Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-10-04
IN GOOD OLD TINES.
A Notable Entertainment in Ante
Bellum Days.
HOW A DUEL WAS AVOIDED.
Wine, Wit and sOng-Generous Hospi.
tally Leads TO Dangerous Recrimina-
tton-MakingUpi In the nOrning-From
the Dining Table to the Battle Field.
Written for THE EVENING srAl.

Written for THE EVENING Star.
O. HE last dinner at which our set gatheret
IA before the war was one given by Gen
7 Albert Pike, who occupied, with Senator
SGrimes Of Iowa, the house 80 long the
~ residence OF Col. John H. Riley, on the
west side Of 18th street, just above the avenue.
It was late in December, 1860. The general
was guest of the Kirkwood House, BUTT wal
generally understood he did his own market
ing, and the Kirkwoods we're frequently his
guests, reversing the order Of things. The
dinner was an admirable one, and about twenty
sat down to the table. 1 can recall some Of
them. Gen. Breckenridge and Senator Powell Of
Kentucky. Senator Robt. ". johnson and Sena
tor Hindman of Arkansas. Gen. Wigfall Of
Texas Senator Grimes of Iowa, Gen. Thomas
l.. Crittenden, Col. Thomas s. Hawkins
and Capt. James S. Jackson of Kentucky,
Arnold Harris. Jonah Hoover and Dick Wal.
ZACH. The names of the others have escaped
my memory. During the dinner, as usual, wit
humor and song alternated, and Senator Wig
fall very humorously alluded to Kentucky as
producing only mules, and tine kentuckiani
responded by ridiculing the pretensions OF
Texas. No one, think, dreamed how soon these
jovIai friends would be arrayed against
each other III fearful, unrelenting war.
That very night Senator Hind
man left for Arkansas. having resigned his seat
in Congress. There were no premonItory evil
dences present at the festive board of the COM
ing trouble, and at the conclusion Of the sup
per We fingered about the table smoking, talk
ing and enjoying the wit and badinage and
song, "lngeriug, loath to CO." but no ex-
pressions of the political events, SO full of
perlls. were permitted to disturb the harmony
OF our evening Of enjoyment Here at least
you escaped the political discussions which
were 80 rife. Only very short time elapsed
when Breckenridge. Pike Hindman, Wigfall and
Hawkins were arrayed against Crittenden,
Jackson and the others who remained on the
Union side
When about to separate Hindman, who was
TO leave by the southern boat that morning,
insisted we should 90 to his rooms and finish
some wine he had on hand and about a dozen
OF us started after bidding our host good night
STANDING UP FOR HIS STATE.
Jackson, Wigfrll, Col. Tom Hawkins Of Ken
lucky and others cannot recall were standing
round the sideboard In Hindmans ROOM when
Wlgfall renewed his remarks about Kentucky.
Hindman, seeing Jackson was annoyed, tried
TO divert Wigfall, but he continued his re-
marks, when jackson said: Mr.. Wigfal your
remarks about my state have been borne long
enough" and with his open hand slapped Wig
fall IN the face. The CONSERVATION it caused
can hardly be imagined. The only man who
was not excited was WIgfall. He turned to us
and said: .'Gentlemen. don't let any difference
between Capt Jackson and myself interrupt
your enjoyment. Fill your glasses, gentlemen
want to drink to our host. Capt jackson and
myself understand each other But come
now; Hlndman, our regards" But Hindman
and Hawkins were discussing the inevitable
result. Hindman returned to the crowd but
the life had gone out OF our merriment for
none OF us doubted a serious ending to our
revels. Jackson. Hawkins and myself left soon
after, shaking hands for the last time with
Hindman. who was killed in the war. When
we got away to ourselves l shall never forget
poor Tom Hawkins distress. He blamed Jack
son, ana SAID: He will kill you, sure. and
will get the blame OF it from home" On
reaching the National Hotel Tom Crlttenden,
who was not with us at Hindman's rooms, was
in bed. He was aroused and brought into
Jacksons room, where we spent the remain
ing hours of the night in discussing the COM
ing duel, for OK course we all said '.Wigfall will
challenge him." At about daylight we left
Jackson to get some sleep. which Hawkins and
CritteEden advised him to take, as he would
need it. Crittenden agreeing with Hawkins
that Wigfall would kill him sure" Haw-
kIns said jackson was beautiful look
ing man on the field. but he couldn't
hit barn door, and with these
consolatory opinions of result soon to follow
we left him. He read his customary chapter
in the Bible. which he never failed to do before
going to sleep, promise he had made his wife
on hand and found Jackson asleep. returned
TO the hotel about IL o'clock. Crttenden had
gone to consult Breckenridge, while Hawkins
and waited with Jackson for the hostile mes
senger. An hour passed; no one came; even
Crittenden remained away. Another hour was
about to drop from the rosary OF time when
Crittenden came in looking worried and
anxious and talked to Jackson about preparing
letters. DC. for his family. Jackson, calm and
cool. replied: 1T will not take me long TO say
all have to say. Can't have a cocktail!''
Not drop" Numbered Crittenden, until this
thing is over" Jackson fell back on the bed
and murmured Il wish the d-n thing was
over, for I'm fearfuiy dryl'
UNEXPECTED VISITORS.
Just then Breckenridge and Wigfall entere
the room. We were startled Jackson 70 Sc,
gathering the bedclothes around him like a
martial cloak, commenced some remark to
Wigfail. who had gone direct to him. which
would have been an apology, but Wigfall
pushing him back on the bed, said; NO sir
not a word j will not humiiate you by allow
ing You to apologize. 1t was all a mistake.
Hlndman's wine was 10 blame. and BY the bve
am very dry now" We all sprang to the bell.
Champagne, in all it's varions forms of con-
cOctIon was ordered and we concluded to dine
right there" which we did [ don't remem-
Der what time that dinner ended. but do
know that not once WAS the slightest alusion
made to the cause of the hilarity which pre-
vailed.
James W. Simonton was then correspondent
OF the New York Times, and he made some Of
fenslvely exultant remarks about the Union H.
G. slapping the fre-eaters' face, &C. which SO
exasperated jackson that he determined to re-
sent it, and d difficulty with the correspondent
was only prevented by Wigfall, who insisted
Jackson should take no notice OF it. l met
Gen. WIgfall after the war, not much changed,
and we had q hearty laugh over the affair which
had caused US 80 many hours of ANXIETY He
spoke OF poor Jacksons death with sincere sor-
row.
These memories Of poor Jim Jackson. who
was killed at Perryville, Ky. recalls another
brilliant man and one of the most delightful
companions l was sent for late one night to
come to Gen. Jacksons room. He was subject
to some heart trouble, which caused him great
suffering. When reached his room l found
Mr.. Burhngame with him. He administered
some relief and Jackson was better. Both
Jackson and myself had imbibed a very bitter
prejudice against Mr.. Burlingame and as he
told me subsequently he was aware Of it, but
the intercourse of that night-for we remained
with Jackson all night-swept it away and at the
last days Of his life our intercourse and friend
ship continued and no one more sincerely la
mented his untimely death, untimely. for had
he lived he would have carried thraugh those
great international projects he originates
which his death left uncompleted.
THE FINE ARKANSAS GENTLEMAN.
had letter a few days ago from a gentle
man living in the interior of North Carolina,
where The STAB penetrates. asking me to OBJ
tam for him copy of the original song THE
Fine Arkansas Gentleman" 1t was out Of
print of course long ago, but found a copy in
Alfred Bunn's ''Old and New England" who
w hara IN 81 -<~Txl H..