The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1873-06-27
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Mansfield 7. WalvUth by Ia s6r
recalls thc E,7-vof Abraham r;r-
| eoln's duel. T1a mother Of Fra1l-
HslT0-th IS the daughter OF C5,oual
John J. EaIGi1, who saved Il lin
coin ron the -C-o-se which v-oulf
have ovcrshadoEed his life i he hsd
killed General Shields. Co-oca. I{sr5.
in was promiEcre Wig rc....e,sr.
and Ess esteemed "t'-s hrsTes. nan
in Illinois" He v.s killed as tbe
battle Of BCe1a Visits, Srd IN l;s
death fairly earned the distraction
Slsch his admiring friends bad giv-
en- him while living. III. L.acC.n
was his intimate friend, and both
men were gifted with : lsrge sense
of humor which they turned 60 good
account.
The hostile meeting between 8ir.
Lincoln and General Shields Was
brought shout in this way; y %it-
ty young lady wrote 3 communication
for one OF the Springfield papers, in
which there were severa passages
which the General was pleased to
consider as personally offensive. He
was testy Irishma1, who had
grest deal Of troublesome Gigrity,
and could never spprecis.e 8 JOKE at
his own expense. He forthwith went
to the newspaper Ctiice and Ccmaad-
ed the name OF the correspondent,
and, being refused, he gave tie edi-
tor three days in which 20 make up
his mind, either to refer him 60 the
writer, CT to take whipping himself.
The poor man was greatly distressed.
He did not like to be guilty OF the TN
gallant act of betraying bis lady cor
respondent, and he did not care 20
have fight with General Shields, who
was q much stronger man. n this
dilemma he came @ EIE. Linco.a saG
told him OF his trouble. The l8EEer
took the matter into confederation,
but he could think OF no s:rstagem
for the relief of his friend. at Isst
he said to him, "When Shields cCEes
around with his club, tel him Abe
Lincoln wrote the letter" The edi-
tor acted upon the suggestion, and
when the irate politician appeared,
ready to carry his thfG&- into execu-
ton, he was politely requested to
call upon Abraham Lincoln for satis-
faction.
This put 4 new face on the matter.
General Shields knew better tlau 20
come fooling about Nr. Lincoln With
his cane. He was 81 this time . great,
lODg-armed, muscular fellow, good
natured, but resolute, and when aHa
occasion demanded he could Geai
such blows with lis fists .bsa made
his antagonists think that -al!-sr.it-
ting was his pGsJIme. L ho bad
been attacked by General SA.eios,
snd had supposed that It would a--
anything to the humC- Of the E-l.,
he would hsve bent his assistant over
his knee and administered puEisl--
ment after the manner o. cOGscjel-
tiOus mothers. Bat G.-ar 80 lis
threatening and biUster, Ce2CFa.
Shields could not back OF. wi.hout
subjeeting himself % tha r;dicu'e Of
his tOwnsmeD, so he concluded Co
challenge Mr. Lincoln. The cla..1aaa
was accepted, but totho aisUa- ci
the challenger Abraham named lc-r
swords as the weapons. He had Le
skill in the use o. the sword, t-s
with iremedUous reacG Of arm g-1
great muscular strength nc would
have cut eff General ShiG,a'a heed
before he got himself into position
for one Of his scientific thrusts.
The time and place Of meeting
we're agreed upon. Mr.. Lincoln went
to the ground early with his second,
and there being some bushes IL the
plat selected for the fight, he &C: 10
work to clear them away with the
hatchet. While he was engaged az
this, other gentlemen came on the
field, and they were so struck with
the ludicTous scene that they could
not refrain from laughing. just
then Colonel Hardin appesraG, and
appreciated the humorous eilaa.ion,
he appealed to the partics not % make
fools of themselves, wish such Cltac.
that they went home without fight
ing. lIr. Lincoln often afterwards
said that his participation il tais a.
fair was the meanest act Of his lie.
Colonel Hardin, although = y1.C--
maker on this occasion, was s. man -
great courage and most ch,va.rcas
bearing. At the breaking ont o. tho
Mexican war he Has pus IN command
of the First Illinois Volunteers, &n6
died on the field Of Buena Eis,5, o.
stated.