Rensselaer Union, Volume 5, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 July 1873 — An Incident in the Life of Abraham Lincoln. [ARTICLE]

An Incident in the Life of Abraham Lincoln.

Strangely enough, the murder of Mansfield T. Walworth by bis son recalls the story of Abraham Lincoln’s duel. The mother of Frank Walworth is the daughter of Colonel John T. Hardin. who~ saved Mr. Lincoln from the remorse which would have overshadowed his life if he had killed General Shields. Colonel Hardin was a prominent Whig politician, -and-was esteemed the ‘.‘bravest mail in Illinois.” He was killed at the battle of Buena Vista, and in his death fairly earned the distinction which his admiring friends had given him while living. Mr. Lincoln was his intimate friend, and both men were gifted with a large sense of humor which they turned to good account. The hostile meeting between Mr. Lincoln and General Shields - was brought about in this way: A witty young lady wrote a communication for one of the 'Springfield papers, in which there were several passages which the General was pleased to consider as personally offensive. He forthwith went to the newspaper office and demanded the name of the correspondent. and this being refused, he gave the editor three days in which to make up his mind, either to refer him to the writer or to take a whipping himself. The poor man was greatly distressed. He did not like to be guilty of the utjgailaht act of betraying his lady correspondent, and he did not care to have a fight with General Shields, who was a much stronger man. In this dilemma he came to Mr. Lincoln and told him of his trouble. The lawyer tooji the matter into consideration,’but he could think of no strategem for the relief of his friend. At last he said to him: ‘‘When Shields comes around with his club tell him that Abe Lincoln wrote that letter.” Thd editor acted upon the suggestion, and when the irate politician appeared ready to carry his threat into execution, lie was politely requested to call upon Abraham Lincoln for satisfaction. This put a new face on the matter.' General Shields knew better than to come fooling about Mr. Lincoln with his cane. He was at that time a great, long-armed, muscular fellow, good natured, but resolute, and when the occasion demanded he could deal such blows with his lists as made his antagonists think that railsplitting was his pastime:- If-he had jjfcen attacked by JShMds. v Wid Tiad ' i V‘

supposed that it would add anything to the humor of the fight, h«; would have , bent his assailant over his knee and administered punishment after tl}e manner of conscientious mothers. But, after all his threatening and blustering General Shields could not back out without subjecting himself to the ridicule of his townsmen, so he concluded, to challenge Mr. Lincoln. The challenge was accepted, but to the great dismay of the challenger Abraham named long swords as the wsapons. He had no skill in the use of the sword, but with his tremendous reach of arm and great muscular strength he would have cut off General Shields head before he got himself into position for one of his scientific thrusts. The time and place of meeting were agreed upon. Mr Lincoln went to the ground early with his second, and there being some’buslics in the plat selected for the fight, he set to work to clear them away-with a hatchet. While he was engaged at this, other gentlemen came on the field, and they were so struck with the ludicrous scene that they could not refrain from laughter. Just then Colonel Hardin appeared, and appreciating the humorous situation, he appealed to both parties not to make fools of themselves, with such effect that they went home without fighting. Mr. Lincoln often said afterwards that his participation in tiffs affair was the meanest act of liis life. Colonel llaril in, although a peacemaker on this occasion, was a man of great courage andmost chivalrous bearing. At the breaking out of the Mexican .war he was put in command of the First Illinois Volunteers, and died on the battle field of Buena Vista, as already stated, —Baltimore American.