The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1877-01-11
Lincoln's Broadsword Duel,
How He ACCEPTED A CHALLENGE to
FIGHT IN A QUARREL ABOUT PIN.

| SA'No "0 "h "CCounI OF 3Halr or non"
or, which forms ono OF tie most
pleasing episodes in his book. In one
OF his letters to Speed, Mr.. Lincoln
reters to his duel with Shield'-a
duel, by the way, which was mover
fought: The object of this paper is
to furnish for our readers a portrait
OF tho secret hietory of that celebrat-
cd duel
Tho readers of Lincoln's life are
we'll aware that Mary Todd, after
wards Mrs. Lincoln, drew her lover
into that very ugly scrapo. Gas
satirical writer. says Mr.. Lamon, she
had no rival of either Sex at Spring.
field, and few, wo venture to say,
anywhere else. X x She was
not disposed to let her genius rust for
want of use; and, finding no other
victim handy, she turned her atten-
tion to James Shields, 'Auditor.'-
She had friend, one Miss Jayne, af-
terward Mrs. Trumhull Omitted
States Scnator), who helped her to
keep her secrots, and assisted as
much as she could i'll worrowing the
cholcric 1risiman.'
The beautiful Miss Jayne was the
apple Of diecord in this case. Gen
eraI Shields was walking homo with
her one night; he took the liberty of
squeezing her hand, she took the lib
erty Of sticking pin in him. This
small affair OF the pin led to the great
affair Of the sword. It figures lately
in one of Rebecca. 50 alias Miss Todds
lottors from the Lost Towuships,' and
addressed to the editor of the Sargn-
mon Journal, by whom it WAS pub
linhed. Il is The most favorable epo,
cimon Ct Miss Todd'a wit, bat it is
too long 10 he copied here. T3cc L..
mems lilo, pp. 25T-3.1
Now, 'Unclo Abe,' inet;gatcd by
his love OF fun, or his love Of Mary
Todd, or his love Of mischief, or by
all three must have his say about the
pin. Accordingly, he wrote q letter
over the name of 'Aunt Bcccy,' from
tho Lost Townahips,' ard had it pub.
liahod in tho SaDgamon Journal. -
Strange TO say, this letter, about
which tho fight occurred Il. G., tho
fight that WAS never fought), does not
appear in Mr.. Lannon's book. 9th
er letters of the series are given, but
not this. The wrath of Shields-the
Irish Achilleir-which had been
long kindled, now burst into flames.
lie demanded the author of the
Lost Township letters, especially of
the one written by Aunt Beccy.'-
Aunt Beccy proved to be Uncle Abe.
Gen. Shield, the terrible son Of Mars,
without waiting to call for an oxpla-
nation, at once challenged Aunt
j}eccy, and she at once accepted the
challenge. 1t WAS at this point Of
the business that the present writer
was made acquainted with the state
of affairs by Mr.. Lincoln himself.
Ho entered my Office one night as
was engaged 10 the study Of q law
case, with somewhat more than the
usual gloom seated Oh his molan-
choly face. After taking scat he
said, 81 have got into a difficulty,
and want to SEQ if you cannot help
me out of it," "Most happy to do 80,
said [, if l can. What is the mottor?"
"Why, SAID ho, that tool letter which
[ wrote for tho 6angamon journal
has made Shields mad, and he has
challenged me. have accepted the
ch" leugo, aid, without thinking, l
have chosen Dr.. Morryman for my
second. believe ho would rather
soc fight than not. IF I have to
fight l will fight; but 1 don't care
about fighting just to crafty DR..
Merryman. Now, if you will como
in and make DR.. Merryman do right
TOR | know Yon will have more influs