The daily gazette., 1877-01-31
Lincoln's Broad-Sword
Duel.

From the Alexandria (Va.) Gazette.
Mr.. Lamon, in his life of Lincoln,
gives an account of an affair of honor
which forms ono of the most pleasing
episodes in his book. In one of the let
ters 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 our readers a
portion Of the secret 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" saws
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 victim handy, she turned her at
tention to James Shields, Auditor She
had a friend, one Miss Jayne, afterwards
Mrs. Trllmbull, Omitted States Senator \
who helped her to keep her secrets, and
assisted as much as she could in worry
ing the choloric Irishman."
The beautiful Miss Jayne was the
apple of discord in this case. General
Shields was walking home with her one
night; he took the liberty of squeezing
her hand; she took the liberty of stick
ing pin in him. This small affair of
the pin led to tho great affair of the
sword. 1t figures lately in one of Gre
becca's, alias Miss Todd's letters from
the Lost Township and addressed to
the editor of the 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. TSee
Lannon's Life, PIP. 257-S.]
Now "Old Uncle Abe" instigated by
his love of fun, or love of Mary Todd, or
his love Of mischief; or by all three,
must have all his say about the pin.
Accordingly he wrote 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-i.
G., the fight that was never fought, does
not appear in DR.. 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 s'Lost
Township" letters, especially of the one
written by "Aunt Beccy." "Aunt Beccyn
proved to be Uncle Abe. Gen. Shields,
the terrible son of Mars, without waiting
to call for an explanation, at once chal-
lenged 'Aunt Beccy," and she at once
accepted the challenge. 1t was at this
point of the business that the present
xyritor haaarna aoonaipto1 xu;tl, fI,o .tato
of affairs by Mr.. Lincoln himself.
He entered my Office one night as / was
engaged in the study Of law case, with
somewhat more than usual gloom, seated
on his melancholy face. After taking
seat he said, 81 have got into little diff
Guilty, an want to see if you cannot help
me out of it."
''Most happy to do so,'' said /, ''if can
What is the matter?"
"Why," said he, s'that fool letter that |
wrote for the Sangamon Journal has made
Shields very mad, and he has challenged
me. Ihave accepted the challenge, and,
without thinking, l have chosen DR.. Mer-
ryman for my second. believe he would
rather see fight than not. If l have to
fight will fight; but don't care about
fighting just to crafty DIR. Merryman.
Now if you will come in and make DIR.
Menyman do right Ifor know you will
have more influence with him than any
other man) the whole difficulty may be
settled"
Again l said, "AIost happy to do so if l
can. What is the diffictllty?'
"Why it is this" replied Mr.. Lincoln:
s'the friends of Shields say that if will
explain or apologize he will withdraw
the challenge, and the quarrel can be set
tied honorably to both parties. But DIR.
Merryman says if Shields will first with
draw the challenge then will explain or
apologize, and the quarrel may be settled
honorably to both parties. And there
they have come to 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.. Mer-
ryman is disposed to stand upon niceties,
and don't think he ought to stand upon
niceties in a case of life and death.''
The situation was plain. sympathz-
ed with Mr.. Lincoln; but while fully
appreciated his practical good sense,
could not exactly see his nice sense of
honor. 81 know very little about the
code of honor" said L; sit is a branch of
moral science for which have never had
much respect, and have therefore never
studied it. But if you go by that code at
all, (and suppose you must if you fight
duels) it seems to me that DR.. Merryman
is right. don't see how you can explain
or apologize or say one word to mitigate
the wrath Of Shields while the challenge
is pending over YOU"
Mr.. Lincoln therefore fell into one of