McCook weekly tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 188?-1886, 1884-07-31
GENERAL JACKSON'S DUELS.
bis Duel With Dickinson and Fight With
the Bentons.

His Duel With Dickinson and Fight With
the Bentons.
Cincinnati Enquirer.
General Andrew jackson, President
of the United States, and immortal as
the patron saint of democracy, is one
of the few men whose record was not
materially sullied by his dueling. To
fight seemed to be in perfect accord
with the man'sIcourageous temperament
aud the whole drift of his career. The
first affair of honor in which the gen.
eral was engaged was when he was a
very young man, and holding the Office
of district attorney in western Ten
nessee. 1t was in the summer of 1896
Major General Sewer had just been
elected governor, and still retained his
commission as a general. Jackson
wanted him to resign, and they became
engaged in a dispute, in which Sewer
told Jackson that he had run off with
another mans wife. This happened
in the streets of Knoxville. jackson
replied: "Great God! Do you men
ton her sacred nameP'' Both drew
pistols and fired in the crowded streets.
One man was grazed, but no one was
seriously injured.
When Jackson challenged Sewer the
latter declined to fight because he was
u poor man and had large family de-
pendent upon him. Soon after this
meeting the parties came together on
the main road from Knoxville unex-
pectedly. All were on horseback.
Jackson, who was accompanied by DR..
Van Dyke, called upon Sewer to defend
himself. The latter jumped from his
horse, which ran away with the pistols
in the holster. Sewers son drew on
Jackson, saying he would protect his
father, and Van Dyke drew on Sewer,
buJ travellers interfered, and no blood
was spilled. In this case Jackson was
popularity adjudged to be in the right,
as the lady in question was then his
wife and had been deserted by her
former husband. He held her name
sacred.
In 1905 General Jackson heard that
Charles Dickinson, a young lawyer,
had spoken disparagingly of Mrs. Jack
son. This was something he would not
allow under any circumstances. He
found Dickinson, who told him if he
said it he must have been drunk. The
matter was for time amicably ar
ranged. Again Jackson heard that
young Dickinson had been talking.
The General then went to the young
mans father-in-law and told him that
he wished the young man would hold
his tongue and comport himself as
gentleman. He wanted no quarrel,
and counseled Captain Erwin to exert
his influence to quiet the young man
down. Meantime horse race was to
come off in which jackson and Dickin-
son were interested. The stakes were
$4,000 a side. Before the race the
horse in opposition to General Jackson
broke down, and $500 was forfeited.
A young man named Swami, in speak
ing of the notes placed on each side,
said something that impugned General
Jackson's veracity, and Jackson, when
the matter was brought before him,
promptly said that whoever made the
statement was id liar. Swami adj
dressed a letter asking for an explana-
ton. The general replied by reiterat-
ing his language, though he did not
know whom it struck when first used,
and referred to Dickinson as a tale
bearer, a cowardly paltroon and liar.
Swami then challenged Jackson, who,
in accordance with a threat previously
made, caned Swami in public place.
Dickinson next wrote fierce letter to
him, and left on trip for the south,
expecting an answer on his return.
While he was away another duel came
off between two gentlemen, Mr.. Coffee
and Mr.. McNairy, who were mixed up
in the same affair, Coffee being wound
ed. When Dickinson returned on May
goth he published long letter in the
Nashville Impartial Review, full of cut
ting sarcasm, and branding General
Jackson as a coward and paltroon.
The Inevitable came. Before the
article appeared in print Dick
inson was handed by Gen
eral Overton, Jackson's second, a pc
remptory challenge. 1t was promptly
accepted, and DR.. Harrison Collet car
ried Dickinson's reply, naming Friday,
MAY 80, 1906, as the date. General
Jackson wanted to fight at an earlier
date, but the other side would not con-
sent. The location of the duel was
long days ride from Nashville, in Ken
lucky, across the Red river. 1t was the
general opinion that the meeting would
be fatal TO Jackson. Dickinson was
marksman of unerring accuracy, and
was considered the crack shot OF Ten
nessee. He was certain he would kill
his antagonist. The morning before
the duel he kissed his young wife good
by, assuring her he would be home the
following evening. She was in entire
ignorance of his mission from home.
Dickinson was accompanied by party
of gay young men. All disported them
selves as if on a pleasure tour. On the
Journey the principal amused them by
giving exhibitions of his skill with the
pistol. At q distance of twenty-four