West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1879-02-22
The Jackson-DiCkinson Duel.
Parton, Life of jackson. ,

.ihl'ou : LIE ~ Jackson
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 hi.
young and beautiful wife, and began
silently 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 Red
River, but II would not detain him long.
Before leaving the room, he went up TO
his vile, kissed her with peculiar tender
ness, and said
Goodbye, darling; | shall be sure to
be at home to morrow night"
He mounted his horse and repaired TO
the rendezvous, where his second and a
half dozen of the gay blades of Nash
vile were waiting TO escort him on his
journey. Away they rode, in the high
est spirits, as though they were upon n
party of pleasure. Indeed, they made
party of pleasure of it,
When they stopped for rest or refresh
ment, Dickinson is said TO have amused
the company by displaying his wonder
ful skill with the pistol Once, at a
distance of twenty-four feet, he fred
four balls, each at the word of command,
into a space that could be covered by a
silver dollar. Several times he cut a
string with his bullet at the same dis
tance. 1t is said that he left severed
string hanging near tavern, and said TO
the landlord as he rode away:
III General Jackson comes along this
road, show him that ~
1t is also said that he laid a wager of
FIVE hundred dollars that he would hit
his antagonist within half an inch of n
certain button on his coat. neither
believe nor deny one of these stories:
but so many of the same kind are still
told in the neighborhood that it is safe
to conclude that, on this fatal ride,
Dickinson did affect much of that reck.
lessness of manner which was once sup
posed to. be an evidence of high courage.
The party went frisking and galloping
along the lonely forest roads, making
short cuts that cautious travellers never
attempted, dashing across creek and
rivers, and making the woods ring and
echo with their shouts and laughter.
Very different was the demeanor Of
General Jackson and the party that ac-
companied him. General Thomas Over
ton, an old Revolutionary soldier
versed in the science and familiar with
the practice of dueling, had reflected
deeply upon the condition Of the coming
combat, with the view to conclude upon
the tactics most likely to save his friend
from Dickinson's unerring bullet. For
this duel was not TO be the amusing
mockery that some modern duels have
been. This duel was TO be real. IT was
10 be an affair in which each man was to
strive with his utmost skill TO effect the
purpose Of the occasion-disable his
antagonist and save his own life. As
the principal and the second rode apart
from the rest, they discussed all the
chances and probabilities with the single
aim to decide upon a course which
should result in the disabling of Diclin-
son and the saving of Jackson The mode
of fighting which had been agreed upon
was somewhat peculiar The pistols
were to be held downward until the
word was given to fire then each man
was TO fire az soon as he pleased With
such an arrangement, il was scarcely
possible that both the pistols should be-
discharged at the same moment. There
was q chance, even, that by extreme
quickness Of movement, one man could
bring down his antagonist without him
self receiving shot. The question
anxiously discussed between Jackson and
Overton was this Shall we trv to get
the first shot, or shall we permit Dickin-
son to have it7, They agreed. at length.
that il would be decidedly better TO lei
Dickinson fire first. In the first place.
Dickinson, like all miraculous shots. re-
quired no time to take aim, and would
have far better chance than Jackson in
quick shot, even If both fired at once.
And IN spite of any thing Jackson could
do. Dickinson would be almost sure to
get the first fire. Moreover. Jackson
was certain he would be hit and he was
unwilling to subject his aim TO the
chance OF being totally DESTROYED bvthC
shock OF the blow. For Jackson was re.
solved on hitting Dickinson. His feel
ings toward bis adversary we're embit
tered by what he had heard of his public
practicings and bOastful wagers. "l
should have hit him, if he had shot me
through the brain" said Jackson once
In pleasant discourse Of this kind. Oh,
Two men whiled away the hours Of tn,
long journey.
A tavern kept by one David Miller
somewhat noted In the neiphborbood
stood on the banks Of the Rcd River
near the ground appointed for the duel
Late IN the afternoon Of Thursday. On,
29th OF May, the inmates Of this tavorr
we're surprised by the arrival of part,
Of seven or eight horsemen. facoi
Smith, then employed by Miller AZ al
OverseeT, but now himself a planter ii
the vicinity, was standing before th
house when this unexpected cOmpan
rode up One Of these horsemen aske
him If they could be accommodated wit
lodgings for the night. They coul,
lhe party dismounted gave their hors,
to the attendant negroes. and entered m
tavern. No sooner had they done q