Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-10-25
THE DUELS FOUGHT
BY PRESIDENTS.
Jackson Fought Often aud Killed
His Man.
FIRST WITH COLONEL AVERY.
Avery Denounced Jackson for joke In
sopon Court Lincoln Once Accepted "a
Challenge, but His Ready sNyit yurned
the Amir Into n Farce and the Proposed
Duel Was Never Fought Famous Fer
sonal Encounters.

Duel Was Never Fought Famous Fer
sonal Encounters.
An article in the Junior Munsey by
John R, Spears describes some famous
American duels. The combats between
Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr,
Commodore Stephen Decatur and Com
modore James Barron. Commodore Perry
and Captain John Heath, Henry Clay
and John Randolph, Jonathan Cilley and
William ]. Graves. Gen. Armistead Il.
Mason and John Mccarthy are all de-
scribed by Mr.. Spears. but the most In
tcresting narratives arc those of the
ducls of Presidents jackson and Lincoln,
quoted below:
In his introduction MIR. Spear says:
.'Dueling has had Il marked influence
upon tho history of this nation. although
1t was never held in the same esteem
that 1t once received in Europe. Per-
hnps the most rcmarkapIe thing about
American duels was their bloodthirsty
character. Tho meetings. were not
ventional affairs. for oftencr than not
their ending WAS fatal. This probably
did much TO bring the practice Into dis
repnle.
nous American duclist. TO Abraham Lin
coin. who once accepted challenge to
fight n duel which his ready Wit turned
combsts hsye grown out of politics. A
notable exception was what have been
sailed the MIed,tcrranepn d4els wherein therein
many British officers for the honor of
the nag.
JACKSON'S DUELS
"Of those Americans who have played
parts OH what WAS called the field of
honor Andrew Jackson must come first.
n n - n o.
zen fought so many dues ms he. 1t may
be said that he, began his public career
by nghting duel over n well-smoked
piece of Tennessee bacon.
The future President OF the United
lawyer who had reached the mature age
Of n. He was opposed I'm a case by Col.
Waightstll Avery Jackson thought 10
have little beckwoods fun and deity
removed from Avery.s saddlebags 'Ba-
cons Abridgements,' standard work.
to which he Invariably ~ referred in court,
bacon for the book. Avery unrolled the
chunk of meat in the courthouse in
and amusement of the spectators.
~, instead OF Joining IN the laughter
diatcly tore Il fly leaf from the back OF a
law book and wrote challenge. with
r s.. that said: This evening after
He undoubtedly meant to write has
accurate. He was also too angry to
shoot straight when the Colonel met him
that evening after sunset IN ravine he
man. Jackson having also escaped I'M
hurt the trouble was smoothed over by
I'm 1899 jackson called out Governor
John Sewer. of Tennessee. but the meet
ing, was what veracious chronicler
OF talk and no bioodshed.
Jackson's third duel was fought in
lSO6, and 1t was this affair that places
.n,n.
duelists. Jackson was living Mt the Her
mitage on Neely's Bend of the Cumbcr-
a neighbor named Erwin over horse
Erwin did not choose to fight, but his
Natchcz, Miss. and for six months pass
Then lie wrote a letter to jackson, in
things. Dickcrson mentioned the name
ed forth a challenge, OF which General
Thomas Overton was the bearer. Jack
sons sons Letter OF instructions ended with
ing but his blood will satisfy me-
They fought on MAY go 1s06.. Mt Har-
Dickerson, who was as eager for blood
as was jackson and quite as confident of
shedding f. offered to wager $500 that he
row OF brass buttons that Gen Jack.
son wore on his coat. Jackson heard of
a remarkable course of action--to stand
In his place and let Dickerson shoot
first.
"Dickerson won the toss for position.
General Overton gave the word and
Dickerson fired. The spectators saw
puff of dust knocked from Jacksons coat
by Dickerson's well aimed bullet but
SO much h,,, astonshSed that he half stag
his eyebrows drawn down, placed his
left arm firmly across. his. breast. while
Back to your place, sir.
'Dickerson came back with blanched
face and averted eyes. jackson raised
Dickerson n mortal wound.
when Overton came to see how badly
Jackson was hurt he found that Dicker-
son had hit the button he had proposed
as Jackson had believed 1t would The
force of the blow broke two of Jacksons
ribs.
eral Scott, but Scott refused to fight a
duel. He said no duel was necessary to
prove the courage of either General Jack
son or himself, and that his conscience
such affair
LINCOLN WENT OUT.
ut comes with q shock when one first
hears s Ren tn oa o psen ts
20 fight n duel And 1t is all the more
remarkable that he should have done so
when It is remembered that he was n
nois people had never thought we'll of
such doings. In fact. they had not
fought q duel since 1920. whom a man
named Bennett was hanged for killing
'One James Shields, a man of inc~di-
nate vanity and with an Extremely