The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1877-01-20
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 one of the most pleasing episodes
in his book. In one of the letters to
Speed, Mr.. Lincoln refers to his "duel
with Shields "a duel, by the way, which
was never fought The object of this pa
per is to furnish for our readers a portion
of the secret history of that celebrated
"duel."
The readers of Lannon's life are we'll
aware that Mary Todd, afterward Mrs.
Lincoln, drew her lover into that very
ugly scrape. CAS- a satircal writer,
says Mr.. Lafon, she had no rival of
either sex at Springfield, and few, we
venture to say, any where else.
She was not disposed to let her genius
rust for want of use; and, finding no other
victim handy, she turned her attention to
James Shields, Auditor She had a
friend, one Miss Jayne, afterwards Mrs.
Trumbull, United States Senator who
helped her to keep her secrets, and assisted
as much as she could in worrying the
choleric Irishman."
The beautiful Miss Jayne was the apple
of dscord in this case. Gen. 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," alias Miss Todd's
| letters from the "Lost Township and ad-
dressed 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.
| [See Lannon's Life, PIP. 257.S]
| Now "Old Uncle Abe," instigated by
his love of fun, or his love of Mary Todd,
or his love of mischief; or by all three,
must have all his say about the pin. Ac-
cordngly, he wrote a letter over the name
of "Aunt Beccy," from the " Lost Town
ships" and had it published in the San
CANON Journal Strange to say, this letter,
about which the fight occurred-i C., 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 Sheds-the Irish Achilles-which had
been long kindled, 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. Gen. Shields,
the terrible son of Mars, without waiting
to call for an explanation, at once chal-
lenged ." Aunt Beccy,' and she at once &C
cepted the challenge. 1t was at this point
of the business that the present writer
became acquainted with the state Of affairs
| by Mr.. Lincoln himself.
He entered my office one night as l was
engaged in the study of a law case, with
somewhat more than usual gloom seated
on his melancholy face. After taking
seat he said, 81 have got into little
difficulty, and want to see if you cannot
help me out of it, Most happy to do
so,' said l. eff l can. What is the
matter" Why" said he, "that fool
letter which | wrote for the Sangamon
Journal has made Shields mad, and he
has challenged me. have accepted the
challenge, and, without thinking, l have
chosen DR.. Merryman for my second.
| believe he would rather see fight than
not. If have to fight l will fight but
don't care about fighting just to crafty
| DR.. Merryman. Now if you will come in
and make DR.. Merryman do right (for
know you will have more influence with
him than any other man the whole
difficulty may be settled" Again l said,
"Most happy to do so if can. What is
the ditficulty9'
"Why it is this" replied Mr.. Lincoln:
"the friends of Shields say that if | will
explain or apologize he will withdraw the
challenge, and the quarrel can be settled
| honorably to both parties. But DR.. Merry
man says if Shields will first withdraw the
challenge then l 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.. Merryman is disposed
to stand upon niceties, and l 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 ap-
preciated his practical good sense could
not exactly see his nice sense of honor
II know very little about the code of
! honor said l.; "it 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, land
| suppose you must if you fight duels, it
seems to me that DR.. Merryman is right.
l don't see how you can explain or apollo
gize or say one word to mitigate the wrath
of Shields while the challenge is pending
over you"
Mr.. Lincoln therefore fell into one of
his musing, melancholy moods; and there
was spread over his face that sad expression
which made him an object of interest to
every man who had live heart in his
bosom. AS he sat there, looking at the
fire, he seemed to be saying to himself; 81
have come to the wrong person to help me
out of my difficulty. Perhaps Merryman
is right and there is no help out of "this
dead lock " except fight with Shields. y
His compressed lips and firm look evi
IDENTIFY indicated fight.
"There is not the least necessity for a
fight, whatever" said l.; it may be very
easily avoided" How SO ~ said MIR. Lin
coin, looking up with relieved expression
of face, and turning his eyes upon me. 81
know Shields we'll, | replied, and his cour,
age is not of the truest stamp; there is,
altogether too much of buster and bravado
about the man for that. He is trying to
make you back out, and you can make him
back out very easily"
How 500" said Mr.. Lincoln. "Why,'
said |, Gas he has sent the challenge, sc