The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1877-03-08

BELLE MEADE, near Nashville, Feb.
9, 1877.-J. GEO. HARRIs-My Dear
Sir: am obliged for your kind favor
Of the Sth inst; also for the paper
Cincinnati Commercially containing an
account of the duel between Gen. An
drew jackson and Charles Dickinson,
which is incorrect in some essential
points, and does great injustice to Gen.
Jackson, as will appear from the reci-
tai of conversation which took place
between him and myself.
At the time Gen. Jackson retired
from the Presidential chair and for sew
eral years thereafter, 1 lived in Nc
Spadden's Bend, on che Cumberland
River, three or four miles distant from
the Hermitage, and it was my pleasure
to visit the old hero frequently.
On the occasion referred to, 1 found
Gen. Jackson alone, which was not of
ten the case. In the course OF the con-
versation, asked him whether brave
men were ever frightened.
Gen. Jackson replied: 81 do not
know, sir, that I am competent to an
swer the question.
1 answered: "The world, and espe-
cially those who know you best, will
accord you as much courage as belongs
to man." --- e-
Gen. Jackson then replied: elf that
be so, sir, would say that l have been
as badly frightened as any may ought
ever to be-"
asked him on what occasion he was
frightened, supposing that he referred
to some of his Indian engagements.
The General said: "It was, sir,
when l fought the duel with Mr. Dick
inson. In the first place, sir, 1 had no
unkind feeling against Mr.. Dickinson,
and no disposition to injure hair of
his head. l had gone as far as an hon.
orable man could go to avoid the diff
Guilty with Dickinson; he had not in
jured me, and, therefore, l had no
ground of complaint against him; my
quarrel had been with his father-in-
law, Col. Erwin. / knew Dickinson to
be brave, honorable gentleman, and
the best shot with the pistol 1 ever saw
far better than myself, for l was new
er an expert with that weapon. knew
that he could shoot quicker and truer
than l coulI. therefore went upon
the grounu expecting to be killed, and
l owe the preservation of my life on that
occasion to the fashions of the day, for
Iwore coat with rolling collar and very
full breasted but, fortunately for me,
s;r, l was organized with very narrow
chest. Dickinson's ball struck very
near the center of my coat, and, while
it scraped the breast bone, it did not
enter the chest. In an instant, under
the impression that l was, perhaps,
MORALLY wounded, and upon the i'm
pulse of the moment, l fred and my
antagonist fell-and no event of my
life, sir, have | regretted so much. My
determination before and after taking
position was to discharge my pistol in
the air, but because felt the effect of
his shot l fired at him. Just here, sir,
let me add that the world has done me
great injustice, for l am charged with
having brought on the difficulty, and
with having fixed the terms SO as to re-
serve my fire and advance; and it
charges me with having advanced upon
Dickinson, and shot him when 1 was
within few feet of him-all of which
is false, sir. l fired instantly otter r.
ceiving his shot, and from my position /;
and Dickinson stood in his position and
received my fire like brave man as he
was"
The above is the conversation nearly
verbatim as it occurred between Gen.
Jackson and myself in reference to that
duel. Very truly, your friend,
W. G. HARDING.