel Hardin ap.
peared. and approaching the humorous sit.
uation. he appealed to both parties not to
make fools of themselves. with such effect
that they went home without fighting Mr..
Lincoln often said afterward that his part.
cipatiOn in this affair was the ,neauest act
OF his life.