The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1882-01-08
A HISTORIC DUEL.
How General Jackson Avenged an
Insult TO his Wife.
The Bloody Encounter with
Charles Dickinson.

caused his Q6aLl WAS received IN his
duel with Charles Dickinson, in
1906. General Jackson challenged
Dickinson for disparaging remarks
uttered concerning Mrs. Jackson.
Dickinson accepted, and DR.. Han
son Catlet was the friend of Dickin-
SON. Tt was agreed that the duel
should be fought at 7 am. on the
Both oflMay, 1906, under the follow
ing stipulations:
The distance shall be tWenty-four
feet, the parties to stand facing
each other, with their pistols down
perpendicularly. 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
l-he' 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 i n
Nashville. The coming duel was
no secret, although the time and
place were known only to the frlnds
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 a days ride
from Nashville. On the morning of
the 26th, Dickinson arose at daybreak,
and silently began to prepare for the
journey. His young wife woke 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 wo-
man, mounted his horse and galloped
away, accompanied by DR.. Catlet
and half dozen of the Young bloods
of Nashville. 1t was 4 pleasing
party. When they stopped for rest
or refreshment, Dickinson amused
his retinue by displaying his won
derful skill with a pistol. Once, at
distance of twenty-four feet, he
fired four balls, each at the word of
command, into space that could be
covered by 3 silver dollar. Several
times, at the same distance, he cut
string with his bullet. He left a
severed string hanging to a
hickory post near tavern, and, as
he rode away, said to the landlord !:
"ShoW that to General Jackson if he
comes along this road" He also
laid a wager that he would hit his
antagonist within half an inch of a
certain button on his coat. Parton,
whose report we have condensed,
described the party as frisking and
galloping along lonely forest roads,
making short cuts that cautious
travellers never attempted, dashing
across creeks and rivers, and making
the woods ring with merriment.
JACKsoN'S PLAN OF BATTLE.
Very different was the demeaner
of General Jackson and his party.
OVerton was an old revolutionary
soldier, versed in the science and
familiar with the practice of duel.
ing. He had reflected deeply on the
conditions of the coming combat,
with a view of saving his friend
from DickinSOn's unerring bullet.
They rode apart from the rest CT
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 dis
able his antagonist and save his own
life. AT the word each was to fire
as soon as he pleased. There was a
chance that by extreme quickness of
movement one man could bring
down the other without himself re-
ceiving ashot. 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 than as Dickinson,
like all miraculous shots, required
no time to take aim, he would have
q far better chance that Jackson in
a quick shot, even il both fired at
once. Jackson was certain that 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 a wound. Finally, how
ever, he agreed with Overton that it
would be better to receive Overton's
fire and take his chances after
ward.
At shutdown 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 over night. It was
promised. The party of eight then
dismounted, and turned their horses
over to the attendant negroes.
They were hardly in the tavern be-
fore the Dickinson calvacade rode
up and sought lodgings. Miller re-
piled that his house was full, but, if
they chose to remain, he would do
the best he could for them. Dick
inson asked how far it was to the
next tavern, and was directed to a
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 con-
Yersed pleasantly and went to bed
early. Before breakfast 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 d ferryman, but as
none appeared, Jackson spurred his