The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1875-01-22
case to swerve from these rules or pass
beyond the limits.

beyond the limits.
"ABRAHAM LINCOLN
DIR. Merriman read these instructions
70 Gen. Whitesides, who, in the absence
OF his principal, declined to discuss the
terms of settlement until they should
meet in Missouri.
Ali parties now left for Alton. Lin
coins friends met him at Jacksonville,
where the weapons were procured, and
. surgeon-Dr. A. T. Bledsoe-a added
to the party. When Shields and his
party arrived. all crossed into Missouri,
and the work of laying of the ground
Fortunately, at this junctare. Colonel
J. j. Hardin and DIR. r. w. English,
warm personal friends Of both parties.
arrived on the scene, having come all
the way from Springfield with the sole
purpose of bringing about an accommo-
dation and Immediately presented the
following proposition
ALTON, Sept. %. 1s42.
Messrs. Whztesidee and Merriman
AS the mutual personal friends OF Shields
and Lincoln, but without authority from either,
we earnestly desire RECONCILIATION OF the mis-
understanding which exists between them;
Such difficulties should always be arranged
amicably, II it is possible to do 30 with honor
to both parties. Believing that such an ar
rangement can possibly be Objected, We re-
proposition for your consideration: Let the
whole difficulty be submitted to four or more
gentlemen Of your own choosing, who shall
consider the affair and report thereupon for
your consideration. JOHN J. HARDIN,
R. W. ENaLIsH.
This paper was laid before the princi-
pals and accepted. Mr.. Shields prompt
" named Gen. Whitesides, w. L. ID.
Ewing, and the surgeon who had accom-
panied him, T. M. Hope, to conduct
the negotiations on his behalf.
The demand for an apology and all
drawn, when Mr.. Lincoln rendered the
explanation he had already promised,
which proved satisfactory, the parties
were reconciled, shook hands, and re-
turned together to Springfield. Soended
Lincoln's first, last, and only duel. But
the affair did not end with Lincoln's
withdrawal from it. The blood of all
the parties who had been connected with
it was up, and nearly half dozen chal-
lenges grew ont of it, nearly as many as
have occurred in the whole history of
the State before or since.
SHIELDS AND BUTLER.
Butler, it will be remembered, was
one of Lincoln's seconds, Inv his affair
with Shields, and had urged the fight
with great vehemence. Greatly dis
gusted at the fiasco, he returned to
! Springfield; and published a letter in
severe upon both Lincoln and Shields.
The latter was greatly irritated, and
| forthwith sent menacing note to the
author. Mr.. Butler made no other re-
sponse to the note than to accept it as a
challenge, and without further circum-
locution fixed the
| Time-Sunrise ON the following morn
ing.
Place-The Allen farm, one mile north
of the present State House.
Weapons-Rif1es.
Distance-One hundred yards.
/ Position-The parties to stand with
rifles to be held in both hands horizon
tally and cecked. Neither party to
move his person or his rifle after being
placed, until the word fire.
Shields was not q little surprised at
the promptness with which his overtures
/ had been met, but protested that as q
State officer he could not fight within
the limits of the State. He also claimed
that the position would give his oppo-
nent the advantage, as he was left
handed. Mr.. Butler, with his friend,
the inevitable DR.. Merriman, was at the
place appointed, and at the time
versarY.
There followed some rather caustic
criticisms ON Shields declination of 9
meeting he had 30 ostentatiously in.
vited, whereat he sent another note &C.
cepting the original terms or, if that was
not satisfactory, he would ss go out tc
some lonely place on the prairie and
fight, without seconds, and beyond the
danger of molestation.
Butler replied that he had once offered
him battle. which was refused, and he
would now have no more 60 do with him.
So the affair ended, so far, at least, al
the principals were concerned.
THE SECONDS THIRST FOR GORE.
But the seconds took up the affail
where the principals laid it down. Ir
the course of the correspondence con
nected with the unpleasantness between
Shields and Butler, in which White
sides and Merriman had acted the
part of seconds, the former hai
severely censured the course O.
the latter, who responded that sstht
arrogant, dictatorial, rude, and ungentle
manly character of the note precludeG
all further correspondence on the sub
iect." Strangely enough. Abraham Lin
coin was the bearer of this message, anG
thus repaid the services of the man whit
had served him in the same capacity bu
day or two before.
To this note Gen. Whitesides laconi
cally replied
meet me at the Planters House
st. Louis, on Friday next, when yor
4 win hear further from me-"
DIR. Merriman as1aconically answered
i 'tI wish to know If you intend you
note as challenge. If so, my friend
Capt. Lincoln will wait upon you with
the conditions of our meeting"
j Whitesides responded
You shall have note of the char
acter You allude to when we meet at thu
Planters House, st. Lonis, on FRIDAY
next.
Merriman replied, denying the vight
of the challenger to name the place O.
meeting and suggested Louisiana, Mo
Whitesides then called upon Mr. Lin
coin and informed him verbally that b,
could not accept that proposition tina
he had business in st. Louis, and tina
place Was as near as Louisiana.
Merriman then dropped the matter.
Finding he could not force 6ghta
st. Louis, Whitesides sent note by th,
hand of Gen. Shields Offering to NEE
his adversary ct Louisiana, but Merri
man refused TO reopen the matter. St