The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1876-12-21
Lincoln's BroadswOrd Duel.

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AMIR. LamOn, in his life OIL LincOn,
gives an account of an affair Of honor,
which forms one Of the most pleasing
episodes in his book. In one of
his letters to Speed, Mr.. Lincoln refers
to this ''duel with Shields''-a duel,
by the way which was never fought.
The object of this paper is to furnish
for our readers portion Of the secret
history of that celebrated ''duel.''
The readers of Lannon's life are well
aware that Mary Todd. afterward Mrs.
Lincoln, drew her husband into that
very ugly scrape. las a satirical
writer says Mr.. Lamon, "she had no
rival Of either sex at Springfield, and
few. we venture to say anywhere else.
She was not disposed to let
her-genius rust for want of use and,
finding no other victem handy, she
turned her attention to James Shields,
Auditor She had friend, one Miss
Jayne, afterward Mrs. Trumbull,
Omitted States Senator.) who helped
her to keep her secrets, and assisted as
much as she could in worrying the
choleric Irishman.''
The beautiful Miss Jayne was the
apple of discord in this case. Gen.
Shields was walking home with her
one night: he took the liberty of
squeezing her hand, she took the lib
erty of sticking pin in him. This
small affair Of the pin led to the great
affair OF the sword. 1t figures lately
in one OF "Rebecca's,'' alias Miss
Todd's. letters from the "Lost Town
Ships and addressed to the editor of
Sangamon journal. by whom it was
published. 1t is the most favorable
specimen Of Miss Todd's wit, but it is
too long to be copied here. See La
mems Life. PIP. 1913.
Now, "Old Uncle Abe, instigated
by his love OF fun, or his love of Mary
Todd, or his love of mischief, or by all
three. must have his say about the pin.
Accordingly. he wrote letter over the
name of :. Aunt Beccy," from the
Lost Townships, and had it publish
ed in the Sangamon journal. Strange
to say, this letter, about which the
fight occurred Ii. e.. the fight that was
never fOught) does not appear in Mr..
Lannon's book. Other letters of the
series are given, but not this. The
wrath of Shields-the Irish Achilles
which had been long kindled, now
burst into flames.
He demanded the author of the
Lost Township letters, especially Of
the one written by 'sAunt Beccy."
Aunt Beccy proved to be Uncle Abe.
Gen. Shields, the terrible son of Mars,
without waiting to call for an explain.
alton, at once challenged "Aunt Bee.
cy,' and she at once accepted the chal.
lenge. 1t was at this point Of the bust
ness that the present writer was made
acquainted with the state of affairs by
Mr.. Lincoln himself.
He entered my study one evening as
l was engaged in the study of law
case. with somewhat more than the
usual amount OF gloom seated on his
melancholy face. After taking seat
he said, II have got into a little diff
Guilty. and / want to see if you cannot
help me out of it, Most happy to
do 50" said l. IF can. What is the
matter !" why" said he, THAT fool
letter which l wrote for the Sangamon
Journal has made Shields mad, and he
has challenged me. / have accepted
the challenge. and, without thinking,
have chosen DR.. Merryman for my
second. believe he would rather see
fight than not. If have to fight.
will fight; but don't care about fight
ing just to crafty DIR. Merryman. If
you will come in and make DR.. Merry
man do right flor know you will have
more influence with him than any 9TH
er manl the whole difficulty may be
settled" Again I said, "MOst happy
to do so. if can. What is the diff
Guilty
.Why it is this said Mr.. Lincoln
"the friends of Shields say that if l
viii explain or apologize he will
withdraw the challenge and the quar-
rel can be settled honorably to both
parties. But DIR. Merryman says if he
Will first withdraw the challenge then
| will explain or apologize. and the
quarrel be settled honorably to both
parties. And there they have come to
dead lock. Now don't see ii both
things have to be done. that it makes
so much difference which is done first.