Weekly Trinity journal., 1873-07-05
ALMOST A DUEL.

Strangely enough, the murder of Mans
field L. Walworth by his son recalls the
story Of Abraham Lincoln's duel. The
mother of Frank Walworth is the daugh-
ter of Colonel John j. Hardin, who saved
Lincoln from tho remorse which would
have overshadowed his life if he had killed
General Shields. Colonel Hardin was a
prominent Wing politician, and was es-
teemed "the bravest man in Illinois,"
He was killed at the battle of Buena
Vista, and in his death fairly earned the
distinction which his admiring friends
had given him while living. Mr.. Lin
coin was his intimate friend, and both
men were gifted with large sense of
humor, which they turned to good ac-
count.
The hostile meeting between Mr.. Lin
coin 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 personally offensive.
He was testy Irishman, who had a great
deal of trouble, some dignity, and could
never appreciate joke at his own eX-
pensc. He forthwith went to the news
paper office and demanded the name of
the correspondent. 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 to take whipping himself.
The poor man was greatly distressed.
He did not like to be guilty of the ungal-
liant act of betraying his lady correspond
ent, and he did not care to have n fight
with Genera, Shields, who was a much
stronger man. In this dilemma he came
to Mr.. Lincoln and told him of his trou.
bic. The lawyer took the matter into
consideration, but he could think of no
stratagcm for the relief 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 for satisfaction.
This put new face on the matter.
Shields knew better than to come foolng
about Mr.. Lincoln with his cane. He
was Mt that time great, long-armed, +,
muscular fellow, good naturcd, but reso-
lutte, and when the occasion demanded
he could deal such blows with his fists as
made his antagonists think that rail-splt-
ting was his pastime. If he had been at
tackled by General Shields, and had sup
posed it would add anything to the humor
of the fight, he could have bent his as
sailant over his knees and administered
punishment after the manner Of eonscien-
tious mothers. But, after all his threat
ening and bluster, General Shields could
not back out without subjecting himself
to the ridicule of his townsmen, so he
concluded to challenge Mr.. Lincoln. The
challenge was accepted, but to the great
dismay of the challenger, Abe 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 him
self 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 en-
gagged 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 appeared, and appreciating the
humorous situation, 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 participation in this
affair was the meanest act OF his life.
Colonel Hardin, although a peace
maker on this occasion, was man of
great courage and most chivalrous bear
ing. At the breaking out of the Mexican
war he was put in command of the First
Illinois Volunteers, and died on the bat
tie field Of Buena Vista, as already stated.
baltimore american.