Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1873-07-28
ABRAHAM LINCOLN,S DUEL,
FORGOTTEN INCIDENT RECALLED BY
THE WALWORTH TRAGEDY.

FORGOTTEN INCIDENT RECALLED BY |
THE wALwoRTH TRAGEDY
Strangely enough, the murder of
Mansfield T. Walworth by his son, re-
calls the story of Abraham Lincoln's
duel The mother of Frank Walworth
is the daughter Of Col. John. J. Hardin.
who saved Mr.. Lincoln from the remorse
which would have overshadowed his life
if he had killed Gen. Shields. Col.
Hardin was a prominent whig politician
and was esteemed '.The bravest man in
Illinois. He was killed at the battle
Of Buena Vista, and his death fairly
earned the distinction which his admir-
ing friends had given him while living.
Mr.. Lincoln was his intimate friend,
and both men were gifted with a large
sense of humor, which they turned to
good account.
The hostile meeting between Mr.. Lin
coin and Gen. Shields was brought about
this way A witty young lady wrote a
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, who had a great
deal of troublesome dignity and could
never appreciate a joke at his own ex-
pense. He forthwith went to the news
paper office and demanded the name of
the correspondent, and, this being refus-
ed, he gave the editor three days in
which to make up his mind, either to
refer him to the writer or take whip
ping himself. The poor man was greatly
distressed. He did not like to be guilty
Of the ungallant act of betraying his
lady correspondent, and he did not care
to have fight with Gen. Shields, who
was much stronger man. In this di-
lemma he came to Mr. Lincoln and told
him of his trouble. The lawyer took
the matter into consideration, but he
could think of no stratagem for the re-
lief of his friend At last 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 irate
politician appeared, ready to carry his
threat into execution, he was politely
requested to call upon Abraham Lincoln
This put new face on the matter.
Gen. Shields knew better than to come
fooling about Mr.. Lincoln with his cane.
He was at that time great, long armed,
muscular fellow, good-natured but re-
solute, and when the occasion demanded,
he could deal such blows with his fists
as made his antagonists think that rail-
splitting was his pastime. If he had
been attacked by Gen. 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 ad-
ministered punishment after the manner
, of conscientious mothers. But after all
his threatening and bluster Gen. Shields
could not back out without subiecting
himself to the ridicule of his townsmen,
, so he concluded to challenge Mr.. Lin
coin. The challange was accepted, but
to the great dismay of the challenger
! Abraham named long swords as the
7 weapons He had no skill in the use Of
the sword, but with his tremendous reach
f of arm and great muscular strength, he
n would have cut off Gen. Shields heac
: before he got himself into position fol
, one of his scientific thrusts.
! The time and place of meeting wer,
: agreed upon. Mr.. Lincoln went to tn,
|. ground early with his second, and ther
- being some bushes in the place selected
: for the fight. he set to work to clea
4 them away with hatchet. While h
IS was engaged at this, other gentlemen
l. came on the field, and they were so strucl
o with the ludicrous scene that they coul
r. not refrain from laughter. Just the
|. Col. Hardin appeared, and, appreciatin
s the humorous situation, he appealed t
q both parties not to make fools of them
% selves, with such effect that they wen
home without fighting. Mr.. Lincol
% often said afterward that his participa
l. tion in this affair was the meanest az
"a of his life.
re Col. Hardin, although peacemake
u on this occasion, was a man of gre;
r courage and chivalrous bearing. At til
no breaking out of the Mexican war he wa
If put in command of the lst Illinois vo
v unteers, and died on the battle field
or Buena Vista, as already stated.
ed A little five year old in Norwich, Ct
st was told by her fond and loving fath