Sharp County record., 1881-09-08
AN NISTORIC DUEL,
The Bloody Encounter Between General
jackson and Charles Dickinson.

dho ehS OhO ptldu llltilt CtiuoCu Ills
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 DR.. Hanson Catlet was the friend
lof Dickinson. 1t was agreed that the
huel should be fought at a. NJ on the
ai0th of May QS06), under the follow
wag stipulations:
his" The distance shall be twenty-four
fr;ot, the parties to stand facing each
= her, with their pistols down perpen-
'iicularly. 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 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 day ride from
Nashville. On the morning of the 29th
Dickinson arose at day ybreak, 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
DR.. Catlet and half dozen of the young
bloods of Nashville. 1t was pleasure
party. When they stopped for rest Or
refreshment, Dickinson amused his
retinue by displaying his wonderful
s,il4 wife pisteas -essas. s%s4 '.i----aU'-.
OF twenty-four feet, he fired four balls,
each at the word of command, into q
space that could be covered by silver
dollar. Several times, at the same dis
tance, he cut string with his bullet.
He left a severed string hanging to a
hickory post near tavern, and, as he
mae away, said to the landlord, "Show
[ lat to General Jackson if he comes
Aong this road" He also laid a wager
that he would hit his antagonist within
half an inch of certain button on his
coat Parton, whose report we have con-
densed, 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-
fected 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. 1t was an
affair in which each man was to strive
with his utmost skill to disable mis- an
taeonist and save his own life. At the
word each was to fire as soon as he
pleased. There was 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 no
time to take aim, he would have far
better chance than Jackson in quick
shot. even if both fired at once. Jack
son was certain thai he would be hit
and he was unwilling to subject his own
aim to the chance of its being totally
DESTROYED by the shock of wound.
Finally, however, he agreed with Over
ton that it would be better to receive
Dickinson's fire and take his chances
afterward.
At sundown they stopped at David
Miller's tavern on the banks OF the Red
River, near the ground chosen for the
duel, and asked for accommodations for
the night. 1t was promised. The party
of eight dismounted and turned their
horses over to the attendant negroes.
They were hardly in the tavern before
the Dickinson cavalcade rode up and
sought lodgings. Miller replied that
his house was full, but if they chose to
remain he would do the best he could
for them. Dickinson asked how far it
was to the next tavern, and was direct
ed to house two miles down the river
kept by William Harrison. He and his
friends passed the night at Harrison's.
Jackson ate a hearty supper and
smoked an old clay pipe. He conversed
,,laaeantl1 ard ..se,st Y - Sc bed o5T De-
fore breakfast on the next morning the
whole party rode down the road that
wound along the banks of the stream.
A mile below they expected to meet a
ferryman, but as none appeared Jack
son spurred his morse into the stream
and dashed across. followed by kis
party. They rode into a poplar forest,