Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1907-04-25


satirical writer she had no rival of
either sex at Springfield and few. we
venture to say, anywhere else. But
that Is dangerous talent. The temp
tatiOns to use it unfairly are numerous
and strong. 1t inf1icts so much pain
and almost necessarily so much injus-
tice upon those against whom it Is d.
rected that its possessor rarely. if ever.
escapes from a controversy without
suffering from the desperation it pro-
Vokes. Mary Todd was not disposed
to let her genius rust for want of use.
and finding no other victim handy. she
turned her attention to James Shields.
auditor. James Shields later had Il
distinguished and remarkable career.
He volunteered in the Mexican war.
became brigader general and for gal
lantry at CerrO Gordo was brevetted
major general. At both Cerro Gordo
and Chapultepec he was severely
him the first territorial governor of
Oregon. but before he started for that
territory he was elected United States
senator from Illinois, Later he served
in the senate from Minnesota by cleo
tion and from Missouri by appoint
ment, thus representing three states in
that body. Shields was operating a
gan. He went to Washington in ALL
gust, 1861, and was appointed briga-
der general by President Lincoln. his
old opponent. General Shields defeat
ed StOnewall Jackson at Winchester,
Va, but was defeated by the Confed-
crate leader few months later at Port
Republic. He died June 1. 1879 at o.
tumwa. 1a.-Editor. She had friend.
one Miss Jayne. afterward Mrs Trum-
bull. who helped to keep her literary
secrets and assisted as much as she
could in worrying the choleric Irish
man. Mr.. Francis. the editor. knew
very we'll that Shields was "a fighting
man." but the "pieces" sent him by
the wicked ladies were so uncommonly
rich in point and humor that he yield
ed to natural inclination and printed
them one and all. the articles purport-
ing to be letters from "Aunt 'Becca."
1t is by no means a subject of won
der that these publications threw Mr..
James Shields into state of wrath. A
thin skinned. sensitive, high minded
and high tempered man. tender of his
honor. and an Irishman besides. it
would have been strange indeed if he
had not felt ike snufting blood But
his rage only afforded new delights to
his tOrmentors. and when it reached it's
height Aunt 'Becca transformed her
self to Cathleen and broke out in
rhymes. which Miss .Jayne's brother
Bill kindly consented to drop" for the
amiahle ladies.
It was too bad. Mr.. Shields could
stand it no longer. He sent General
Whiteside to Mr.. Francis to demand
the name of the person who wrote the
letters from the Lost Townships"
and Mr.. Francis told him it was A.
Lincoln. This information led to
challenge, a sudden scampering off of
parties and friends to Missouri, meet
ing, an explanation and a peaceful re-
turn.
Abraham Lincoln in the field of hon.
Or, sword in hand, Unanswered by
second learned In the duello, would be
an attractive spectacle under any cir
cumstances, but with celebrated man
for an antagonist and a lady's humor
the occasion the scene is one of tran
scendent interest, and the documents
which describe it are we'll entitled to
place in his history. The letter of Mr..
Shields second, being first in date, Is
first in order:
Springfield, Oct. 3, 1872
To the Editor Of the Sangamon Journal:
s6ir-To prevent Misrepresentation Of the
recent affair between Messrs. Shields and