The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1873-07-01
a 5raham LincoIn's Duel,
a FORGOTTEN INCIDENT RECALLED pr TIE
wALwoRrIt TRAGEDY.

a FORGOTTEN INCIDENT RECALLED DY Til
wALwoRru TRAGEDY.
Strangely enough, tho murder of Ma ~
dcld I. Walworth by his son recalls tn,
story of Abraham Liucou's duel. Th,
mother Of Frank Walworlh is the daugh
ter Of Col. John j Hardin, who savet
Nr. Lincoln from the rcmorsc which
"ouid nave overssadowed his life if h,
had killed Gen. Shields. Col. Uard;r
was prominent whig politician. and w =.
esteemed the e bravest man in Illino,s !,
ila Was killed at the battle Of Buen,
Vista, and in his death fairly earned tn,
distinction which his admiring friends
had give him while living. Mr.. Liucolt
was his intimate friend, and both mcr
were gifted with a large sense Of humor
which they they turned to good account
The hostile meeting Of Mr.. Lincoln ard
Geaoral Shields was brought about 10
this way A witty young lady wrote q
communication for one Of the Springfield
papers, in which there we're several pas ).
ages which the General was pleased to
cousidcr ny personally offinsive. lie was
testy Irshnan, who had great deal
OF troublesome dignity, and could never
appreciate joke at his own expense. lie
went iorth.with to tho newspaper off ce
and demanded the name of the cores.
poudent, and, this bsing refused, he gave
the editor three day in which to make no
his mind. either to refer him to the writ.
er or to take a whipping himself The
poor man was greatly distressed. He did
not like to he guilty Of the un gallant act
oi hetrayius his lady contributor, aud he
did not care to have d sht with Gen
Shields, who was much stronger man
Ia this lilcmmt. he came to Mr.. Lincoln
aud told him OF hi, tro1olc. The lawyer
took tho matter into consideration, luz
he could think Of uo stratag IN for the re.
ilc' ot his friend AT last he said to him,
" When Stieid' cories around with hi,
club, tell him that Abe Lincoln wrote tn
letter The editor acted upon the sus.
gesIinn, aud, when the irate politician aI,.
pear"d, ready to carry his threat into ex.
ecution he was politely requested to call
upon Abraham Lincoln for satisfaction.
Tas rut ii new face upon the matter,
Gen. Snolds knew better than to come
I"oling about Mr.. l. ucolu with his cane.
lie was at the time u great, long armed,
mus ;ular fellow, good natured, but reso.
lutO, unI when the occasion demanded he
could deal such blows with his fists as
made bis antagonists think that rail.spit.
ting was his pastiInc. II he had been at.
tackled by Gen. Shields. and had suppos-
ed that it would add anything to the hu.
nor Of the & sht, he wonld have bent his
assalant over his knee and administered
punishment after the manner Of conscien.
tous mothers. But after all his threaten.
ing aud blu,ter Gen. Shield, could not
back out without suhjectiug himself to the
rdicule OF his townsincn, 50 he concluded
to challenge Mr. Liucoln. The challenge
waa accepted, but to the great. disnay OF
the challenger. Abraham named long
swords as the weapons. i!o had no skill
in the use OF the sword. but with his tire. ,
mendous reach OF arm aud great muscu.
ar strength he would cut oil Cen Shield.
head before he got himself into position
Ior one Of his scientific thrusts.
The tme aud place Of meeting wero
agreed upon. Mr. Lincoln went to the
ground early with his second, aud there
being some bushes in the plot selected for
the fight, he set at work to clear them
away with a hatchet. While he was ell .
gagged at this, other gentlemen came on
the field, and they were so struck with
tho ludicrous scene that they could not
refrain from laughter. Just then Col
Hardin appeared, and, approaching the
humorous situation, he appealed to both
parties not to nuke fools of themselves
with such effect that they went home ;
without f .hing. Mr. Liucoln often said
that his participation in ihi,
III ir was the meanest act OF his life.
Col. Hardin although peacemaker Oh
this occasion, was mau Of great courage
aud ;hivalrou- bearing. At the breaking
out Of the Mexican war he was put in
command OF the 1t Illinois volunteers,
and died on the battlefield Of Bueua Wis
Ia. Us already stat. d.