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King Carson for one drawn by Robert ' Thompson, which was not due, and the j matter was satisfactorily arranged.Soon afterward (Jen. Jackson heard that Charles Dickinson had spoken disparagingly of his wife. Dickinson was a lawyer, well connected, posses-ed considerable property and had a large circle of friends. He was rather wild, and ho had the reputation of being tliubest shot in Tennessee. Jackson took him to task for his language, and Dickinson apologized, saying that if he had used such language it must have been while he was drunk. They separated in a friendly manner. A second time Jackson heard that Dickinson had uttered offensive wc.vds respecting Mrs. Jackson in a Nashville hotel. The General visited Capt. Ervin, and urged him to restrain his son-in-law. “ 1 want no quarrel with him,” he said, “but even in his cups he ought to comport himself like a gentleman. My enemies in Nashville i are urging him to pick a quarrel with j mo. Advise him to stop in time.” Dick- ] inson grow more cautious, hut did not wholly restrain his tongue. Eumity grew between the two men.In December, 1805, Patten Anderson, a warm friend of Gen. Jackson, while conversing in a store in Nashville, said that the notes offered in settlement of the forfeit on the horse race were different from those which Gen. Jackson agreed to receive. Dickinson heard of this through one who was present. His informant referred him to Thomas Hwann, a Virginian, who had heard An-** dcrson s statement, Swann confirmed it. A day or two afterward Swann met Gen. Jackson, and questioned him about the notes. Swann told Dickinson that Jackson said the notes offered by Dickinson were schedule noteH, but that some of those offered by Ervin were not. On Dec. 28 Ervin and Dickinson called on Gen. Jackson in Nashville. The General denied that he cast any stigma on Capt. Ervin, and denounced any manwho said so as a “ liar.” On*Jan,3, 180(5, Swann wrote Jackson, saying that Dickinson had informed him of the offensive expression, and demanded li explanation. Jackson replied on tfio 7th. Following is an extract:“ There are certain traits that always accompany the gentleman and man of truth. The moment he hears harsh expressions applied to a friend he will immediately communicate it, that explanation may take place, while the base poltroon and cowardly tale-bearer will always act in the background. You can apply the latter to Mr. Dickinson, and see which best fits him. I write it for his eye, and the latter I emphatically intend for him. When the conversation dropped between Mr. Dickinson and myself, I thought i^ was at an end. As he wishes to blow the coal, I am ready to light it to a blaze, that it may he consumed at oneo and finally extinguished. The subject of the notes was introduced by Mr. Dickinson as an apology for his conduct, the subject of conversation. In justice to Mr. Diokin-son I request you to show him this. Bewas now the only thing that stood in the way of a reconciliation. Coffee assured McNairy that Gen. Jackson's proposition was the only one that Swann would get. They separated without coming to an agreement.Within two days Jackson heard a report that McNairy had said that when Gen. Jackson had refused to treat Mr. i Swann as a gentleman, he (McNairy) had observed that he (McNairy) was a gentleman, and that as such he would meet him on behalf of his friend. Jackson promptly returned to Nashville and called upon McNairy, who denied the statement in toto. He called for its author, and Jackson sent for Maj. Robert Purdy. That gentleman stated pos-; itively that McNairy had made such a statement to him. McNairy insisted that the Major must have misconstrued his meaning. The Major replied that the words were plain and construed themselves. McNairy observed that he never intended to have said such a thing, nor did he wish such an idea to go forth. “In the future,” Jackson replied, “let there be no misunderstanding. I now pledge you my word and honor, if any gentleman on a standing with myself will come forward as the friend of Mr. Swann, I will meet him on gentlemanly grouud.”Thus balked, Swann rushed into print. Ho filled a page of the Nashville Review and Repository with his j complaint. Nor did lie forget to use Dickinson’s missive. He challenged Jackson to prove that he was not a gentleman. Jackson’s reply wras published within a fortnight. It was even longer than the complaint. It included five