Mexico weekly ledger., 1895-07-11
THE DUEL IN WHICH HE HELD
HIS FIRE AND KILLED HIS
ADVERSARY.
Fight Forced on Him by Charles Dick
inson, a Famous Marksman-Jack-
sol Saved by His Extraordi-
nary Slenderness His
Chest Scraped and
Two Ribs Broken.
Henry Austin in the Illustrated American .

the history OF this country shall be
written by some one who has been
enough of a man among men to be a
wise weigher of all kinds of evidence
and who is possessed of hat imagin-
ative power which enables a mind to
reincarnate itself amid the events and
personalities whose tendency and
purpose it aims to depict and whose
meanings and motives it essays to ex-
plain, it is probable that Andrew Jack
sol and Abraham Lincoln, two child
rem of the people, born in poverty,
will be accounted not only the two
most typical Americans, but the
largest and noblest figuresin our pop
ulous national Pantheon.
Charles Dickinson was a Nashville
lawyer of some mark in his profession
and in politics, though chiefly noted as
a pistol shot. He considered himself
the best shot in the world. Perhaps
he was. But the pitcher that goes to
the well too often, says the proverb.
gets broken at last. Like most Tonnes
eeans of that erratic era, Dickinson
drank hard at times, and, in his cups,
threw all discretion and decency to
the winds.
Among other unpleasant things, it
was reported to jackson that Dickin-
son had alluded to the alleged irregu-
larity or illegality of Jackson's mar
riage with Mrs. Rachel Richards, which
was, of course, a very sore point with
the General, who loved his excellent
wife devotedly.
Still, Jackson was not bloodthirsty
to fight Dickinson. To that gentle
mans father-in-law he said:
81 would fain have no quarrel. My
political enemies, l believe, are using
this young man as an instrument to
get me out of their way. l do not wish
to fight, but l will, to the death, If
crowded. Bid him pause in time"
The suasions of Dickinson's father
in-law temporarily prevailed, and an
apology followed, but the shoulder
ing spark of hostility was famed into
a flame soon after.
Some reports of alleged remarks
concerning certain horse racing and
betting transactions caused Dickinson
to repeat his insults and to say that if
ever such a "cowardly cur" as Jack
son could be whipped or spurred into
a meeting on the "field of honor" he
would rid Tennessee and the country
of the 'Fpestilent p~oltroon."
Dickinson about this time must have
been meditating an attack of a similar
nature to the murderous onslaught
which the Benton brothers made on
the General years after, for he brag-
ged that he was going to force a fight
on Jackson.
Thus it began to be public opinion
that a duel must ensue, and jackson
finally challenged Dickinson, which
was exactly what the latter hat
plotted, because a challenge gives the
receiver the choice of weapons.
AS Dickinson's cavalcade wen
along, stopping now and then atroad-
side taverns to bait their horses ant
refresh themselves, the hero of the
party gave numerous exhibitions o
his pistol skill, hitting half dollars
tossed in the air, and IN one place
. where a bit of string was hanging
from a tree, he shot off the lower hal
, and said with a savage laugh: "Shoy
, that to Gen. Jackson when he come
q along this way"
q Far different was the temper OF tn
! other party, the tall, gaunt, slender
, stately soldier, riding in front of hi
comrades with his old friend and sec
ond, Gen. Overton. They CAVES yer,
g grave, though, of course, a brave
consideration to the matter. Bot
knew Dickinson's wonderful skill. L
fact, at that very hour the Nashvill
gambling fraternity, having wind c
= the coming event that had cast s
many shadows before, were layin
heavy odds on Dickinson.
"You will surely be hit, General,
: said Overton rather testify.
"Beyond a reasonable doubt" re
piled jackson; "but what of that?
shall wing him, too, never fear!"
"I've been thinking" said Overtol
"that perhaps it would be best to Il
: him fire first"
"You mean to receive his fire an
) reserve miner"
: eyes, General. If you should try
{ fire simultaneously on the signal, ar
8 he should hit you a second before ye
l pull the trigger, that might spoil yol
: aim. Better let him fire hastily. Ye
take deliberate aim. Your will ca
/, control your pain, even if hit. VIII
l., think your"
81 think you are right" said Jacl
Q son, "and / will do as you say"
That night, at the inn where thu
a stopped near the chosen groun
= Jackson ate a hearty supper, smok'
his corncob pipe and conducted hir
self like an ordinary genial travele
II the landlord, however, divining
y errand and wishing him a safe retur
o Remounting early next mornil
. they found themselves compelled
!, swim their horses across a ford, as
= ferryman was visible to convey the
Into the open heart of a poplar fort
IS they came and found Dickinson wi
l. his second, surgeon and friends ava
8 ing them.
The usual civilties of polite bio
N splitting we're duly performed, col
were tossed for choice of positis
E, which was won by Dickinson's secol
Of and the giving of the word, which
TO especially valued, fell to Gen. Overtt
AS the sun was yet quite low in t
cool heavens, position could not ha
been counted for much in the way
- Jackson's having a sun dazzle in
. eyes, which has happened to SO
dueiists, but it is easy to understa