The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-10-09

their marriage Robards returned to Nashville. Then it was discovered that at the time of Jackson's marriage the divorce decree had not been granted. but 1t had been issued shortly before Robards left Virginia Jackson and his wife were remarried at once but there- after Jacksons political enemies used this affair to discredft him, torturing and twisting the facts in the most malign way and never failing to drive him to frenzy.
 |. Duels
 As Tennessee grew Jackson prospered. When the state was admitted to the union in 17s6 he owned more than 5000 acres of | land and had established his famous | home, the Hermitage. Tennessee was en- titled to but one member of the House of Representatives, and in the first fed eral election Jackson was sent to Con- gress. The following year, there being a vacancy in the Senate, he became United States senator, but he resigned | the office in few months and was elect ed justice of the supreme court of Ten nessee. He retained the j,vticeship six years, but they were not without strife. | Once he got into a bitter contest with John Sevier, the noted Nolichucky Jack, who was the father of Tennessee and | its first governor. Each aspired to the major generalship of the militia, and Jackson won. It was not an empty honor. for the Indians were troublesome. Sevier was the greatest Indian fighter America has ever known, and to be de- feated by young and inexperienced man was sore blow to the old warrior. l Mrs. Jackson managed the farm and was remarkably successful. General Jackson devoted his attention to the bench and politics. As a side line he l bought one of the greatest race horses of the day-Truxton-and raced him against the best the west could furnish. Out Of match between Truxton and Ploughboy developed the duel with Charles Dickin- son. Dickinson was one of the hand somest men in the state, wild and dissi- pated, and the best shot In Tennessee. He was opposed to Jackson and smarting under his losses on Ploughboy, he made remarks in tavern affecting Mrs. Jack son. When Jackson called him to &C., count he apologized, saying he had been | intoxicated and had no knowledge of what he said. Again while in liquor Dickinson used offensive terms. Again there were explanations. Next one of Dickinson's friends assailed Jackson, bringing Dickinson into the affair as au- thority for his statement. Jackson there upon branded Dickinson as poltroon and Dickinson replied by calling Jack son a coward afraid to meet him on the | field of honor. Dueling was common and Jackson promptly challenged Dickin- son.
 The place for the meeting was about | 40 miles from Nashville. On the way to the dueling ground Dickinson amused himself by giving brilliant exhibitions of his skill with the pistol, leaving in- structions to have Jackson informed of his work when he came along.
 | But this did not affect Jackson's com posure "He didn't have man with pistol in front of him when he shot at that mark, did he?" he would ask.
 Jackson had determined to let Dickinson have the first shot, They met in a clear | ing in a poplar forest General Overton, | Jackson's second, was to give the order to fire. When the men took position Overton called: Are you ready?"
 'I am ready" replied Dickinson.
 Ready" said Jackson.
 'Firew shouted Overton. Dickinson raised his pistol quickly and | fired. Jackson stood unmoved. Slowly Jackson raised his pistol. Dickinson looked at the menacing figure before him and then crying. My God. have missed him?" went pale all of a sudden and stepped back a pace or two.
 Back to the mark!" yelled Overton. | Overton with downcast eyes stepped forward. Jackson took deliberate aim and pulled the trigger. but something was wrong. The trigger had stopped at half cock. Slowly and carefully he re-. adjusted the trigger. Then he took alm again. Then he fired. Dickinson reeled and fell. mortally wounded
 Jackson walked a hundred yards of, where Overton sooned joined him. They walked about for a minute or two and then Overton in looking down, saw that Jackson's boot was full of blood Dick inson's bullet had broken two ribs and ripped along the breast bone. but the man of iron had concealed the fact that he had been hit He was taken to house near by and the wound dressed, but he insisted Dickinson should not know he was wounded. Dickinson bled to death. Jackson was unable to be out for a month.
 | Crippled for Life
 Seven years later. when the war of 1872 was at It's height. came the duel with the Bentons, Jackson had been drawn into quarrel with Jesse Benton, brother of Thomas H. Benton. The quarrel was altogether absurd. for Thomas Benton and Jackson were warm 1 friends. but meddlers infamed the minds of the men until Jackson announced he