The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-02-18
A VERY NOTED DUEL.
Cen JacLson's Account of His Fight with
Charles Dickinson

NASHVILLE. Fob. 8. 1877.
Gen. w q. Harding.
My DEAR SIR: In the Kcatucky CORE
| spondencc of the Cincinnati OOmDtTcidt there
| recently appeared u communication describing
| tween Con. Andrew Jackson and Charles Dick
lnson. J in"use to your address paper con-
tanning II. Tor the purpoe" Of calling your att
| lows
" Jackson never exhibited the slightest com
nm nm, uon Tor the part he o9k in TINS bloody
| n1air, He very rarely ALLUDED 10 II. hut when
| hc ala II was always with perfect COMPETENCY.
| IL y tnld 81 hm that u grnilennn was once OK.
| them the General quietly remarked: That is
| thrr pistol With which Killed Mr.. Dickinson.
ME u not Wrording 10 my r'Frll'",lon. uoV'
Non ,. Brown informs me that you had con
| yersallon with our great and good friend at the
| hermitage short timc before his death. upon
inns subject IN which ne cNIrrssci regret nj the
| occurrence. in terms that reflected most cred
ninly , on MS great name and fame should not
sir very truly YOUR friend J. GEO. HARRIS.
BELLE MEADE NEAR NASHVILLE. Feb .. 1877.
| j. ,Ge9, Harris
My DgAg SIN: am Obliged for your kind ia
| Nor OF the Sh inst. also for the paper contain
| ing nm account of the duel between Gen. Andrew
Jackson and Charles Dickinson. which IN incur-
| rect IN some essential points, and does great
| iiDustce 70 Gen. JACKSON, rs Will appear from
| the recital Of conversation which took place
between him and myself.
:, NJ tho tiinc Con. Jackson retired from the
lIrsliential chair, and for several years there
plter lived In MrSpaddens Bend. ON the Cum
NE uernitisn, and II was my pleasure 10 Visit
| the old hero frequently.
ON the occasion referred 10. found Gen.
| Jackson alone. which was not often the c.t-e In
me course Of the conversation. | nskcd him
"ne'h'r BRAY" men wore ever frightened.
Gcn. Jackson replied: do not know. sir.
TINT am competent to answer the question:"
' answered; The world AMI especially
thos. who know you best. will accord YOU as
much courage as belongs TO man"
Gen. Ju'kson then replied: II that he 80.
SIR, would say that have been ass badly fright
cncd "a my man ought over To br."
! asked nm ON, what or,usion he WINS fright
,ned suppps .ns that hc referred to some OF nis
The q neral said II was. sir. whom fought
the duel with Mr.. ID rkiu-pn. In the first place.
sir. had no unkind feeling against Mr. Dirkin-
son anu no disposition To- inIurc hair oi y
houl 7 had gone MS TAR ~ an honorable man
could go 10 avoid the dineulty with Dickinson.
lie had not injured me. AMI thcrciorc had no
ground ~ complaint against him, Ny qlurr,l
had boon with his father in-law, Col. Erwin. |
kn'w Dick inson tn b. a brave. honorable I'm
silw-far better than myself. for was never an
expert with that weapon. | knew that he could
shoot quieker and trtr tlnn could. therc-
lore went upon the ground Expecting - be
killed. and owe the preservation of my life on
that occasion 10 the fashions OF the day for |
fun breasted but fortunately for me-. sir.
! was organized with n very narrow
chest. Dickinsnns bail struck very near the
c,ntrc Of my cDat. and. while il scraprd the
breast bone, II did not enter the cavity II tho
chest. In an instant underline imprcs sion that |
impulse Of the moment llrcd. aud my ant lyo-
nl-i i"il-and no event 81 my lll" sir, have re-
GREETED 80 much Ay d-tsrminntlOn before and
alter taxing my position WIS u Discharge my
pistol IN tho AIR. hut because felt the ef1"ot "
his shot | fired NJ him. just here. sir. 1T me
add that the world has done me great injustice.
Tor | am charged with having brought on the
difficulty. and with having fixed the terms 50 Us
"a Reserve my fire and advance: and II charges
me with having advanced upon Dickinson and
shot MIN whom wns within few feet Of him
all Ot which II false, sir. fred instantly after
receiving his shot, and from my position. and
Dickinson stood in his position and received
my nre ike brave man IA he was"
The above IL the conversation nearly verbatim
n II occurred between Gen. Jackson and my self
ia reference 81 that duel
Very truly your friend
W. q. HARDING.