Death
Because dueling was outlawed in Tennessee, the two men met in the Adairville, Kentucky area, which sits right on the border, on May 30, 1806. Dickinson left Nashville the day before the duel with his second and a group of friends, confident, even demonstrating his shooting skills at various stops along the way. Since Dickinson was considered an expert shot, Jackson and his friend, Thomas Overton, determined it would be best to let Dickinson fire first, hoping that his aim might be spoiled in his quickness. Jackson would wait and, if he was still standing, take careful aim at Dickinson. The obvious weakness of this strategy was, of course, that Jackson might not be alive to take aim.
Dickinson did fire first, hitting Jackson in the chest. Under the rules of dueling, Dickinson had to remain still as Jackson took his one shot. Jackson’s pistol stopped at half cock, so he drew back the hammer and aimed again, this time hitting Dickinson in the chest. Dickinson bled to death.
Doctors determined that the bullet in Jackson was too close to his heart to operate, so Jackson carried it for the rest of his life, and suffered much pain from the wound. Locals were outraged that Dickinson had to stand defenseless while Jackson re-cocked and shot him, even though it was acceptable behavior in a duel. Jackson could have shot in the air or shot only to injure Dickinson; this would have been considered sufficient satisfaction under dueling rules. Jackson replied that Dickinson had meant to “kill the genl,” so Jackson had also shot to kill. Jackson’s reputation suffered greatly from the duel.
Jackson stood stoically throughout the duel; but his second, Thomas Overton, noticed blood running down on Jackson's boot as they left the duelling ground. The expert Dickinson had aimed at Jackson's heart though the bullet had been slightly deflected by Jackson's choice of loose clothing on his lean frame, and careful sideways stance. The bullet broke some of Jackson's ribs, and had lodged inches from his heart. While Jackson could easily have fallen from such a wound, he said later, "I should have hit him if he had shot me through the brain."
The bullet could not be removed under the then-current state of medical technology. Jackson would carry it inside his torso for the remainder of his life, and he chronically suffered many related ailments.
Charles Dickinson was buried in Nashville, and reinterred in the City Cemetery in Nashville. There has been dispute in recent years over the events and burial.
Read more about this topic: Charles Dickinson (historical Figure)
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