Year: 1859

Those born and reared in the immediate Vi
cinity of spots renowned for remarkable events,
for the residence of the great, or on account of
the wonderful works of Art or Nature which
may be there located, seldom duly appreciate,
and sometimes even fail to apprehend, the
claims that such persons or places may hold on
the well-merited homage of mankind.


With such sentiments was I impressed on
the occasion of visit which happened lately
to make in adjoining county of another
State, upon the reflection that 1 first saw the
light, and have lived almost to middle age
within short days ride of the dueling ground
rendered historical by the single combat be-
tween the military hero and statesman sage,
General jackson, and the foully Influenced but
truly celebrated maksman, Dickinson; and
that, too, without being ever before induced by
curiosity or my boundcss admiration for the


immortal patriot to enter upon so short pill
grimage.


just fifty years ago, two young men, one
plow-boy of fifteen, had just reached the scene
of their daily labor on a cool, calm, bright
morning in April They were the sons of an
emigrant, who had lately removed west of the
Alleghanies, and settled in what is now Logan
county, Kentucky, just where the middle fork
of Red River crosses the line between that
State and Tennessee. Scarcely had the lad Ia
ken hold of his rude implement to begin his
daily task-for the sun had barely lifted itself
above the tangled horizop-when his ear was
startled by the sharp cracks of two pistols down
the river, and in such rapid succession that one
could just distinguish the two from single re-
port.


Little did the youth imagine the import of
the omnious reverberation as it came flying
along the dense atmosphere which overhung
the calm surface of the millpond, saluting in
succession with an extra report each promonto-
ry of the bluff which on one side or other of
the stream, intervened between himself and
the source of the sound. Much less did he i'm
agine that one of the charges whose explosion
broke upon the stiffness of the morn and fell
SO sharply on his ear, at the same time sped a
ball, with deadly velocity, into the bosom and
near the heart of his future commander, under
whose banner he was to march to victories
fruitful of renown to himself and his country,
and bring unto death life which was
first to deliver that country from the hands of
an enemy, and thus bequcath to it an inde-
structable system of political principles.


On the 10Th of April, 1907, party of ten
or twelve horsemen rode up after sunset, and
asked lodgings at the house of David Miller,
who resided one mile below and west OF the
point, where the road from Russelvile to ,sash-
vile crosses the state line between Kentucky
and Tennessee. The overseer, Jacob Smith to
whom l am indebted for many important facts,
replied in the affirmative, and with their chief,
General jackson, the party took up lodgings
for the night. Scarcely, however, had their
horses been taken, when a second party rode
up and likewise requested lodgings.


The hospitable manager answered in reply
that they never turned off travellers, but that
the house was already full whereupon Dick
inson, for he it was, inquiring for the next
house, and obtaining the services of a negro
L., 1,lo IL,
journey. Descending the river about two miles,
they reached the house of Billy Harrison,
where they likewise obtained lodgings. Mi.
chael Keller now lives therc-an old gentle
ment of Dutch descent. His dining room is
that in which Dickinson died, and in this !
dined on the day of my visit. My informant,
Jacob Smith, now wealthy and respectable
farmer in the immediate neighborhood, having
long since risen from his humble profession,
and man of undoubted veracity, states, Jack
sons place of entertainment, then his home,
was noted far and wide for the good quality of
its fare and accommodations so that notwith-
standing its removal mile from the public
road, travellers were always willing to receive
its bounty in return for that depression. He
saws the old hero-then, however, only about
middle age-ate as hearty a supper, as ever,
enlivening it with his usual affability; and so
completely unfeigned was his uneasiness of
manner that it was impossible to detect any al
teration in his department. He says, from all
he could learn, his repose was perfect the
night preceding the exciting game in which
life was the stake. The party rose early next
morning, mounted without breakfast, and as
many as the code of honor allowed, took the
road to the preconcerted ground 1t lay along
the river, and was the same by which Dickin-
son departed. A specification in the terms of
the duel was, that it should take place "on Red
River, near Harrison's Mills" Being de-
barred by the custom of dueling, as were all
except physicians and seconds, and much
against the charm which involuntarily drew
him to the fatal spot, he proceeded with his
hands to the scene of his daily employment
And now comes an hour of suspense, heightened
by that involuntary feeling of esteem with which
the yet unfedged hero is said to have inspired
all who came within the circle of his compan-
ionship.


NV informant's admiration for the old Gen.
eral seems almost to amount to Enthusiasm
Probably cvuld he have known then how yalu- |