Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1886-09-17
SAM HOUSTON'S DUEL.
OLD TINE arr AT THE
MOUTH or THE PISTOL.
THE BITTERNESS or POLL
Tres VA SHED orr IN
BIZ OOD.


Tres SHED orr IN
BIZ OOD.
Simpson county, Tenn, though
peaceful enough in these latter
DAYS, was in its earlier history the
scene OF recOunters that have pass
ed into history. Within its bord-
ers, or adjacent thereto, the hot
bloOded Tennesseans were wont to
settle their affairs of honor, and
the crack of the duelists' pistols
not unfrequently resounded in
in it's quiet forest. Near Adairville,
in the edge of Logan county, Gen.
Jackson fought Dickinson for the
honor of the woman he loved, and
stood like a statue after struck by
his antagonists shot. 1t was on
this occasion that he proved his
iron will by telling his second that
chad he been shot through the
heart, he would have lived long
enough to kill mis- antagonist
Six miles south of Franklin, on
the farm of II. }. Duncan, 200
yards from the Tennessee line, was
fought a duel which created wide
spread excitement throughout the
Union, owing to the reputation of
the principals. Houston was in
Congress from the Nashville dis
trict in Tennessee and sending
home for distribution among his
constituents a number OF public
documents, he claimed that Curry
the postmaster at Nashville, sup
pressed and failed to deliver them,
and denounced him as a scOnndrel.
For this Curry sent him a challenge
by Gen. White. Houston refused
to receive the message, as he stated,
"from such a contemplate source
throwing it on the ground and
stamping on it. Gen. White said
he was not surprised, as no one ex'
pected Houston to fight. To this
Houston retorted, "Do you try
me.D OF course a challenge fol
10 we'd from White, which Houston
promptly accepted. The terms and
conditions were: "Fifteen feet dis
lance holster pistols; time, sun
rise" The place chosen as stated,
was in Simpson county. On the
23d day Of September. 1926, the
parties met at the designated
point with their seconds.
The fact that a duel was to DC
fought had gone abroad, and a
number OF persons had secreted
themselves near the field to witness
the affair, a fact unknown to either
principals or seconds. After the
first shots had been exchanged and
White bad fallen to the ground the
people rushed to the spot. llous
ton seeing them and fearing an
r arrest, started toward the State
line with q view of crossing and
escaping. Gen. White called to
, him, "General, you have killed
me.r Houston then faced the
, crowd with pistols still in hand
and inquired if there were any
officers of the law among them, and
being answered in the negative h'
advanced to the side of his lat
antagonist and kneeing by him
took his hand saying, 81 am sorry
, for you, tut you forced it upon me.
Gen. White replied, 81 know it anC
forgive you.' White had beer
: shot through just above the hips
and the surgeons to cleanse th'
wound of blood took one of thei
old fashioned silk neckerchief
through the wound. Gen. White
recovered from his fearful wounC
as much to the JOY Of Houston al
to himself.
During the week preceding the
, duel Gen. Houston remained a
the home of Sanford Duncan
near the field, practicing the mean
while with pistols. At his tempo
rary home were two belligerenI
|, young dogs, named tor their pug
nacious dispositions Andrew Jack
son and Thos. II. Benton. These
, were continually fighting, Hous
toms political sentiments leading
, him to espouse the ca use of thu
Jackson pup, who very much to hi'
delight was constant winner in
the frays. The hour for arising
and preparing for the duel on the
arrival of the day was $40 a. m
Just before the hour "Gen. Jack
, SOM barked beneath the window
of his admirers's room, awakening
him. Houston arose without dis
turbing his attending friends, ant
r begun the task Of moulding bullet'
with which to fight Gen. White
As tho first bullet fell from thu
mould game cock which he ad
mired scarcely less than he did the
dog, crowed a loud, clear note
; Houston, with that element o
superstition which finds a place il
nearly every mind accepted tht
early greeting of his friends az
happy omens and marking the bul
let on one side for the dog and thu
. other for the chicken, made up hi'
mind that his pistol should b'
loaded with it, and that he would
fret that particular ball at Gen
White. lie afterwards said thai