Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1877-03-01

See, peeping from each dusky fold,
| The crocus with its cup of gold;
violets, snowdrops white and Silly,
sweeter than any summer lily;
And underneath the old oak-leaves
Her fragrant wreath the srbutus weaves- ~
Whatever sky may be above me,
Surely for these all hearts will love me p
| ANDREW JAeKsoN's DUEL.
The Fight in Which He Killed Ills An.
tagenlst.
The duel between Andrew Jackson
and Charles Dickinson was deadly. Dick
inson 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 ''iving in
adultery with one Andrew Jackson"
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 beautiful wife and began
speedily to prepare for the journey. She
awoke and asked him why he 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-by, darling. shall
be sure to be at home tomorrow
night" '.&: --.
He mounted his horse and repaired to
the rendezvous, where his second and
half dozen gay blades of Nashville were
waiting to escort him on his journey.
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 a distance of twenty-fow feet he
fred four balls, each at the word of COM
mand, into space that could be COW
cred by silver dollar. 1t is said that
he had wager of $500 that he could hit
his antagonist within half an inch of
certain button on his coat.
Both parties, with their respective
cavalcades, reached the vicinity of the
ground appointed for the duel late in the
afternoon. They secured accommoda-
ton at couple of neighboring taverns.
1t is related that jackson ate heartily
at supper that night, conversed in
lively, pleasant manner, and smoked
his evening pipe as usual. He retired
early, and by daylight next morning
the whole party was up and in the
saddle. A gallop of 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 ar
rived. The business 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 po-
| likeness Of such occasion was 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 insensity
Of his demeanor, it is said, gave him a
most superior and commanding air as
he stood under the tall poplars on this
bright May morning, silently awaiting
! the moment Of DOOM"
''Are you ready?" said Overflow"
II am ready" replied Dickinson.
Il am ready" said Jackson.
The word was given.
Dickinson raised bis 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 bis breast.
He is surely hit. thought Overton, and
IN bad place, too; but no; be does
not fall. Erect and grim as fate he
stood, his teeth clenched 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, Dick
insoa had recoiled pace or two.
"Great God ~ he faltered "aave
missed him ?"
s'Back to the mark STRIP shrieked
Overton, with his hand upon bis
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 of. He
looked at the trigger and discovered
that it had stopped at half cock. He
drew it back to its place and took aim
the second time. He fred. Dickinson's
face blanched; he reeled; his friends
pushed toward him, caught him in their
arms, and silently seated h. Oh the
ground, leaning against bush. His
trotsters Redeemed. They stripped off
1 his clothes. The ball had passed through