The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1875-01-20
THE DUEL OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
One of the Western Wildcat Currency
Quarre1s.
THE sToR1oFTHE "RBBEccA"LETrER. TIE
QUARaEL WITH GEN. SHIELDS RE-
MEDITERRANEAN OFFERS
TO FIGHT WITH
SWORDS.

State OIlCeFS, among WHO'LL was Ien.
James Shields, then State Auditor,
now residing in Missouri, to receive
the bills ofthe State Bank in pay
ment oftaxes, said bills being worth
in specie only about fifty cents on a.
dollar. The measure provoked uni
versal denunciation, and Mr.. Lincoln
then q comparatively unknown law
yer, wrote a communication on the
subject, which was published in the
Sangamon journal, the Wing organ
at Springfield, over the signature of
"Rebecca,"t dated Lost Township,
Sept. 2, 1912. 1t was in the form of
q dialogue between "Aunt Rebecca"
and her Democratic neighbor, in
which she handled the officers of the
State savagely for their order refu-
sing the State Bank money, and was
particularly severe On Shields, call
ing him a liar and a fool, "dull as a
cake ofetallow." Shields was a bach
elor, and very vain, and his appear
ance at a fair in the city was carica-
tured, his demeanor criticised, and
he denounced as a "conceited Ounce"
The article soon became the talk of
the town, and the excitable Irish
man fairly foamed with rage. He
proceeded,At once to the editor fthe
Journal, Simeon Francis, demanded
the name of the author of the often
sive communication, and that of Mr..
Lincoln was, given him. Lincoln was
at thattime attending court at Ire
mont, farewell county, but thither
Shields FASTENED accompanied by his
"friend," Gen. Whitesides, and i'm
~mediately on his arrival sent a note
to Lincoln stating that his name had
been given to him as the author of
an insulting article signed "Rebecca"
and requiring "a full, positive and
absolute retraction of all offensive al
fusion to him personally, and IN am
pie apology for the insults conveyed"
90 . "
1t so happened that two friends Of
Mr.. Lincoln, DR.. Merriman and Will
liam Butler, learned of Shields de-
parture for fremont and his object,
and mounting their horses rode all
night, and communicated with Mr..
Lincoln before Mr. Shields did; so he
was in a measure prepared for the
hostile note. The same evening he
replied refusing to offer any explana-
ton, on the ground sthat Shields as
sumed the fact of the authorship Of
the article in question, and while not
pointing out any particular part to
= which he objected, demanded a gene
raj %retraction, accompanying the
same with threats and menace in
case Of refusal. One or two other
notes were exchanged. Then Shields
sent a final rejoinder, designating
Gen. Whitesides as the friend select
ed to arrange for the meeting, at
which the satisfaction lie demanded
should be rendered. Mr.. Lincoln
promptly responded and named Mr..
Merriman as his friend.
Further proceedings were, howev-
er, adjourned to Springfield; but the
fact that a hostile meeting between
the two parties was imminent soon
became known, and in order to avoid
arrest, Mr.. Lincoln suddenly retired
to Jacksonville, leaving with Mr..
Butler q paper expressing his will
Iingness to say to General Shields:
did write the "L.ost Township" letter,
but had no participation in any form in
any other article abiding to you. I had
no intention of injuring your personal or
private character or standing rs a man or
a gentleman, and / did not then think,
and | do not now think, that the article
could produce or has produced that effect
against you, and had l anticipated such
an effect | should have foreborne to write
the letter.
If this was not satisfactory he laid
down the following preliminaries for
the fight:
l. Weapons - Cavalry broadswords of
the largest size, precisely equal in all res
poets, and such as are now used by the
cavalry company at Jacksonville.
Position-A plank ten feet long and
from nine to twelve inches broad, to be
nrmiy fixed OF edge on the ground as the
line between us, which neither is to pass
ms foot over on forfeit of his life. Next, a
line drawn on the ground on either side
OF said plank and parallel with it. each at
the distance of the length of the sword and
three feet additional from the plank, and
the retreating of his own accord over such
line by either party during the fight shall
DC deemed a surrender of the contest.
g. Time On Thursday evening, at 5
o'clock, if agreeable: but in nc case to be
deferred longer than Friday evening at 3
o'clock.
T. Face-Within three miles of Alton,
oa Inc opposite side of the river, the par
ocular spot to be agreed on by you. Any
aeea'ls coming within the foregoing rules
you are at liberty to make at your dtscre-
ION but you in no case to swerve FROM
'nese fales or pass beyond the limits.