The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1874-08-06
OLD ntcKuRNts NERVE.
3ACKsoN's DUEL WIN DICKINSON a pEAn
SHOT WHO MISSED ufs MARK.

/ Dickinson was q promising young man
belonging TO a highly respectable family
in Nashville, and the junior Of jackson
[ by several years Attached to a different
and hostile faction, he imagined rival
ry where none really existed, aud being
in the habit OF drinking too freely occa.
sionally made remarks which would not
bear repetition. Ofeonrse they were re-
peated aud to the one OF all others most
deeply interested. .......
When the first ollensc Of this SOFT trans.
pired, Jackson went to nickinson's faith
er-in-law, told what he had heard, and
begged him to guard, II possible, against
similar occurrence in the future. The
warning was OF no avail, for when the
wine was in the ascendant, Dickinson
threw out the same slurs, and this time
they cost him hearts dear blood.
The duel ostensibIy originated in horse
race, which by the way, was never run; ;
but the animus Of it, SO far as Jackson
was concerned, lay in the fact that Dick.
inson had spoken i'll Of Mrs. jackson.
Dickinson was dead shot; could hit a
hali-dollar at ten PAGES, kill birds on the
wing, and perform other miraculous ieats
with the pistol. He was as brave aud
cool as he was skilful, and never enter.
tained doubt as TO the result of the
combat. The arrangement was that
when the word was given they could fire
as soon as they pleased. Jackson, know.
ing Dickinson's superior quickness with
his weapon, resolved not to attempt to
get the first fire, but TO take the
chances for a second.
The instant the signal was shouted,
Dickinson fired. Tho dust flew from
the breast Of the loose.ltting black frock
coat which Jackson wore, but he stood
there like a pillar of adamant, apparently
unharmcd. Dickinson started back in
horror and amazement, exclaiming, My
God ! | have missed him? His stern and
nnrelenting antagonist took deliberate
aim and pulled the trigger. The pistol
did not respond. A second time he took
aim, and as the sharp crack rang out
among the silent woods where the deadly
scene was laid, Dickinson tottered and
fell into the arms OF his friend. lie died
the same night.
Jackson was able to mount his horse
and ride home next day--barely able, for
the bullet which seemed to miss him had
really passed through the fleshy part of
his breast and cut the breast bone. His
shoes were full OF blood when he walked
from the fatal field; but he concealed the
fact as he said, because lie did not want
Dickinson to have the satisfaction of
knowing that he did hit him at all. In
answer to the question how he could, af-
ter receiving such shock, retain his
steadiness of nerve, he replied: ! believe
! should have killed him had he shot me
through the brain.
The wound never healed properly
was the occasion Of frequent hemorrhages
in later years. and ultimately caused his
death.
There is no evidenc, going to show
that Jackson ever repented OF this duel. |
Long aftcrward-indeed, only few
weeks before be died-a friend visiting
bis sick chamber happened to pick up an
old pistol lying on the manieI. The |
keen-eyed invalid saw the movement, |
and remarked quietly: That is the pis-
tol with which killed Mr.. Dickinson.