The daily gazette., 1877-02-09
ANDREU JACKSON'S DUEL.
THE FIGHT IN WHICH He KILLED HIS
ANTAG0NIsT-How GOLD HICKORY,
LOOKED UPON THE AFFAIR.

1 AN ANIAdoNlsT-HOW sold HICKORY
LOOKED UPON THE AFFAIR.
A correspondent of the Cincinnati
"Commercial' gives the following cutter
tanning account of an episode in General
Jackson's career
The duel between Andrew Jackson and
Charles Dickinson was deadly. Dickin-
son had alluded in public to the we'll
known and recorded fact that one Robards
mad obtained divorce from his wife on
account OF her "living in adultery with
one Andrew Jackson" She had already
been made Jackson's wife, but the ofiens
was deadly. jackson sent the rhall nge.
Dickinson was the most expert n,arks-
man in Tennessee, and jackson resolved
to give him the first fire.
Ihe place appointed for the meeting
was long days ride from Nashville
Thursday morning, before the dawn of
day, Dickinson stole from the side of his
youngand beautiful wife and began speed
lily to prepare for the journey. She awoke
and asked him why he was up so early.
He replied that he had business in Ken
lucky, across the river, but it would not
detaln him long. On parting he kissed
her with peculiar tenderness and said,
s'Good bye, darling. shall be sure to
be at home tomorrow night"
lie mounted his horse and repaired to
the rendezvous where his second and
half dozen gay blades ofNashville were
waiting to escort him on his journey.
Away they rode in the highest spirits, as
though it were party of pleasure. In
deed, they made party ofpleasure OF it.
When they stopped for rest or refresh
ment Dickinson is said to have amused
the company by displaying his wonderful
| skill with the pistol. Once at distance
Of twenty-four feet he fired four balls,
each at the word of command, into a
space that could be covered by silver
dollar. 1t is said that he had laid wa
ger Of $500 that he could hit his antago-
| mist within half an inch of certain but
on on his coat.
Both parties, with their respective cav
alcades, reached the vicinity of the
ground appointed for the duel late in the
afternoon. They secured Accommodations
at couple of neighboriDg taverns. 1t is
related that Jackson ate heartily at sup
per that night, conversing in lively,
pleasant manner, and smoking his even
ing pipe as usual. He retired early, and
by daylight next morning the whole par
ty was up and iri saddle. A sallop Of a
mile and the fording of stream, which.
owing to its swollen state, it was found
necessary to. swim, brought them to the
ground. Dickinson and party had al
ready arrived. The business at once pro-
ceeded, Dickinson's second won the
choice of position, and Jackson's the of
flee of giving the word. "Both were
perfectly collected" says Parton. All
the politeness of such occasions was very
strictly and elegantly performed. Jack
son was dressed in a loose frock coat.
buttoned carlessly over his chest, and
concealing inisome degree the slender
ness of his figure. Dickinson was the
younger and handsomer man of the two,
but Jackson's tall, erect figure, and the
still intensity of his demeanor, it is said,
gave him most superior aud command
ing air. as he stood under the tall poplars
on this bright May morning, silently
awaiting the moment of the doom.
care you ready" said Overton.
al am ready" replied Dickinson.
81 am ready" said jackson.
The word was given.
Dickinson raised his pistol quickly and
fired. Overton who was looking with
anxiety and dread at Jackson, saw puff
of dust fly from the breast of his coat
and saw him raise his left arm and place
it tightly across his breast He is surely
hit, thought Overton, and in bad place,
too. But no; he does not fall. Erect
and grim as Fate he stood, his teeth
clenched, raising his pistol. Overton
unwonted failure of his aim, and appar-
emily appalled, at the awful figure and
face before him, Dickinson had recoiled
a pace or two.
''Great Godw he faltered; ''have 1
missed him ?'
"Back to the mark, sir" shrieked
Overton, with his hand upon his pis-
tol.
Dickinson recovered his composure,
stepped forward to the peg, and stood
with eyes averted from his antagonist.
General Jackson took deliberate aim
and pulled the trigger. The pistol neith-
sr snapped or went off. He looked at
the trigger and discovered that it had
stopped at halfcock. He drew it back
to its place and took aim a second time.
He fired. Dickinson's face blanched; he
reeled; his friends pushed towards him,
caught him in their arms, and silently
seated him on the ground, leaning against |
bush. His trousers Redeemed. They |
stripped off his clothes. The blood was |
gushing from his sides in torrents. The |
Ball had passed through the body below |
the ribs. Such wound could not but be |
fatal.
JACKSON anu MS ITlenuS 1mmeulaLe ~
left the field. 1t was found upon exami- |
nation, on reaching the tavern, that he |
was wounded. "Dickinson's aim," says |
Parton, chad been perfect. He had sent |
the ball precisely where he supposed |
Jacksons heart was beating but the thin |
ness of his body and the looseness of his |
coat combining to deceive him. the ball |
had only broken rib or two and raked |
the breast bone. 1t was a somewhat pain |
full, bad-looking wound, but neithersevere
nor dangerous"
Dickinson died that night.
In this duel it was plain to be seen,
from careful consideration of the cir
cumstances above narrated. though the /
truth does not appear TO have reached
the apprehension of General Jacksons
biographer, that Dickinson was outwitted
by his older and more experienced anita
gonist. Advantage was taken of the very
fact of his being a "dead shot," and of his
perfect confidence in his skill with the
pistol. His avowed purpose was to shoot
Jackson through the heart, and he felt
absolutely sure of doing this. In what
manner his object was defeated Mr.. Par
ton unconsciously discloses. He aimed
l..