The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-03-22
ANDREW JACEsoN,s DUEL.
The Flight In which he Kiiles his An
sagonist and was Himself Wounded,

|
The Flight In which he KilIea his An.
sagonist and was Himself Wounded.
The duel between Andrew Jackson, and
Charles Dickinson was deadly. Dickin.
son had alluded In public TO the well
known and recorded fact that one Rich.
ards had obtained q divorce from his
wife on account Of ker diving ia adultery
with one Andrew Jackson.H She had
already been made Jackson's wife, bur
the ofiense was deadly. jackson sent the
challenge. Dickinson was the most ex-
pert ma.Eaman in Tennessee, and Jack.
son resolved TO give him the frat fire.
The p!sce arrre!2tea &C. :tie 7Iasaatiiai 7IasssaatiIiE Z
was q long days ride from Nashville,
Thursday morning, before the dawn OF
day, Dickinson stole from the side Of mis-
young and beautiful wife and 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
ard said: Goodbye, darling. / shall
re sure to be at home tomorrow night"
He mounted his bone and repaired to
the rendezvous where his- second and
half dozen gay blades Of Nashville we're
waiting TO escort him on his Journey.
Away they rode in the highest spirits, as
though it were party Of pleasure. In
deed, they made party Of pleasure of it.
When they stopped for rest or refresh
| ment, Dickinson is said 20 have amused
the company by displaying his wonderful
skill with the pistol. Once, at a distance
of twenty-four feet, ie fred four balls,
each at the word OF command, into q
space that could be covered by silver
dollar. It Is said that he had laid q
wager of $500 that he could hit his an-
tagOnist within half an inch of q certain
button on his coat.
Both parties, with their respective
cayalcades, reached the vicinity of the
ground appointed for the duel late in the
afternoon. They secured accommOda-
tlons at couple of neighboring taverns.
1t is related that Juckson etc heartily at
supper that night, conversing in lively,
pleasant manner, and smoked his even
ing pipe as usual. BE retired early, and
by daylight next morning the whole
party vas up and in the saddle. A gal
lop. of q mile and the fording OF 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 business at once
proceeded. .Dickinson's second won the
choice of position and Jackson's ths Office
Of giving the word: "Both were perfect
!iteness Of such occasions was very strict
ly and elegantly performed. jackson
was dressed in q loose frock coat, button
a olvyo h De NJ,
ing in some degree the extreme slender-
younger an3 handsomer man of the
two, but Jackson's tall, erect figure, and
the still intensity of his demeanor, it is
said; gave him most superior and com.
! manding air, as he stood under che tall
poplars on this bright May morning,
| silently awaiting tho moment of doom.5'
care you ready 2" said Overton. .. ..,
= ain ready replied Dickinson.
Il am ready" said jackson.
The word was given. ana
Dickinson raised bis pistol quickly I'd
| fired. Overton, who vas looking with
anxiety and dread at Jackson, saw q 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 ia surely
hit, thought Overton, and in bad place,
too; but no; he does not fall. Erect
and grim as fste he stood, his ueeth
olenched, raising his pistol. Overton
glanced at Dickinson. Annoyed at the
unwonted failure of his aim, and ap-
parently appalled, ct the awfal figure and
face before him, Dickinson had recoiled
pace oritwo. 41 D
"Great God i" he falterod; "have L
missed him 2", 5iue.s dix .f3;y.p.
"Back to the mark, SIT l" shrieked
Oyerton, with. ais hand upon his pistol.
Dickinson recovered his composure,
stepped forward to the peg and stood with
eyes averted from hisantaponist.
General Jackson took, deliberate aim
and pulled tho trigger, The pistol
neither snapped nor vent off. He looked
at the trigger and discosered that it he'd
stopped at half.cook. He drew il back
to its place and took aim o second time.
He fred. D;cis;ilsonn's fHaa5 ibianciied |;
he reeled; his friends pushed toward
him, caught him in tha;s, arms, and
silently seated him on. ihe ground. lean
ing against q bush. His trousers red
dened. They stripped off his cloth. $.
The blood was gushing from his side in
torrents. The ball had passed through
the body bele.s' the RIBS. Such q wound
could not but be fatal.
Jackson and his friends Immediately
left the field. Il was foand upon exam
ination, on reaching the tavern, that he
was wounded, "Dickinsorl's aim" saws
Parton, ''had beea perfect. He had sent
the ball pssci5ely where he supposed
Jackson's heart 'was' beating, but the
thinness Of his body and the iooseness of
his coat combining to dacniye him, the
ball Lad only broken g rib or two, and
rakea the breast bone. It was O some-
what painful, bad looking wound, but
neither severe nor dangerous" 's
Dickinson died that night.
In this duel it Is plain TO be seen, from
o careful consideration Of the circum-
stances above narrated, though the truth
does not appear to have reached the ap-
prehension OF Gen, ,Jackson's biographer,
that Dickinson was outwitted by his older
and more experienced ANTAGONIST. Ad-
vantage was taken Of the very fact of his
being o "dead shot, andl 6f his! perfect
confidence ia his skill with the pistol.
His svowed purpose was tSS shoot Jackson
through the heart, and |, = ut absolutely
sure of doing this. In what manner his
object was defeated Dir. Parton unEoii-
sciously discloses. He aimed "preeiseIy
/ where no supposed Snuasun . iiuarL sS:,.,
beating, but thai lthinness Of his body and
the looseneks of his coat combined ato
dee6iven him. Admitting the naorait 4,
ofprivate combat as oe public war, such
@ strategy under the circumstances can
not be regarded rs unjustih4Sio. .fhe
late General Sam. Dale, who Hns iEti-
mate with jackson, hes been frequently
beoY,1 to rn,, tlat TlinsLsuun,,,a GaA1l .,,,;s