The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1898-06-07
- DUEL
.Vtt Which Jackson was Ashamed.


I've clip from that excellent periodical, the
a1ecdotS1 CmpaniOn the foilOWinE interesting
.NoNE Of General Jackson's biog
IN raphers give the details Of his
first duel, and he himself never cared
to speak of the matter in later years;
but some years ago q granddaughter
OF Col. Waitstill Avery told me the
full story.
Waitstill Avery was a Massachusetts,
man who went TO North Carolina, car.
rying with him @ letter of recommen.
dation from no less q parsonage than
Jonathan Edwards. He soon acquired
reputation and influence, and in time
became attorey-general OF the State.
IL was his custom to take students of
law into his family, who became tu-
tors OF his children.
In 1874, when Andrew Jackson was
but seventeen FEARS Old and ambitious
90 become q lawyer, he applied for this
situation. The tradition is that he was
refused becausea daughter Of Avery's
took q dislike to his uncouth appear.
.ance. a
Young jackson next applied to
Spruce McOay. q lawyer inSalisbury,
N. O., in whose Office he was fitted for
the bar, and he shortly made his ap,
perance In the courts. When Jack
son was twenty n years OF age, be
and Avery met i'm the trial ca = case at
~Jonesboro, Tenn.
It was Jackson's habit to carry i'm
his saddle-bags q copy Of "Bacon's
Abridgment." and 20 make frequent
appeals to il in his cases. This precious
book was always carefully done up in
coarse brown paper, such as grocers
used before the neat paper bags of the
present day were invented. The un-
wrapping OF this much-prized volume
before q court was q very solemn func-
ton as performed by jackson.
Now Avery had by this time dropped
whatever Of Puritan aedateness that
had commended him TO Jonathan Ed
wards, and was -uncommonly fond of
q joke. he procured q piece of bacon
just the size Of the book, and while
jackson was addressing the court he
slipped ont the volume from it's wrap.
ping and substituted the bacon.
At length jackson had occasion 70
appeal Go Lord Bacon. TIC Waa an ina
portant casa and he would not trust
co his memory. He would confcund
his opponents bY reading from the
book itgeH While atiII talking he
raised the bearskin flap OF his saddle
bags. drew out the brown paper pack-
age carefully united the string un-
folded the paper with the decorous
gravity Of q priest handling che holy
things Of the altar, and then, without
looking at what he held in his hand,
exclaimed triumphantly, "We will
now see what Bacon saysl'i
The court, bar, jury and spectators
were convulseG with laughter before
jackson saw the trick that had been
played on him. Of course he was fu-
rious.2 He snatched q pen, and on the
blank leaf of q laWrbookl wrote q per
|emptory challenge, which be delivered
then and there. He asked for no apol
ogy-nothing but blood would do.
He commanded Avery to select atriepd
and arrange for a meeting at once.
80 Avery made no answer to this per
emptory demand, thinking his pep.
perry antagonist would laugh rather
than @heht, as he grew cooler.
But he did not know the young man.
Jackson grew hotter instead Of cooler.
Next morning, he sent this note, which
was full Of bad spelling. My North
Carolina friend had seen the original,
and In copying it had corrected the
photography; but these r the exact
words:
"SIR: When q mans feelings and
character are injured, he ought 60 seek
q speedy redress. You received q few
lines from me yesterday, and undoubt;
edlY YOU understand me. Ny chRrRc
@SE ~ AAJ04S@ ~
have insulted me in the presence Of
Gu eourt andR large audience. / there.
s4ore call upon you as q gentleman Co
give me satisfaction q the same
aud I further call upon you GO give
me- an answer Eamediatax 9bE&s
.qSIcruuGEfnn, ana IA hone-ynuCan no
Without dinner until the business Is
DONE for iii ts consistent with the char
Rcter OF q gentleman when he injuries
another TO make q speedy PREPARATION.
Therefore I hope you will not fail in
meeting me this day.
From your obt. st.,
ANDREW JACKSON"
"P. S.-This evening after court ad.
~journs." as .Tegr s1o re zz5