The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1881-09-29
JACKSON AND HOUSTON.
Some Notable Changes in Historic
Facts.
IFranklin Review and JOurnal.l

memDe OF the IeXaS senate, were at TIL
residence of the Hon. 81. p. Fowlkes,
son-in- law of this most interesting an
instructive lady. They left last Thurs
day, but before they departed we seize,
the opportunity Of having very pleas
ant chat with them. We found Mrs
| Martin TO be one of the best posted wo
men we ever saw about the old time
| and people in Tennessee. Her mothe
was sister of Hugh Lawson White
and wife first of the celebrated DR.
the father of the Hon. John Overton o
Davidson county. Her maiden nam,
was May, and consequently she is half
sister of the above named gentleman
DIR. May was an Englishman, and the
most noted surgeon of his day, and the
inevitable attendant of Andrew Jack
son whenever he sought the field of hon.
or to redress his wrongs. About the
time of the duel between Jackson and
Dickinson, Mrs. Martin ws.s born, andlas
she has a most tenacious memory which
holds the facts and incidents of the past
in wonderful grip, her "reminiscences
of long ago are simply thrilling. After
her fathers death her mother became
the wife of Judge John Overton, a great
friend of Jackson, who lived where his
son now lives. The father, like the son,
kept ap open house, which was the rem
devious Of all the celebrated characters
of the time. F
Amid this notable society Mrs. Mar
tin was reared and educated. She heard
her mother recount time and again ev-
cry particular about the duel mentioned
above. 1t has crept into history that on
his way from the Dickinson fight jack
son drank heavy draughts of butter
milk. Mrs. NJ. says that the milk ques-
tion was up for argument at a very early
day; and that her mother stated dis
tinctly that DR.. May told her that on GO
ing to the lgeling ground Jackson was
in the act of reaching iOrth 20 take a
cup of milk, and he told him not to
touch it as he must go to the fight on an
empty stomach. He also accompanied
him from the field and forbade him the
use OF milk in order to keep his stomach
from being too full, as the ball had
strhek him nsaT thSt part OF his anato-
my. This evidence settles very etfec-
tually the buttermilk story which has
crept into the narrative of Parton.
General Tom Overton, a brother of
Judge Overton, and who died at "Sol-
dieE's Rest" near the Hermitage, was
Jackson's second, and he told afterward
how startled Dickinson looked when he
saw jackson standing after he had fired.
Overton ordered him to toe the mark,
which he did, and received the fatal
bullet. DR.. May said that jackson
wore buttoned coat on that &C.
casIon and not a loosely fitting one as
have clothed him in. The
ball struck a button and was detected,
nd br1f for fhio nialinann would have
killed his antagonist. After her father
had attended to Jackson he went over to
see Dickinson with a specific injunction
from Jackson resting upon him not to
let Dickinson know that he had been
hit. In fact, so great was DR.. Nays
as a surgeon, that Dickinson
had sought his services before the fight,
but was informed that he was retained
by Jackson. "Well," said Dickinson,
al am glad you viii be on the ground,
for if need your assistance | can get
it," He called on Dickinson and found
him dying. "Can live, dOctor?" asked
the young man. al fear not" answer
sr the surgeon. Chow long can l live?"
he gasped. "Not long," was the re-
sponse. "How did it happen that |
missed the id rascal 3" was his last ut
terance. The thought that so excellent
q shot as he was should have failed adj
ded untold tortures to his dying agOnies.
When they were getting up the certiti-
cate about the duel it was with great
difficulty they could induce DIR. May to
sign the same. A controversy arose
about the right of Jackson to fire after
mis- pistol refused to go off at the first
attempt. DR.. Nay said that as far as
everything was contained in the writ
ngs which were drawn up about the
duel all had been conducted fairly, but
o insisted that there was verbal un-
lerstanding that ga snap should be as
good as a fire." Jackson's friends
claimed that it was not snap, as his
pistol was only half-cocked and could
not fire until full-cocked. DIR. May
signed the certificate with the reseFva-
Jon that jackson had no right to fire
after his failure. Evidently from these
facts the surgeon thought that Jackson
ought to have let Dickinson have an
)ther fire.
In the early days, when Jackson was
n the habit of coming to her mothers
house, he and his companions were full
,f anecdote about their fights and bets.
Later on, when the great man was ap-
the "sere and yellow leap Of
life, he was calm and dignified, but al
ways the most graceful and courteous
nan to ladies. Mrs. M. regrets the loss
)f q letter she read once which Jackson
wrote to some of the family, because it
was fearfully and wonderfully con-
,tructed as far as the rules of spelling
and grammar were concerned.
So great was Jackson's esteem for
Judge Overton, DIR. May and Mrs. Mar
.in's mother, that after the historic split
Hugh L. White and himself he
was continually sending kind words and
messages to the family. AS far as is
known he never permitted his feelings
% change towards Mrs. Martins moth
II, who was as stated above a sister OF
Hugh L. White, although the White
iamily and others felt very bitterly to-
wards him. wT
Mrs. Martin recollects distinctly
visit which Gov. Sam Houston made, in
company with his wife, to her mothers
after he had been married three months.
The facts detailed by her throw new
light upon the connubial relations OF the
tirst president of Texas. Houston has
great creditiD the world for his
,hivalrous course towards his wife. 1t
las been a much mooted question, and
lp to date the honors are about easy be-
tween the couple as to where the blame
rests for their separ alton. One account,
which seems to be Houston's, has 1t that
Houston, after they had retired to the
bridal chamber, learned from his bride
that she was deeply in love with anoth-
pr, and that she had been forced to mar
~ him by her father and mother on ac-
count of his social position. The story
yoes on and says that he left the room
and hurried TO Nashville and
threw up his commission as governor,
and pitched out for the Indians where he
sought nepenthe for his ill-sorted match
in one of the widest and most success
ful border lives on record. The world
has applauded this to the echo. But IL
Is evident that jackson and all his
friends were kept in DOUBT and ignor-
lnce about his martial difficulties. The
Incident detailed by Mrs. Martin clears
lp the mystery somewhat. As before
stated Houston with his three months
bride made visit to Judge OvertOn's.
Mrs. Martins mother tried to get Mrs.
Houston TO talk during the entire visit.
So did Houston. BE was very diligent
but Intellectual in his efforts. The whole
company failed to interest her. She
sulked and nursed her wrath 20 keep it
warm all the while. On the morning Of
their departure a servant went to the
room to call the couple to breakfast
Mrs Houston was uD and dressed but