Year: 1859

=
able hfe,5was about being bought to the
threshold of death, his interest night have ex-
panded into deep solitude; but this was Sc
cret, as yet inclosed in the BooE of Fate. He
relates Scarcely had we resumed our labor
when the awful reporr, resounded deeply thro
the heavy frost, and not followed by the repe-
tition, warned us that the dieswas cast So
very rapid was the succession Of reports that
the negroes at work with me all thought it
single one but from the prolonged duration
of the sound like that of hanging fire from
single gun, knew it to indicate quick sue
cession of two" So much for tie ground they
have to go upon who crafty party spleen by
the base calumny that Jacksonr reserved his
fire, and afterwards deliberatelywalke up to
| defenceless man, and, with an oath of exult-
ing revenge, savagely blew out Ibis brains
And may this faithful account, fSsen by these
truthful old gentlemen, Willians Dudley and
Jacob Smith-the former being the lad men,
| toned at the outset-forever stamp this mali
cious falsehood with the inst condemnation it
deserves. From lifelong acquaintance with
the former, know, also, that the yividness of
his recollection may be as confidently relied on
as his undoubted character for veracity and
the additional circumstance that his account is
in the face of his political proclivities, having
always gloried in the name of an old Clay Whig,
is still further evidence to what extent he is
proof against the warping influence of preju-
dice.


His language on the point is graphic
With all the energy of jealous lawyer plead
ing an important cause, says he, talking as
plainly with his head, hand, and features, as
with his tongue: 81 remember that, as if it
took place yesterday; striking the palms of his
hands together, clap-clap, as rapidly as posi-
BILE, "that is the way, for all the world, that
ha 1aI. hot
son, I heard 'em jest as plain as can see you
settin' there in that chair, then clapping his
hands again, 'inow they couldn't gone off
much closer together than that could they?"
said he. The calumny was current in the i'm
mediate neighborhood some time afterward;
but even the enemies of jackson who make
any pretensions to respectabiity, have long
since renounced it slander, fiction of
party malevolence. ~


Late in the morning the sound of horses
hoofs at some distance in the timber annouced
the return of the party; but whether following
or carrying their leader, Mr.. Smith says, could
not at first be discerned. Only short time
elapsed, however, before the party came into
view, when his tall STOPPING form was distin-
guished, bearing no trace of harm, and betray
ing in his countenance no more than his ac-
customed composure. 1t was not known he
was hurt until he rode up to the Spring House
and asked for his celebeated 'quart of butter
milk" He asked the woman if she had any
buttermilk. She answered that it was just as
much for the butter had barely come; where
upon he told her to push the butter back and
pour out some She oil eyed; arr It is said, he
broke his fast by turning off q quart Their
conversation could not be heard at the distance,
but he was seen, while there, to open his
bosom and show where the ball Of his antagon-
ist had cut half of its thickness out across his
breast. The party then obtaining. their arti-
cles from the house, set off for Springfield,
where they took breakfast. This is common
ly called. in the neighborhed, his 'squart of
buttermilk."


The houses which held the combatants the
night previous to tie duel are two miles apart,
and situated on the right bank of Red River,
one of the most beautiful streams in the world.
The river runs westwardly the whole distance;
a most lovely and fertile bottom intervened be-
tween the two residences. Here was the scene
of the combat, primeval forest of oak, popu-
lar and hickory, now one of the handsomest
farms of the West. 1t belongs to, and forms
part of the large property of Michael Keller,
who now lives in the house of Dickinson's en-
tertainment. Through this, and close to the
river wound the road.


"Mounting my horse about midday" says
Mr.. Smith, "under the influence of a natural
feeling of curiosity to see all l could about it,
and following the road, found their place of
divergence after riding little over mile.


"Here turning to the right and proceeding
short distance, came to the spot"


"It lay in part of the forest thinly grown
with large popular trees, having pawpaw
patch Immediately in advance, and being just
one third of mile from the stream"


Let us imagine the gloomy civility with
wkich the parties met face to face in the last
road which one of them, at least, was ever to
travel alive the ironicial courtesy of the salu-
tation, for honor demands punctilious eti-
quette in each tete-a tete on such occasions
the ominous halt; the reconnaissance to deter
mine the most fatal ground and the consulta-
tions and the final agreement upon the most
eligible position. Then comes the fastening
and dismounting from their horses, and assem-
bling together; the mingling of surgeons and
seconds to lay off the ground, this latter with
eye to sharing the sun equally; measuring
the distance and driving the pegs; and, lastly,
the significant task of loading the pistols
Each charge of powder must LIE measured fair
ly and conspicuously to all, snd then, by a
forced union of barbarity and Honor, the balls
are successfully held up to view between
thumb and finger, inserted in the muzzles, and
pushed home, to await their dreadful mission
Meanwhile the principles, standing aloof, are
engaged in divesting themselves of unsuitable
garments, or donnlng more convenient ones,
and, as is sometimes the case, striving to cheat
death of its terrors by a fastidious arrangement
of dress. General Jackson is said to have
worn very large full over-coat on the occasion.
Lots then being drawn for choice of position
and who shall give the word, the principles are
placed and preparations are completed with the
ironicial courtesy of passing the fatal salver.-
This likewise is matter of lot, for the weap-
ons cannot be distinguished Sixteen feet was
the distance at which the duel was fought,
which will be better appreciated by rejecting
that it is only five PAGES and one foot Now
couple this with the fact that Dickson, the day
before, when his party stopped for dinner at
Springfield, practicing at the image of man,
fred four balls, instantaneously after the COM
maDd each time, into space capable of being
covered by silver dollar, and some idea can
be formed of the barbarity of duels in these
dazs It Is said. also. ON the same good au-