The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-03-14
ANDREW JACKSON'S DUEL.
The Fight In which he Killed his Antagonist
and was Himself Wounded.

The duel between Andrew jackson ant
Charles Dickinson was deadly. Dickin
son had alluded in public to the vel
known and recorded fact that one Rich
ards had obtained divorce from his
wife on account of her living in adul'
terry with one Andrew Jackson. She
had already been made Jackson's wife,
but the offerse 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 long days ride from Nashville,
Thursday morning, before the dawn OF
day, Dickinson stole from the side OF his
young and beautiful wife ard began
speedily to prepare for the journey. She
awoke and asked him why he was up so
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 Goodbye, darling. I shall
be sure to be at home tomorrow night.
He mounted his horse and repaired to
the rendezvous where his second and
half o dozen gay blades Of Nashville
were waiting to escort him on his Jour-
ney. Away they rode in the highest
spirits, as though it were party of
pleasure. Indeed, they made party of
pleasure of it. When they stopped for
rest or refreshment, Dickinson is said to
have amused the company. by displaying
his wonderful skill with the pistol.
Once, at distance of twenty-four feet,
he fred four balls, each at the word OF
command, into space that could be
covered by silver dollar. It is said that
he had laid q wager of $500 that he could
hit his antagonist within half an inch Of
q certain button on his coat.
Both parties, with their respective
cavalcades, reached the vicinity of the
ground appointed for the duel late i'll the
afternoon. They secured accommoda-
tions at couple of neighboring taverns.
1t is related that Jackson ate heartily at
supper that night, conversing in lively,
pleasant manner, and smoked his even-
ing pipe rs usual. He retired early, and
by daylight next morning the whole
party was up and in the saddle. A gal.
lop of a mile and the forling of a
stream, which, owing to its swollen state,
it was found necessary to swim, brought
them to the ground. Dickinson and
party had already arrived. The busi-
ness at once proceeded. Dickinson's
second won the choice of position and
Jackson's the Office of giving the word.
"Both were perfectly collected" says
Parton. "All the politeness of such oc-
casions was very strictly ard elegantly
performed. Jackson was dressed in a
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 demeanor, it is said, gave him q
most superior and commanding air, as
he stood under the tall poplars on this
bright May morning, silently awaiting
the moment of doom.
care you ready?" said Overton.
"I am ready" replied Dickinson.
CT 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 srlre-
ly 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. Over
ton glanced at Dickinson Annoyed at
the unwonted failure of. his aim, and ap-
parently appalled, at the awful figure and
face before him, Dickinson had recoiled
a pace or two.
"Great God!" he faltered "have I
missed him ?" .,
"Back to the mark, sir!' shrieked
Overton, with his hand upon his pistol.
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
neither snapped nor went off. He looked
ut tire trigger and discovered that it had
stopped at half-cock. He drew it back
to its place and took aim a second time.
He fred. Dickinson's face blanched ;
he reeled his friends pushed toward
him, caught him in their arms, and
silently seated him OH the ground, lean
ing against bush. His trousers red
dened. They stripped off his clothes.
The blood was gushing from his side in
torrents. The ball had passed through
the body below the ribs. Such wound
could not but be fatal. .....
Jackson and his friends Immediately
left the field. It was found upon exam
nation, Oh reaching the tavern, that he
was wounded. "Dickinsons aim, says
Parton, "had 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. It was some
what painful, bad looking wound, but
neither severe nor dangerous.
Dickinson died that night.
In this duel it is plah to be seen, from
q careful consideration Of the. circum-
stances above narrated, though the truth
does not appear to have reached the ap-
prehension of Gen. Jackson's biograph-
er, that Dickinson was outwitted by his
older and more experienced antagonist.
Advantage was taken of the very fact of
his being a dead shot" and of his per
feet confidence in his skill with the pistol.
His avowed purpose was to shoot Jack
son through the heart, and he felt abso-
lutely sure of doing this. In what man
ner his object was defeated Mr.. Parton
unconsciously discloses. He aimed
precisely where he supposed Jackson'f
heart was beating, but the thinness OF
his body and the looseness Of his coat D
combined to deceive" him. Admit
ting the morality Of private combat as Of
public war, such strategy under the
circumstances cannot be regarded as un-
iustitiable. The late General Sam. Dale,
who was intimate with Jackson, has been
frequently heard to say THAT Dickinson's
fatal mistake was in not aiming at Jack
sons head instead of his heart.
Parton is in error when he states that
= II