The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1876-12-16
LINCOLN'S BROADsWORD DUEL.
How He accepted "A Challenge to Fight III
Quarrel About a Pin.

duel, by the way, which was never fought,
The object OF this paper is to furnish for our
readers II 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 lover into that very ugly scrape.
GAS satirical writer says Mr.. Lamon, "she
had no rival of either sex at Springfield, and
few, we venture to say, anywhere else. X
- She was not disposed 20 let her genius rust
for want of use; and, finding no other victim
handy, she turned her attention to James
Shields, 'audito.' She had a TREND, one Miss
Jayne, aftcrward Mrs. Trumbull Omitted
States senator, who helped her to keep her
secrets, and assisted as much as she could in
worrying the cholerc lrishman.'
The beautiful Miss Jayne was the apple OF
dlscord in this case Gen. Shields was walk.
ing home with her one night; he took the
liberty of squeezing her hand, she took the
liberty of sticking a pin into him. This
small affair of the pin led TO the great affair
of the sword. II figures lately in one OF Re.
becca's," alias Miss ToddS letters from the
Lost Townships" and addressed to the edi-
tor of The .SaHgamon J0UrRal, by whom 1t
was published. 1t is the most favorable
specimen OF Miss Todd's wit, but it is too
long to be copied here. See "LamOn' S
Life" PIP. 2j1-S.
Now, "Od Uncle Abe" instigated by his
love of fun, or his love of Mary Todd, or bls
love of mischief, or all three, must have his
say about the pin. Accordingly, he wrote
letter over the name of "Aunt Beccy," from
the Los. Townships" and had it published
in the SdHIdl0OR JOUrHdl. Strange to say,
this letter, about which the fight occurred g..
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 Shiclds-the Irish Achilles-whlch
had been long kindled, now burst into
names.
He demanded the author of the Lost
Township" letters, especially OF the one writ
ten by Aunt BecCy." Aunt BeCcy proved 10
be Uncle Abe. Gen. Shields, the terrible son
of Mars without waiting to call for an ex-
PLANTATION, at once challenged Aunt BeCcy,"
ana she at once accepted the challenge. 1t
was at this point Of the business that the
present writer was made acquainted with the
state OF affairs by Mr. Lincoln himself.
lie entered my Office one night as was en-
gagged IN the study Of Il law case, with some
what more than the usual gloom seated on
his melancholy face. After taking Il seat, he
SAID II have got into little difficulty, and |
want to see if you cannot help me out of IT,"
Most happy to do sO,' said /, "if | can.
What is the matter:n why said he, that
fool letter which | wrote for Tile Sdaqdm0h
lJoUraaL has mad Shields mad, and he has
challenged me. | have accepted the chal.
lcnge, and, without thinking, | have chosen
DR.. Merryman for my second. | believe he
would rather see ght than not. If | have
to fight | wall fight; but | don't care about
fighting just to crafty DR.. Merryman. Now,
| If you VIII come in and make DR.. Merryman
do right dor | know you will have more in.
iuenCe with him than any other man, the
whole difficulty may be settled Again |
sand, Most happy to DO so II can. What is
the dliiiculty:'
why, it is this" replied Mr. Lincoln; "lhe
friends of Shields say that il | will explain or
apologize, he will withdraw his challenge,
and the quarrel can be settled hon0rably to
both parties. But DR.. Merryman says If
Shields viii first withdraw the challenge,
then | will explain or apologize, and the
quarrel may be settled honOrably to bOtn
parties. And there they have come to Il dead
lock. Now, don't see, if both things have
to be done, that it makes SO much difference
which is done first. 1t seems to me that DR.
Merryman Is disposed to stand upon niceties,
and don't think he ought to stand upon
nicctIeS in case Oflie and DEATH
The situation was plain. | sympathlEed
with Mr. Lincoln; but, while fully apprecl
atcd his practical good sense, | could not eX-
aCtlv :. G his nice sense Of honor. II know
very little about the code OF honor" said | :;
ut is branch of moral science for which |
have never mad much respect, and have there.
fore never studied it. But if you go by that
code at all and | suppose you must II you
fight duels), ii seems To me that DR.. Merry
man is right. / don't see how you can eX.
plain or apologize or say one word to mlti-
gate the wrath OF Shields while the Challenge
IS pending over you.
Mr. Lincoln thereupon fell INTO one of his
musing, melancholy moods, and there was
spread over his face that sad expression
which made HIM an Ob'ect of interest 10 ev-
cry man who had live heart in his bosom.
As he sat there, looking at the fire, he seem
cd TO be saying to himself: Il have come to
the wrong person To help me ont OF my diff
Guilty. Perhaps Merryman is right, ana there
IS no help out of this deadlock except II
fight with Shields HIS compre! sed lips
and firm look evidently indicated fight.
There is net the least necessity for fight
whatever" said l; ut may be very easily
avoided" How sou said Mr.. Lincoln,
looking up with a relieved expression Of face,
and turning his eyes upon nae. Il knew
Shields we'll" | replied, land his courage
Is not of the truest stamp; there is altogether
too much OF bluster aud bravado about the
man for that lie is trying To make you
back cut, and you can make him back out
very easily"
How so." said Mr.. Lincoln. "Why,' said
! I. AS he has sent You the challenge So you
have the right II choose the weapons, and il
Won choose broadswurds, my word Tor it he
/ viii never fight you in the world. You are
a, least seven inches taller than Shields, aud
your arms are three or four inches longer
Iilan his, 80 that you could cut him down he
| fore he could get near enough 10 touch you.
know You will new do this, because he
will never fight you with broadSwords. lie
will show the white feather first
/ Mr.. Lincoln adopted this idea. lie chose
broadswordS; and the terms of the duel were
arranged as stated in Mr.. Lannon's book, Up.
| 265l. LIST. Weapous-cavalry brOadswords
/ of the largest size, precisely equal IN all re
spects, and such as are now used by the cav
4 airy company in Jacksonville. 2d. Posi-
ltioa-A plank ten feet long ana from nine TO