The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1881-09-02
A CELEBRATED DUEL.
The Fatal Encounter ESctgs ecn Jack
son and EDieIyinsOn.
[From the New York Sun.

II
son and DieIxinsOD.
[From the New York Sun
Jackson's most severe wound, and the
one that finally caused his death, was
received in his duel with Charles Dick
inson in 1906. This fatal fight grew out
of projected horse race. Gen. Jack
son was the owner of Truxton, a re.
nowned race horse, named after Com
modore Truxton, who. six years before,
had captured the French frigates L In
surgente and La Vengeance. This horse
was matched against Capt. Joseph Err
wins Plowboy for the Nashville races
in 1906. The stakes were $1,000, paya-
BILE in notes which, it is understood,
were to become due on the day of the
race; forfeit $500. A schedule of the
notes was made. Truxton was backed
by Gen. Jackson, Maj. w. p. Anderson,
Maj. Verrell and Capt. Pryor, and Plow-
boy by Capt Erwin and his son-in-law,
Charles Dickinson. Before the day APP
pointed Plowboy was withdrawn, Erwin
and Dickinson paying forfeit. In pay
ing the forfeit Capt. Erwin offered Gen.
jackson some notes that were not due.
The General declined to receive them
He said that Maj. Verrell and Capt.
Pryor were about to leave the country,
and they wanted notes that could be
turned into cash without discount.
Capt. Erwin SAID that they were the
scheduled notes. When asked for the
schedule he put his hands i'll his pockets
and said that he had lost it. He added
that Mr.. Dickinson had memorandum
of the schedule, and sent for him. Dick
inson produced the memorandum. Jack
son insisted that the schedule notes were
to become due on the day of the race,
and Dickinson and Erwin were confident
that they were Offering only notes that
were on the schedule. Finally Erwin
executed his own note on the house OF
King e. Carson for one drawn by Robert
Thompson, which was not due, and the
matter was satisfactorily arranged.
Soon afterward Gen. jackson heard
that Charles Dickinson had spoken dis
paragingly of his wife. Dickinson was
lawyer, we'll connected, posses ed con
siderable property and had large circle
of friends. He was rather wild, and he
had the reputation OF being the best shot
in Tennessee. Jackson took him to
task for his language, and Dickinson
apologized, saying that If he had used
such language it must have been while
he was drunk. They separated III O
friendly manner. A second time jack
son heard that Dickinson had uttered
offensive words respecting Mrs. jackson
in Nashville hotel. The General WIS.,
tied Capt. Erwin. and urged him TO re-
strain his on-ln-law. want no quar-
rel with him." he said, "but even in his
cups he ought to comport himself like a
gentleman. Ny enemies i'll Nashville
ore urging him to pick quarrel with
me. Advise him TO stop in time" Dick
inson grew more cautious, but did not
wholly restrain his tongue. Ennity
grew between the two men.
In December, 1906, Patten Anderson,
warm friend of Gen. Jackson, willie
conversing in store in Nashville, said
that the notes offered in settlement Of
the forfeit on the horse race were differ
emit from those which Gen. jackson
agreed to receive. Dickinson heard OF
this through one who was present. His
informant referred him to Thomas
Swami, Virginian, who had heard An
dersons statement. Swami confirmed
1t. A day or two afterward Swami met
Gen. Jackson, and questioned him sbout
the notes. Swami told Dickinson that
Jackson said the notes offered by Dick
inson were schedule notes, but that
some OF those offered by Erwin were not.
On Dec. % Erwin and Dickinson called
on Gen. jackson in Nashville. The
General denied that he cast any stigma
on Capt. Erwin, and denounced any man
who said so as - liar" On Jan.
3, 1906, Swami wrote jackson, saying
that Dickinson had informed him of the
offensive expression, and demanded an
Following is an extract:
"There are certain traits that always
accompany the gentleman and man of
truth. The moment he hears harsh ex-
pressions applied to friend he will i'm
mediately communicate it, that expla-
nation may take place, while the base
poltroon and cowardly tale-bearer will
always act in tire background. You can
apply the latter to Mr.. Dickinson, and
see which best fits him. write 1t for
his eye, and the latter / emphatically
intend for him. When the conversa-
ton dropped between Mr.. Dickinson
and myself, thought it was at an end.
As he wishes to blow the coal, am
ready to light it to blaze, that it may
be consumed at once and finally ex-
tiDguished. The subject of the notes
was introduced by Mr.. Dickinson as an
apology for his conduct, the subject OF
conversation. In Justice to Mr.. Dickin-
son 1 request you TO show him thiA Be