The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-12-01
. Keminiscenco of Abraham Lincoln.
IFrom the Alexandria Gazette

an account Of all affair of honor, which
forms one OF the most amusing episodes in
his book. In one OF his letters to Speed,
| Mr.. Lincoln refers to his "duel with
Shields "a duel. by the way, which was
never fought. The object OF this paper Is
to furnish for your readers a portion Of the
secret history of that celebrated " duel"
The readers Of Lannon's Life are well
aware that Mary Todd, afterwards Mrs.
Lincoln, drew her lover into that very ugly
scrape. "As n satirical writer" says Mr.
Lamon, "She had no rival of either sex ut
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 vic
tim handy, she turned her attention to
James Shields, 'Auditor.' She had 4 friend,
one Miss Jayne, afterwards Mrs. Trumbull
United States scnator), who helped her to
keep her secrets. and assisted as much as
she could in worrying the choleric Irish
man"
The beautiful Miss JAYNE was the apple
Of dl>cord in the case. General Shields was
walking home with her one night; he took
the liberty Of squeezing her hand, she took
the liberty 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" alaas Miss Todd's, letters
from the " Lost Townships" and addressed
to the editor of the Sangamon Journal by
whom it was published. 1t is the most fa-
vorablc specimen of Miss Todd's wit, but
it is too long to he copied here. [See La
mons Life. PIP. 251-S.l
Now "Old Uncle Abe instigated by his
love Of fun, or bis love OF Mary Todd, OF
bis love Of mischief, or by all three, must
have bis say about the pin. Accordingly,
he wrote Il letter over the name Of "Aunt
Beccy." from the "Lost Townships" and
had it published in the Sangamon Journal.
Strange to say, this letter. about which the
fight occurred &. 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-thc
Irish Achillies-which had been long kim
died, now burst into flames.
He demanded the author of the "Lost
Township" letters, especially OF the one
written by "Aunt Beccy." Aunt Beccy
proved to be Uncle Abe. General Shields.
to call for an explanation. at once challenged
"Aunt Beccy,' and 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.
He entered my Office one night as I was
engaged in the study OF a law-casc, with
somewhat more than the usual gloom seated
on his melancholy face. After taking seat
he said. 81 have got into little difficulty.
and j want to see il you cannot help me out
OF it," "Most happy to do so," said I, "if
l can. What is the matterl" Why"
said he, ''tbat fool letter which wrote for
the San@amon journal has made Shields
mad, and he has challenged me. have ac-
cepted the challenge, and, acithout thinking.
! have chosen DR.. Merryman for my second.
! believe he would rather see fight than
not If l have to tight viii fight; but l
don't care about fighting Just to crafty DR..
Merlyman. Now, If you will come in and
make Dr.. Merryman do right Qor l know
YOU will have more influence with him than
any other mani the whole difficulty may be
settled" Again said .Most happy to do
so if | can. What is the difficulty 20
"Why it is this" replied Mr.. Lincoln
the friends of Shields say that II | will eX-
plain or apologize he will withdraw the
challenge. and the quarrel can be settled
honorablv TO both parties. But DR.. Merry
man SAYS il Shields will first withdraw the
challenge then / will explain or apologize,
and the quarrel may be settled honorably to
both parties. And there they have come to
a dead lock. Now don't see, II both things
have to be done, that it makes so much diff
Iference 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 niceties in case Of life and DEATH"
The situation was plain. / sympathized
with Mr.. Lincoln but, while fully appre-
lciated his practical good sense, could not
|eXactly see his nice sense Of honor. I" l
know very little about the code OF honor"
Isaid /: "it is branch OF moral science for
(which I have never had much respect, and
llhave therefore never studied it. But ii
Eyou 20 by that code at all (and suppose
|you must if You fight duels) it seems to me
Ethat Dr.. Merryman is right, don't see
how YOU can explain. or apologize, or say
lone word to mitigate the wrath Of Shields,
while the challenge is pending over you.'
Mr.. Lincoln thereupon fell into one OF
This musing, melancholy moods; and there
was spread over his face that sad express
|!sion which made him an object OF interest
Ito every man who had live heart in his
bosom. As he sat there, looking at the
ire, hc seemed to be saying to himself !:
a have come to the wrong person to help
me out Of my difficulty. Perhaps Merry.
man is right; and there Is no help out OF
this dead lock- except fight with
Sulclus. hlo SoluPieeeCu Apo oho AL Ia
look evidently indicated fight.
Z" There is not the least necessity for a
tight whatever, said I; cit may be very
easily avoided" ''How so?" said Mr..
Lincoln. looking up with arelieved express
sion Of face, and turning his eyes upon me.
~ know Shields well" replied, "and his
courage is not Of the truest stamp; there is
altogether TOO much Of bluster and brayado
about the man for that ne is trying to
make you back out, and you can make him
back out very easily"
i Chow so? 7" said Mr.. Lincoln. "Why,"
said !. g as he has sent the challenge, so
you have the right to choose the weapons !;
and If you choose broadswords, my word
for it he will never fight you in the world.
! You are at least seven inches taller than
1 Shields, and your arms are three or four
inches longer than his; so that you could
/ cut him down before he could get near
enough to touch you. know you will
never do this; because he viii never fight
YOU with broadswords. He viii show the
white feather first" s.a
Mr.. Lincoln adopted this idea: BE chose
broadswords; and the terms OF the duel
| were arranged as stated In DIR. Lannon's
| book %. 285). LIST. Weaponc--Cayalry
broadswords Of the largest size. precisely
equal in oil respects, and Guch as are now
used by the: eaYairy company Ut Jackson