The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1881-09-03
AN HISTORIC DUEL.
The Bloody Encounter Between General
jackson ana Charles Dickinson.

and the one that nnally- caused MS
death, was received in his duel with
Charles Dickinson in 1906. General
jackson challenged Dickinson for dis
paraging remarks uttered concerning
Mrs. jackson. Dickinson accepted,
and DIR. Hanson Catlet was the friend
of Dickinson. 1t was agreed that the
duel should be fought at a. m. on the
3Oth of May (1806), under the follow
ing stipulations:
1.-The distance shall be twenty-four
feet, the parties to stand facing each
other. with their pistols down perpen-
dicularly. When they are ready the
single word Fire is to be given, at
which they are to fire as soon as they
please. Should either fire before the
word is given, we 1.-THE seconds pledge
ourselves to shoot him down instantly.
The person to give the word is to be
determined by lot, as is also the choice
of position"
There was intense excitement in
Nashville. The coming duel was no
secret, although the time and place
were known only to the friends of the
parties. Bets were laid upon the result
Of the meeting, the odds being against
jackson. Dickinson himself wagered
that he would bring his man down at
the first shot.
Harrison's Mills was days. ride from
Nashville. On the morning of the 29th
Dickinson arose at daybreak, and silent
ly began to prepare for the journey.
His young wife awoke and asked him
why he was up so early. He replied
that he had business in Kentucky, and
that he would surely be home on the
following day. He tenderly kissed the
fond little woman, mounted his horse
and galloped away, accompanied by
DIR. Catlet and half dozen of the young
bloods of Nashville. 1t was pleasure
party. When they stopped. for rest or
refreshment, Dickinson amused his
rctinue by displaying his wonderful
skill with pistol. Once, at distance
of twenty-four feet, he fired four balls,
each at the word of command, into a
space that could be covered by silver
dollar. Several times, at the same dis
lance, he cut q string with his bullet.
He left a severed string hanging to a
hickory post near q tavern, and, as he
rode away, said to the landlord, "Show
that TO General jackson If he comes
along this road" He also laid wager
that he would hit his antagonist within
half an inch of certain button on his
coat. Parton, whose report we have con-
denscd, described the party as frlsking
and galioping along lonely forest roads,
making short cuts that cautious travel
ers never attempted, dashing across
creeks and rivers, and making the woods
ring with merriment.
Very different was the demeanor OF
General jackson and his party. Over
ton was an old Revolutionary soldier,
versed in the science and familiar with
the practice of dueling. He had re-
Elected deeply on the conditions of the
coming combat, with view OF saving
his friend from Dickinson's unerring
bullet. They rode apart from the rest
of the company and discussed all the
chances and probabilities. II was an
affair in which each man was to strive
with his utmost skill to disable mis- an
tagonist and save his own life. At the
word each was to fire as soon as he
pleased. There was q chance that by
extreme quickness of movement one
man could bring down the other with
out himself receiving shot. jackson
and Overton were at first undecided as
to whether they should try to get the
first shot or permit Dickinson to have
it. Overton thought that, as Dickinson,
like all miraculous shots. required nc
time to take aim, he would have fan
better chance than jackson in quick
shot. even if both fred at once. Jack
son was certain that he would be hi
and he was unwilling to subject his owr
aim to the chance of its being total,
destroyed by the shock of wound
Finally, however, he agreed with Over.
ton that it would be better to receiv,
Dickinson's fire and take his chances
afterward.
At shutdown they stopped at Davit
Miller's tavern on the banks of the Rec
River, near the ground chosen for tn,
duel, and asked for accommodations fo
the night. 1t was promised. The part,
of eight dismounted and turned thei
horses over to the attendant negroes
They were hardly in the tavern befor'
the Dickinson cavalcade rode up ant
sought lodgings. Miller replied tina
his house was full, but if they chose T.
remain he would do the best he coul,
for them. Dickinson asked how far
was to the next tavern, and was direct
cd to house two miles down the rive
kept by William Harrison. He and hi
friends passed the night at Harrison's
jackson ate a hearty supper ant
smoked an old clay pipe. He converset
pleasantly and went to bed early. Be
fore breakfast on the next morning tn,
whole party rode down the road tina
wound along the banks of the stream
A mile below they expected to meet
ferryman, but as none appeared Jack
son spurred his horse into the strcau
and dashed across. followed by II
party. They rode into poplar forest