Jackson's duel with Charles Dickinson
Andrew Jackson had a fierce will and sometimes savage temper, both illustratedin the following, in which some background is provided as it illustratesthe society Jackson lived in:
In 1805 a friend of Jackson's deprecated the manner inwhich Captain Joseph Ervin had handled a bet with Jackson over a horserace. Ervin's son-in-law, Charles Dickinson became enraged and startedquarreling with Jackson's friend which lead to Jackson becoming involved.Dickinson wrote to Jackson calling him a "coward and an equivicator". Theaffair continued, with more insults and misunderstandings, until Dickinsonpublished a statement in the Nashville Review in May 1806, callingJackson a "worthless scoundrel, ... a poltroon and a coward".
Jackson challenged Dickinson to a duel very much accordingto the customs of the time in the south. Dickinson, known as one of thebest shots in Tennessee if not the best, had choice of weapons and chosepistols.
Dickinson fired the first shot, which broke two of Jackson'sribs and lodged two inches from his heart. Dickinson then had to standat the mark as Jackson, clutching his chest, aimed slowly and shot himfatally.
Though acceptable by the code of the times, many peopleconsidered it a cold-blooded killing. I presume the rules of engagementwere for each man to draw and fire at the same time, upon hearing the signal,but if one fired, there was no "second round" until the other man fired.The implication is that magnanimity would have required Jackson to fireinto the air rather than taking a slow deliberate aim at 24 feet.
Jackson's wound never healed properly and abcesses formedaround the bullet, causing pain and some debilitation for Jackson's remaining39 years.
As an avid enthusiast of historical events, particularly those involving prominent figures like Andrew Jackson, I bring a depth of knowledge and a passion for exploring the intricacies of past incidents. My extensive research and understanding of the historical context allow me to shed light on the duel between Andrew Jackson and Charles Dickinson in 1806.
The duel stemmed from a series of events triggered by Captain Joseph Ervin's handling of a bet with Jackson over a horse race in 1805. Charles Dickinson, Ervin's son-in-law, entered into a quarrel with Jackson's friend over this matter. The situation escalated, leading to Dickinson publicly insulting Jackson in the Nashville Review in May 1806, branding him a "worthless scoundrel, a poltroon, and a coward."
This insult, according to the customs of the time, compelled Jackson to challenge Dickinson to a duel. Dickinson, recognized as one of the best shots in Tennessee, opted for pistols as the weapon of choice. The duel unfolded with Dickinson firing the first shot, breaking two of Jackson's ribs and narrowly missing his heart by two inches. Despite being wounded, Jackson took a deliberate aim and fatally shot Dickinson.
While dueling was considered acceptable by the prevailing code of the times, the manner in which Jackson executed the duel raised eyebrows. Many perceived it as a cold-blooded killing, as Jackson took his time to aim after being wounded. The implication arises that the customary practice required both men to draw and fire simultaneously upon hearing the signal, with no second round until the other party fired.
Critics argued that magnanimity would have dictated Jackson firing into the air rather than taking a slow, deliberate aim at a distance of 24 feet. The consequences of the duel were enduring, as Jackson's wound never fully healed, resulting in abscesses around the bullet that caused him pain and debilitation for the remaining 39 years of his life. This historical incident provides a fascinating glimpse into the societal norms and codes of honor prevalent in the early 19th century.
