Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-07-27
GIN JACKsoN's DUELs.
90. r,,bt with Dickinson and the Ben
fouE


- -. To tight seemed in per-
- with the mans courageous
-.,-arf and the whole drift Of his
- The first affair Of honor In which
a. General was engaged was when he
80 very young man, and holding the
80 Of District Attorney in Western
rr-rra-sea. Ii was in the summer OF
f7as Naf.-Gen. SEWER had just been
elected Governor, and still retained his
commission as a General. jackson want
- HIM 70 resign, and they became en-
reged no a dispute, in which Sewer told
I.ctsrn that he had run of with another
5aal's wife. This happened in the streets
N Knoxville. Jackson replied:
s-Great God Do you mention her sa-
cred uameg' Both drew pistols and fired
several shots in the crowded street. One
nan was graZed, but no one was seriously
Injured. When jackson challenged Sc
vipr the latter declined to tight because he
was uOor man and had a large family
Fqpeudeut upon him. Soon after this
meeting the parties came together on the
-r7ain road from Knoxville Unexpectedly.
AN were on horseback. Jackson, who
ras accompanied by DIR. Van Dyke,
called upon Sewer to defend himself. The
latter Jumped from his horse, which ran
away with the pistols in the holster. Sc
g5nr-s son drew on jackson, saying he
would protect his father, and Van Dyke
drew ON SEWER, but travellers interfered,
and no blood was spilled.
Iu this case jackson was popularity adj
judged 70 be in the right, as the lady in
question was then his wife, and had been
deserted by her former husband. Heheld
her name sacred.
IN 1875 Gen. Jackson heard that
Charles Dickinson, young lawyer, had
spoken disparagingly Of Mrs. Jackson.
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 a time amicably arranged. 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 a
gentleman. He wanted no quarrel, and
0ounselled Capt. Erwin TO exert his intiu-
ence to quiet the young man down.
Meantime a horse race was to come off in
which Jackson and Dickinson were in
terested. The stakes were $1,000 a side.
Before the race the horse in opposition to
Gen. Jackson broke down, and $500 was
forfeited. A Young man named Swami, in
speaking Of the notes placed up on each
side, said something that impugned Gen.
JaoksOn's veracity, and jackson, when
the matter was brought before HIM,
promptly said that whoever made the
statement was a - liar. Swami adj
dressed a letter asking for an explanation.
The General replied by reiterating his
language, though he did not know whom
II struck when first used, and referred TO
Dickinson as a tale-beaTeT, a cOwardly
pOltrOOn and liar. Swami then challenged
Jackson. who, IN accordance with a
threat previously made, caned Swami in a
public place. Dickinson next wrote a
fierce letter TO him, and left on a trip for
the South, expecting an answer on his re-
turn. While he was away another duel
came of between two gentlemen, Mr..
Coffee and Mr.. McNairy, who were mixed
up in the same affair, Coffee being
wounded. When Dickinson returned on
May -, he published a long letter in the
Nashville Impartial ReUietg, full of cut
ting sarcasm, and branding Gen. Jackson
As a coward and pOltrOOn. The inevitable
came. Before the article appeared in
print Dickinson was handed by Gen.
OYeTtOn. JacksOn's second, a peremptOrv
challenge. 1t was promptly accepted,
and DR.. Harrison COllet carried Dickin-
sons reply, naming Friday, May 80,
1906. as the date. Gen. jackson wanted
30 tight at an earlier date, but the other side
would not consent. The location of the
duel was a long days ride from Nashville,
An hEuLAEANs dCAUSo llE DGu IlhEIs Ill
was the general opinion that the meeting
HOuld be fatal to Jackson. Dickinson
WAS a marksman of unerring accuracy,
and was considered the crack shot OF
Tennessee. He was certain he would kill
his antagonist. The morning before the
auel he kissed his young wife gOOd-by, as
suring her he would be home the fol
lowing evening. She was in entire ignOr-
RnCe of his mission from home. DiCkn-
son was accompanied by party of gay
young men. All dispOrted themselves as
n on a pleasure tour. On the journey the
principal amused them by giving exhibit
lions OF his skill with the pistol. At a
distance Of "A feet he fired at command
four balls into a space that would be COW
cred by half dollar. At a wavside inn
he cut a string at a good distance with a
pistol ball, and instructed the landlord,
should Andrew jackson pass that way to
point it out to him. 1t was also said that
be wagered $500 that he would come with
IN half an inch of a certain button on
Gen. JacksOn's coat, aud had several
thousand dollars wagered on the result
Of the fight, betting he would kill his an
tagOnist at the first fire.
Gen. JacksOn's demeanOr was entirely
different. His second, Gen. OVertOn, and
himself COnversed sOlemnly together on
The prospects. They knew the opponent
70 be a sure shot, and counted every
chance. The men were to stand at eight
PAGES, with pistols down, and fire at the
supple word without further ado. The
two parties passed the night at country
tayerus about two miles apart. Jackson
had determined to let his adversary fire
1rst. rs he knew him to be the quicker
and the surer, and then take his chances
later. jackson was dressed in a loose
trOck coat, which concealed the slender
ness Of his physique and rendered the ex-
act position OF his vital parts somewhat
uncertain. Dickinson was the younger
and handsOmer, Jackson being more COM
handing and superior. There was a still
intensity in his manner that rendered him
grand as he stood under the tall pOplars
On that bright May morning, awaiting the
crack Of doom.
The word ready was repeated by both
men, and Gen. OyeTtOn shouted the sig.
nal. lire Dickinson almost instantly
sired. There was a puff of dust from
jackson's coat, and he raised his hand
ana clasped it to his breast. His friends
waited 70 see him fall, but he stood calm
and implacable as fate. AstOunded at his
failure, Dickinson recOiied a step or two,
saying:
-Great God! have l missed himg,
Back to the mark, STRIP shrieked Over
Ion, with his hand on his pistol.
LIe6lnSOn recovered his cOmpOsure. and
stood with eyes averted. Gen. jackson
took deliberate aim and pulled the trigger.
Tue pistol neither snapped nor went off.
Il stopped at half cock. Carefully he
reeocked il, and a second time took aim
and fired. Dickinson reeled, and was
caught by his friends. A deadly pallOr
came over his face, and his trousers be-
camel crimson from the life-blOOd that
h1ckled from his breast. The ball had en-
iered one side and come out at the other.
Jackson was Joined by OvertOn and
tney hurried from the field. Looking
Down, OvertOn saw that the Generals
shoe was full OF blood. 1t was the first
ne knew that his friend was wounded.
MY God, are you hitg" he exclaimed.
= believe he has pinked me a little,
olt say nothing about it." jackson re-
uHckinsOn's aim had been perfect. He
struck the mark. where he thought he
would pierce Jackson's heart, but the
slender figure and deceptive dress of his
adversary rendered the wound not fatal.
me bullet raked the breastbOne and broke
sN0 or three ribs. jackson was laid up
toL weeks, and though he lived to a ripe
old age, the wound was the eventual
cause OF his death. 1t was a case in
Nllcu enc or the Ofhnr had m no I-fffad