The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1913-02-07

ne WAS melancnouc, cOnStitutiOnally in
cllned IN such matter, know to the most
morbid view The upshot was at all events
that on New Years day, 1871 the very day as
one account has it, which had been set for the
wedding, he broke the engagement According
to Herndon, one of his biographers, who was also
his law partner, he broke it as publicly as pos
sibly by failing to make his appearance on the
appointed wedding day. The engagement was
broken no doubt of that; but Herndon's account
of its breaking is not well authenticated
Lincoln took this trouble deeply to heart He
abandoned his business and went away to forget
II the following summer. making visit with that
purpose to his old friend Speed in Louisville XIV
From this trip he returned in better frame OF
mind This, perhaps, because he had been called
upon there to counsel with and resolve some
doubts of Speed regarding his own approaching
marriage. Lincoln and Miss Todd remained I'm
reconciled for year and half In the summer
of 1912 they were brought together Unexpectedly
by mutual friends, and met secretly severa
times later at the house of Mr.. Simeon Francis
At length the engagement was renewed. This
came about through circumstance of serio
comic features in which they both had part
This circumstance is a story in itself. 1t in
volves besides the two principles James Shield!
the same afore referred to one of Mist
Todds admirers. He was an Irishman of ability
and courage. he afterward proved the bat
tleield in the Mexican war, when to cleanse {
wound through the lungs, silk handkerchief
drawn through his body
At the time of the Lincoln affair Shields
leading Democrat of Illinois and held the Office
of auditor of state. He quick, impulsivt
man, whose disposition put him often on thu
defensive with the Wing leaders, for the Repub
lican party then unborn. OF these Whi,
leaders in that state Lincoln then one. Now
it the custom at that time to carry on muci
political controversy through the press by means
of personal communications, such as know
now as Letters from the People" Great space
and attention these
in that day.
Just about that date Lincoln furnished such
letter to Springfield paper it was signed "Aun
Rebecca and in it Shields, whose vanity and gal 4
lantry often made him a mark, most uDmer
cifully ridiculed 1t made a hit, this letter, AM
Miss Todd and friend, it's real authors by thj
way, followed it up with another and with some
doggerel rhyme, which reached the paper in tn,
manner the first.
Springfield laughed loudly at these communi
cations-not much at the matter of them
at the anger displayed by Shields. He actet
promptly sent friend at once to the editor
the paper to demand the name of the writer o
the articles. Dueling then was still commoi
incident Of public life, and the editor called upo1
Lincoln, who, unwilling to bring the ladies int
the affair, gave his name as the author
While he was at fremont, the law circuit
fifteen days later, two friends Of his overlook hin
and advised him that Shields was on the wa!
following him UP to challenge. Shields and
friend arrived shortly, and Lincoln soon il
receipt of written demand for the Satisfaction
due gentleman in a full positive and absolute
retraction. This may prevent" the missive sat
further consequences which will regre
more than myself"
Lincoln refused to apologize. Seconds were i'm
mediately named-Whitesides, editor of the pape
in which the matter had appeared, for Shields
Il. II. Merrymar for Lincoln. The seconds talket
of peace, but Whitesides refused to discuss sucI
a settlement with his principal. why" he said
he'd challenge next, and soon cut m,
throat as notn'
That night they all went back to Springfield
with Lincoln's preliminaries to follow since h
was the challenged party, namely these
Weapons cavalry broadswords.
Time Thursday evening at o'clock
Place within three miles of Alton on the on
posite side of the river Mississippi
On the End of September 1912 thew were al
upon the ground The arrangements for the al
fair were about completed when the party wa
joined by friends Among them was Colone
John II. Hardin who knew Lincoln well III
had been warned of the fight by Eliza Lott wh
had heard of it when the duelists stopped
breakfast going out Colonel Hardin and the res
managed to satisfy Shields that Lincoln
the author of the articles, but was shielding az
other and to aid the seconds in settling the troD
bic with honor as the phrase is, ito all
cerned"
Less than two months later marriage Hcens
for Abraham Lincoln and Mary Todd was issued
Miss Tarbel1 describes the event as almost i'm
promptu'' The ceremony interrupted meetnl
of the Episcopal Sewing society at the house
Miss Todd's sister, the Mrs. Edwards alread
mentioned.