The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1884-07-25
Gen. Jaokson's s Duels,
MS FIGHT WITH DICKINSON AND THE
,.t. BENToNs.

MS FIGHT wITn DICKINSON AND THE
l. eot BENToNs .'..
| Gen. Andrew Jackson, President of
the United States, and immortal as the
lpatron saint of Democracy, is one of
| the few men whose record was not ma
terially sullied by his duelling. To
fight seemed in perfect accord with the
mars courageous temperament and the
whole drift of his career. The first af-
fair of honor in which the General was
engaged was when he was a very
young man, and holding the office of
District Attorney in Western Tennes-
see. 1t was in the summer OF 1896.
Major-General Sewer had just been
elected Governor and still retained his
commission as General, jackson want.
ed him to resign, and they became en-
gagged in dispute, in which SEWER
told jackson that he had run off with
another mans wife. This happened in
the streets of Knoxville. Jackson re-
| pliel: .I H.. l.a .H r.
| "Great God Do you mention her
sacred name y Both drew pistols and
fired shots in the crowded street. One
man was grazed, but no one was SER
iously injured. When Jackson chal-
lenged Sewer the latter declined to
fight because he. was poor man and
had a large family dependent upon
him. Soon after this meeting the par
ties came together on the main road
from Knoxville unexpectedly. 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 hols-
ter. Sewers son drew on Jackson,
saving he wonld protect his father, and
Van Dyke drew on Sewer, but travel
lers interfered, and no blood was spill
ed. -fHrg -. .-...,,r1
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. Ist-f
4 In 1905 Gen. Jackson heard that
Charles Dickinson, a young lawyer,
had spoken disparagingly of Mrs. Jack
lson. This was something he would
not allow under any circumstances He
found Dickinson, who told him if he
| said 1T he must have been drunk. The
matter was for time amicably arrang
ed. Again Jackson heard that young
| Dickinson had been talking. The gener
al then went to the young man IS father
| in law and told him that he wished the
1 young man would hold his tongue and
comport himself as. a gentleman. He
wanted no quarrel, and counselled
| Capt. Erwin to exert his influence to
! quiet the young man down. Mean
time horse race was to come off in
which jackson and Dickinson were in
terested The stakes were $4,000 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 General Jackson's veracty,
and Jackson, when the matter was
brought before him, promptly said that
whoever made the statement was a
id liar. Swami addressed a letter
asking all explanation. The General
lreplied by reiterating his language,
though he did not know whom it Struck
when first used, and referred to Dick.
2 inson as tale-bearer,. cowardly pol
troon and liar. Swami then challeng
ed Jackson, who in accordance with Q
threat previously made, caned Swami
in public place. Dickinson mex,
I wrote fierce letter to him, and left OF
a trip for the South, expecting an an
swer on his return. While he wa.
away another duel came off between
two gentlemen, Mr.. Coffee and Mr.
McNairy, who were mixed up in the
same affair, Coffee being wounded
When Dickinson returned on May 20th
he published long letter in the Nash
vile Impartial Reoieao, full of cutting
sarcasm, and branding Gen. jackson al
a coward and poltroon. The inevita
BILE came. Before the article appeared
in print Dickinson was handed by Gen
Overton, Jackson's second, perempto
! ry challenge. 1t was promptly accept
; ed, and DIR. Harrison Collet carried
Dickinson's reply, naming Friday
May 30th, 1906, as the date. Gen
Jackson wanted to fight at an earlie
date, but the other would not consent
The location of the duel was Ions
days ride from Nashville, in Kentucky
across the Red River. 1t was the gen
: eral opinion that the meeting would b,
,, fatal to Jackson. Dickinson was
marksman OF unerring accuracy, anc
was considered the crack shot of Ten
! nessee. He was certain he would xii
! his antagonist. The morning befor
the duel he kissed his young wife good
by assuring her he would be home tn,
following evening. She was in entir
|, ignorance of his mission from home
= Dickinson was accompanied by part
OF gay young men. All disporte'
: themselves as if on pleasure tour, o.
: the journey the principal amused then
: by giving exhibitions of his skill wit
s the pistol. AT a distance of twenty
= four feet he fired at command fou
s balls into space that could be covere
9 by half dollar, At a wayside inn
> cut string at a good distance with
s pistol ball, and instructed the LANDLORD
8 should Andrew Jackson pass that wa
e to point it out 10 him. 1t was ais
said that he wagered $500 that
= would come within half an inch of
8 certain button on Jackson's coat, an
p had several thousand dollars wagere
; on the result of the fight, betting h
would kill his antagonist at the fir,
: fire. ...... .''. .......
Al Gen, Jackson's demeanor was entir
= ly different. His second, Gen. Owe
). ton, and himself conversed soemnl
y together on the prospects, They kne
y the opponent TO be sure shot, an
a counted every chance. The men wei
= to stand at eight PAGES, with pisto
y down, and fire at the simple word witt
v utfurther ado, The two parties passe
~ ~ the night at country taverns about tw
u miles apart Jackson had determine
's s to let his adversary fire first, as
e knew him TO be the quicker aud ii
surer, and then take his chances late