The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-04-22
GIANTS OF THE PAST.
UNPUBLISHED STORY ABOUT OLD
GEN. WIGFALL.
Manly Enough to Confess Tha: He De
served an Insult-Spicy Anecdotes
of jackson, Nelson, Breckin-
ridge and Col. Dade,

son, who represented the State OF Ken
lucky in the House of Representatives in
1852, and from which he resigned to
take the commission of brigadier-general,
tendered by Mr.. Lincoln.
In the first battle where he was in COM
mand at Perryville, he fell leading his
men. When he left Washington to join
the army in Kentucky he seemed to feel
he was saying good-by for the last time.
think the night before he left Washington
he was at supper with us, when, after be-
ing seated at the table, we discovered there
were thirteen present
An unpleasant sensation was expe-
rienced and soon relative of our host
was brought in to break the fatal number
and, as We hoped, remove the spell. Not
more than ten days or two weeks had
elapsed when the news came that Gen.
Jackson had fallen in battle.
Poor Jim Jacksonl With his name
comes up thousand kindly thoughts
recollectons Of his unwayering devotion to
his iriends-hs chivalry and his kindness
OF heart. The many incidents in which
he was an actor furnished food for mirth
and enjoyment. ] can recall one that will
illustrate most forcibly Jackson's character
lstics.
lie had dined with John c. Breclsin-
ridge, Senator Powell and Albert Pike,
who had taken house together on Twelfth
street, near the Kirkwood house, then on
the corner Of Twelfth street and Pennsyl-
yana avenue. There must have been
twenty at least and among them Senator
Wigiall, Of Texas, jackson, Tom Crittcn-
den, Tom Hawkins, Robert w. johnson,
Of Arkansas, and iiindman, subsequently
the Gen. llindman of the Coniederacy,
and others whose names do not at this
moment recur 20 me.
A good deal OF humorous bandinngc was
exchanged between WIglall and the Ken
tuckians about the products Of that State,
be rpmarking on its celebrated product,
mules, and tracing resemblance between
them aud their tTuduCers; but he GOT MS
good Us he gave, and the dinner party
broke up somewhere in the early morning
hours, and then Hindman, who was TO
leave in the southern boat that morning,
insisted that we should adjourn to bis
rooms for the purpose OF finishing q supply
Oi wine he had laid in, and in consequence
OF his sudden departure the was, think,
the iirst TO resign had not been used.
sLtrrED wIGFALL's FACE.
4 dozen or more OF us enlisted for this
duty. and arriving at liindman srooms We
proceeded to dispose Of the supply on
hand, and were progressing with our usual
Alarci,y and with q certainty OF success,
when Wigiall, who WIS in the crowd re-
newcd the controversy with Jackson
about Kcntucky's mule product, and after
some interruption by our host, who saw
Jackson was annoyed, II was again COM
mcnccd. when Jackson said:
"Mr. Wiglll, your offensive remarks
shout my State have been borne long
enough"
With his open hand he then slapped
Wigiall In the face. The conformation II
caused can hardly be imagined. The only
man not excited was Wig.all. lie turned
~ the party and said:
"GcnllCmen, don't let any differences
between Capt. Jackson and me interfere
Rith your enjoyment, iill your glasses,
gunliCmcn, | want 10 drink 10 our host.
Capt jackson and | understand each
other, but now come, Ilindmln--"
But lliudman and tom Hawkins wen
,lrtidy consulting about the inevitable re-
suit. llindmun returned, more wine wa,
passed, but the liia had gone out Of the
merry crowd. for none doubted scriOu.
ending 10 our ryel-.
jackson. Hawkins and myself LET Eoor
after, shaking hands Tor TIE iast time will
Hndman, Who was killed In the wur
when We got away by ourselves | shai
not forget poor Tom Hawkins distnss
lie blamed jackson, aud said.
"lic viii ki.l you sure, AMI viii ct th,
blame ~ L from home.
when We reached the National hotel
rlm Cd.ionl,n, Who had not gone @,
liudmans rooms, WIS no bed. lie wl
.ouscd and brought into Jack on's room
where We spent Determining hours Of th,
light iu discussing the coming duel; for
u coursc, Wc all said Nigilll would chal
engc.
At ahou, daylight We l0't Jackson to gc
t1inp 'pst. which W. ursyi him to take, "a
De- would need d. CrIilcuirn agreed viii
Hawkins thal "Wig.all would kil him
mw." Hawkins said Jackson WA beau
i.lllolk.ug man Dn the GHil, but cnuidn'
hi. a bamaDUr. and with these clnaDla
.ory opinions 90 % result Boon 20 lc real
zrd We lyiI him. DE read DIS customary
chapter in the Bible, which b. nCvc
lnilcl 70 do before going 10 sleep, prom
I've be- had made hls wife or mother an,
next morning ! was the iirst one CA han,
aud lOund Jackson sound asleep.
WAITING FoE THE CHALLENGE.
Irc,urucd a. his room about II O'Clock
aud Cnucui,n hal gonc'tp consult Brock
Inidgc, while ll1V kins AMI ! aWaitgD
with jackson thr hostile messenger
Au huur p al aud no one came; cycl
Crit.rldpu remained away. Another hou
was abolt 0 Iron from the rosary ~ tim
when lnt'Dnl1n ctmo iu, looking w0uic
aud anxious aud talked seriously wit
JaCksnn about prvpanuE ict,cn, etc, io
his family.
Jarxon, calm and cool, replied:
cit won't take mc long tn say al ] hay
% ny. Can't ! have a r0ekiailg'
"Nol a drop thlnlcusd Criiicnlgr
"uuiil This thing b. over" Jackson q
back nn thc bed aud muuuuwd u VIE
the q I thing was over
Jufi then Bre.Inulr lnl Nir'all a.
tCvl the room. We wpr1 startled, an
jackson rose and, gathering the bc,
clothes round him. Ike o. martial clu1l
commenced some remark 90 Nigial
which would have been an apology, ll
Mipmli pushed him back On One bed, M
sitting beside him with bis ann arUuu
him mid.
"No. sir: not a word. I viii not hunt
tate Nuu by allowing YOU 10 apologize.
was fll mistake. llindmanB wine vi
20 blame; and, by the by, | am very dI
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