Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1874-05-06
OLD HICKORY's PISTOLS.
A Souvenir of Gen. Jackson which Ten.
nessee Family Has Reason 10 vaIue.

3D." who has been writing some inter-
esting "reminiscences for the Franklin (Ky.)
Patriot, contributes this to the last issue
/ saw sometime ago brace of dueling
pistols, in the possession of Thos. Ruther-
ford, of Sumner county, Tennessee. They
were steel barrels, fluted within, and high
ly ornamented with silver.
The history / received of them was as
follows:
Many years before the brilliant triumphs of
the war had lifted General Jackson high
above all competitors into the Presidential
chair as Chief Executive of the nation, it
was his custom to have some one to take
his place in the dirty street broils which
might come up.
At the time to which REFER one Fergu-
son was the man, a regular knock-down-
and-drag-out-sorto Of a fellow, dreaded by all
who were ever so unfortunate as to come in
contact with him.
An uncle of Col. Rutherford, by the same
name visited Nashville to sell q fine pair of
match horses. Ferguson offered to pur-
chase them on short credit and to give
General Jackson as security. This arrange
ment was made and the horses were his.
Before Mr.. r. left Nashville, he learned
the character of the man with whom he
had traded, and was told that if he ever
asked for the,money or note he had received
for the horses Ferguson would whip him.
Ithappened that Rutherford was a rough
misunderstanding suited him better than
a ground scuffle in defense of his rights,
and SO he was impatient for the day of the
coming conflict.
Early on the morning the note fell due,
Rutherford visited Nashville-saw the
same man F., presented his note for pay
ment, telling him at the same time what he
had heard of him, and futher said to him
that, if he didn't pay the money right
away, he would thrash him like dog.
A word and the blow followed. Never
was man more soundly thrashed than
Ferguson was on that occasion in fact, he
was supposed to be dead for a time. This
aroused the Generals sympathies for his
man who had received such a cudgeling,
and to resent 1t was his first impulse, but
in a fisticuff he would be only a child in
r. Is hands, and so challenged him to fight
duel the next morning, distance ten pa
ces.
Though r. had no experience with fire.
arms, he instantly accepted the challenge
At the appointed hour all parties were al
the place of rendezvous. All preliminaries
made, the distance measured, the positions
taken, the words one-two--at this juno
ture Jackson, who was dead shot, having
eyed his antagonist closely, saw there was
no finching in him, but that he was as
cool and deliberate as if nothing unusual
was occurring, stepped forward and adj
dressed Rutherford" Blythe eternal, sir, ]
would despise myself to sacrifice such noble
| material as you are made of. Sir. please
| accept these pistols from one who ever ad-
mires true courage and pluck such as you
have'to-day demonstrated; and accept them
from me as an evidence of my high appre
| citation of you as a man who dares to de
| fend his rights"
| General Jackson paid the money due or
| Ferguson's note. Ever afterward the
Rutherford family have been Jackson'i
warmest supporters, and none lamentet
his death more than they. The pistols
will be kept in the family forever as price
| less souvenirs.