Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1877-03-08
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ANDREW JACKsON's DUEL.
The duel between Andrew Jackson and
Charles Dickinson was deadly. Dickinson
had alluded, in public, to the we'll known and
recorded fact that one Robards had obtained
divorce from his wife on account Of her
"living in adultery with one Andrew Jack
son." She had already been made Jackson's
wife, but the offence was deadly. jackson
sent the challenge. Dickinson was the most
expert marksman in Tennessee, and Jackson
resolved to give him the first fire.
The place appointed for the meeting was a
long days ride from Nashville. Thursday
morning, before the dawn of day, Dickinson
stole from the side of his young and beauti.
full wife, and began speedily to prepare for
the journey. She awoke and asked him why
be was up 80 early. He replied that he had
business in Kentucky across the river, but it
would not detain him long. On parting he
kissed her with peculiar tenderness and said,
"Good-bye, darling. l shall be sure to be at
home tomorrow night"
He mounted his horse and repaired to the
rendezvous, where his second and half doz-
en- gay blades of Nashville were waiting to
escort him on his journey. Away they rode
in the highest spirits, as though it were a
party of pleasure. Indeed, they made par
ty of pleasure of it. When they stopped for
rest or refreshment, Dickinson is said to have
amused the company by displaying his won
derful skill with the pistol. Once, at dis
lance of twenty. -four feet, be fred four balls,
each at the word of command, into space
that could be covered by a silver dollar. 1t
is said that he had laid wager of five hun
dred dollars that he could hit his antagonist
within half an inch Of certain button on
his coat.
Both parties, with their respective caval-
cades, reached the vicinity of the ground, ap-
pointed for the duel, late in the afternoon.
They secured accommodations at couple Of
neighboring taverns. 1t is related that Jack
son ate heartily at supper that night, convera.
ire in lively, pleasant manner, and smoked
his evening pipe as usual. He retired early,
and by daylight next morning the whole party
were up and in the saddle. A gallop Of
mile and the fording Of stream, which, ow-
ing to its swollen state, it was found neces-
sary to swim, brought them to the ground.
Dickinson and his party had already arrived.
The business at once proceeded. Dickinson 8
second won the choice Of position and Jack
sons the Office of giving the word. "Both
we're perfectly collected, says Parton. "All
the politeness of such occasions were very
strictly and elegantly performed. jackson
was dressed in loose frock coat, buttoned
carelessly over his chest, and concealing, in
some degree, the extreme slenderness of his
figure. Dickinson was the younger and hand
somer man of the two; but Jackson's tall,
erect figure, and the still intensity of his de-
meanor, it is said, gave him most superior
and commanding air, as he stood under the
tall popars on this bright May morning, 81
lently awaiting the moment Of doom.
care you ready?' said Overton.
81 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 a
bad place, too, but no; he does not fall.
Erect and grim as Fate he stood, his teeth
clinched, raising his pistol. Overton glanced
at Dickinson. Annoyed at the unwonted
failure of his aim, and apparently appalled, at
the awful figure and face before him, Dickin.
son had recoiled pace or two.
"Great God p he faltered shave l missed
him?"
"Back to the mark, sirw shrieked Overton,
with his hand upon his pistol.
Dickinson recovered his composure, stepped
forward to the peg and stood with his eyes
averted from his antagonist.
General Jackson took deliberate aim and
pulled the trigger The pistol neither snap
ped nor went off. He looked at the trigger
and discovered that it had stopped at half
cock. He drew it back to its place and took
aim second time. He fired. Dickinson's
face blauched; he reeled his friends pushed
toward 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 gush-
ing from his side in torrents. The ball had
passed through the body below the ribs. Such
a wound could not but be fatal.
Jackson and his friends Immediately left
the field. It was found upon examination,
on reaching the tavern, that he was wounded.
"Dckinson's aim," says Parton, chad been
perfect. He had sent the ball precisely where
he supposed Jackson's heart was beating, but
the thinness 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 somewhat painful, bad
looking wound, but neither severe nor dan
gerous."
Dickinson died that night.
In this duel it is plainly to be seen, from a
careful consideration Of the circumstances
above narrated, though the truth does not ap-
pear to have reached the apprehension of
General Jackson's biographer, that Dickinson
was out.wtted by his older and mose expert.
enced antagonist. Advantage was taken of
the very fact of his being dead shot," and
of his perfect confidence Of his skill with the
pistol. His avowed purpose was to shoot
Jackson through the heart, and he felt abso'
lutely sure of doing this In what manner
his object was defeated Mr.. Parton uncon,
scious y discloses. He aimed precisely where
he supposed Jackson's heart was beating, but
the thinness of his body and the looseness of
his coat combined to deceive him. Admit
ting the morality of private combat as of pub.
liz war snch strategy. under the circumstan.