ck on Jackson and
published it. Jackson challenged him and the parties met a long day's
journey from Nashville, on the banks of the Red River, in Logan county,
Kentucky. Dickinson was a very popular man in Nashville, and he was
attended by a number of associates. Dickinson's second was a Dr. Catlet;
Jackson's, General Overton.

Dickinson fired first and his ball took effect, breaking a rib and
raking the breastbone, but Jackson never stirred nor gave evidence of
being hit. His object was to hide from his adversary the pleasure of
knowing that he had even grazed his mark, for Dickinson considered
himself a great shot and was certain of killing him at the first fire.
Seeing he had missed he exclaimed, My God! Have I missed him? Jackson
then fired and Dickinson fell mortally wounded, dying that night without
knowing his aim had taken any effect. This duel was another most
unfortunate thing for Jackson, and caused him great unpopularity in
Tennessee until his military victories turned popular attention from it.

Jackson lived a comparatively quiet life for the few years following,
nothing of importance happening except his mistaken connection with
Aaron Burr, and quarrel with a Mr. Dinsmore, an agent of the Choctaw
Indians. In 1812 the second war with Great Britain broke out and Jackson
at once tendered his services to the government; they were gladly
accepted and the rest of the year was devoted by him in raising more
troops and organizing them for active service. During the early part of
1813 he started across the country, but for some reason the Secretary of
War ordered him to disband his forces, but he marched them back to
Tennessee. It was on this march that he received the name of "Hickory,"
which afterwards became "Old Hickory."

Arriving at Nashville he tendered his troops to the Government for an
invasion of Canada but the Secretary of War never even answered his
proposal, and finally he disbanded the forces on May 22nd. The
government failed to sustain him and his transportation drafts were
allowed to go to protest. This must have ruined Jackson had it not been
for his friend Colonel Benton, who made an appeal which the government
felt bound to comply with, as it was made plain that it would lose the
service of Tennessee if such a preposterous act was persisted in.

Thus he was saved from what might have been an irretrievable financial
misfortune. Through deceitfulness in others he was led to a disgraceful
qua