affidavits from men who swore that Swann was no gentleman. It further said that Swann “ lias acted the puppet and lying varlet for a worthless, drunk- , on, blackguard scoundrel. ” This reference to Dickinson followed a sarcastic stricture on McNairy, who made a bitter reply in the Nashville Review. A contemptuous allusion to Col. Coffee drew a challenge from that gentleman. They fought on March 1,180(5. Maj. Purdy officiated for Col. Coffee, and Mr. George Hell for Mr. McNairy. The code required the second to shoot any principal who should fire before tlio word. Re'll thought this very disagreeable. Ho said that the disgrace attending such a shot would be worse than death. The Major concurred with him, j and they agreed to disregard the code, j The men were placed, and Me- INairy shot Colfoe down before the iword was given. Purdy approachedi him with pistol cocked, and saidthat he would shoot him like a dog were it not for the agreement with Mr. Bell, McNairy excused himself by saying thatit was an accident. “ D— you,’' shouted Coffee, who was lying on the ground thirty feet away, “this is the second time you have been guilty of the same crime.’5 Coffee was shot through the thigh, ami quickly recovered. This duel led to uuothor almost interminable uewspaper dispute.Charles Dickinson, Esq.There was intense excitement in Nashville. The coming duel was no secret, although the time and place wTere known only to the friends of the parties. The publication of Dickinson’s letter on the 2(Jth fanned the excitement. Bets wer# made upon the result of the meeting, the odds being against Jackson. Dickinson himself wagered that he would brine dowm his man at the first fire.Harrison’s mills were a day’s ride from Nashville. On the morning of the 29th Dickinson arose at daybreak and silently began to prepare for the journey. HisJroung wife awoke and asked him why le was up so early. Ho replied that li9 i I had business in Kentucky, and that he would surely be home oh the following day. He tenderly kissed the fo»d little woman, mounted his liorse and galloped away, accompanied by Dr. Catlet and half a dozen of the young bloods of ; Nashville. It was a pleasure party. When they stopped for rest or refreshment Dickinson amused his retinue by displaying his wonderful skill with the pistol. Once, at a distance of twenty-four feet, he fired four balls, each at the word of command, into a space that could be covered by a silver dollar. Several times, at the same distance, he cut a string with his bullet. He left a severed string hanging to a hickory post near a tavern, and, as he rode away, said to the landlord: “Show that to Gen. Jackson if he comes along this road. ” He also laid a w ager that lie would hit his antagonist within half an inch of a certain button on his coat. Parton, whose report we have condensed, de-j scribed the party as frisking and gallop-i iug along lonely forest roads, making short cuts that cautious travelers never attempted, dashing across creeks aud rivers, and making the woods ring with merriment.Very different was tho demeanor of Gen. Jackson and party. Overton was an old Revolutionary soldier, versed in in the science and familiar with the practice of dueling. Ho had reflected i deeply on the conditions of the coming combat, with a view of saving his friend from Dickinson’s unerring bullet. They rode apart from the rest of the company and discussed all the chances aud probabilities. It was an affair in which each i man was to try with his utmost skill to disable his antagonist and save his own life. At the word each was to fire as soon as he pleased. There was a chauce that by extreme quickness of movement one man could bring down the other without himself receiving a shot. Jackson and Overton were at tirst undecided as to whether they should , try to get the first shot or permit Dickinson to have it. Overtoil thought that | uh Dickinson, like all other miraculous I shots, required no time to tako aim, lie would have a far better chance than Jackson in a quick shot, even if both fired at once, Jackson was certain that lie would be hit, and he was unwilling to subject liis own uim to the cliauco of its being totally destroyed by the shock of a wound. Finally, however, he
Newspaper Details
Fairfield Evening Journal
Fairfield, Iowa, US
Mon, Sep 12, 1881
Page 3
Full Page
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Anonymous
TN, USA 04 Aug 2024
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