GDG- Cavalry broad swords of the largest size

[Dennis Lawrence]

Lincoln draws up instructions for Merryman in case his opponent should wish 
to have matter settled. In case no settlement is made, he selects as 
weapons cavalry broadswords of largest size, and outlines other duel 
preliminaries. Fearing arrest, Lincoln leaves for Jacksonville early to 
await his second and friends

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Memorandum of Duel Instructions to Elias H. Merryman [1]
[September 19, 1842]

In case Whitesides [2] shall signify a wish to adjust this affair without 
further difficulty, let him know that if the present papers be withdrawn, & 
a note from Mr. Shields asking to know if I am the author of the articles 
of which he complains, and asking that I shall make him gentlemanly 
satisfaction, if I am the author, and this without menace, or dictation as 
to what that satisfaction shall be, a pledge is made, that the following 
answer shall be given---

``I did write the `Lost Township' letter which appeared in the Journal of 
the 2nd. Inst. but had no participation, in any form, in any other article 
alluding to you. I wrote that, wholly for political effect. I had no 
intention of injuring your personal or private character or standing as a 
man or a gentleman; and I did not then think, and do not now think that 
that article, could produce or has produced that effect against you, and 
had I anticipated such an effect I would have forborne to write it. And I 
will add, that your conduct towards me, so far as I knew, had always been 
gentlemanly; and that I had no personal pique against you, and no cause for 
any.''

If this should be done, I leave it with you to arrange what shall & what 
shall not be published.

If nothing like this is done---the preliminaries of the fight are to be---

1st. Weapons---Cavalry broad swords of the largest size, precisely equal in 
all respects---and such as now used by the cavalry company at Jacksonville.

2nd. Position---A plank ten feet long, & from nine to twelve inches broad 
to be firmly fixed on edge, on the ground, as the line between us which 
neither is to pass his foot over upon forfeit of his life. Next a line 
drawn on the ground on either side of said plank & paralel with it, each at 
the distance of the whole length of the sword and three feet additional 
from the plank; and the passing of his own such line by either party during 
the fight shall be deemed a surrender of the contest.

3. Time---On thursday evening at five o'clock if you can get it so; but in 
no case to be at a greater distance of time than friday evening at five 
o'clock.

4th. Place---Within three miles of Alton on the opposite side of the river, 
the particular spot to be agreed on by you.

Any preliminary details coming within the above rules, you are at liberty 
to make at your discretion; but you are in no case to swerve from these 
rules, or to pass beyond their limits.
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[1]   AD, DLC-RTL. The peaceable conclusion of the matter seemed unlikely 
when Whiteside refused to convey Lincoln's condition of withdrawal of the 
first letter written by Shields. Under threat of impending arrest all 
parties proceeded to Alton. At this point John J. Hardin and Revel W. 
English intervened as mutual friends of Shields and Lincoln, in a letter 
addressed to Whiteside and Merryman, proposing that ``the whole difficulty 
be submitted to four or more gentlemen, to
Page  302

be selected by yourselves, who shall consider the affair, and report 
thereupon for your consideration.''

In spite of further disagreement and recrimination among the ``friends'' of 
the two principals in the duel, Shields finally accepted Lincoln's 
``explanation,'' through the arbitrament of seconds and mutual friends.

[2]   Lincoln's use of the final ``s'' in Whiteside's name is erroneous. 
John D. Whiteside was a Democrat, representative in the legislature from 
Monroe County 1832-1836, and state senator from Madison, St. Clair and 
Monroe counties, 1836-1837.



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Prequel:

Lincoln receives note from James Shields who has come to Tremont to get 
satisfaction re "Rebecca" letters. Lincoln replies that Shields' note is 
too general. Shields' second note asks if Lincoln is author of article in 
"Journal" of September 2, 1842, headed "The Lost Townships" and signed "Becca."

Jas. Shields, Esq. Tremont, Sept. 17, 1842.

Your note of to-day was handed me by Gen. Whiteside. [2] In that note you 
say you have been informed, through the medium of the editor of the 
Journal, [3] that I am the author of certain articles in that paper which 
you deem personally abusive of you: and without stopping to enquire whether 
I really am the author, or to point out what is offensive in them, you 
demand an unqualified retraction of all that is offensive; and then proceed 
to hint at consequences.

Now, sir, there is in this so much assumption of facts, and so much of 
menace as to consequences, that I cannot submit to answer that note any 
farther than I have, and to add, that the consequence to which I suppose 
you allude, would be matter of as great regret to me as it possibly could 
to you. [4] Respectfully,

A. LINCOLN.

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Annotation

[1]   Sangamo Journal, October 14, 1842. Shields' letters also appear in 
this issue of the Journal. Lincoln was in Tremont attending court. Shields 
and friend John D. Whiteside went to Tremont specifically to see Lincoln.

[2]   The text of the note follows: A. Lincoln, Esq. TREMONT, Sept. 17th, 1842.

I regret that my absence on public business compelled me to postpone a 
matter of private consideration a little longer than I could have desired. 
It will only be necessary, however, to account for it by informing you that 
I have been to Quincy on business that would not admit of delay. I will now 
state briefly the reasons of my troubling you with this communication, the 
disagreeable nature of which I regret---as I had hoped to avoid any 
difficulty with any one in Springfield, while residing there, by 
endeavoring to conduct myself in such a way amongst both my political 
friends and opponents, as to escape the necessity of any. Whilst thus 
abstaining from giving provocation, I have become the object of slander, 
vituperation and personal abuse, which were I capable of submitting to, I 
would prove myself worthy of the whole of it.

In two or three of the last numbers of the Sangamo Journal, articles of the 
most personal nature and calculated to degrade me, have made their 
appearance. On enquiring I was informed by the editor of that paper, 
through the medium of my friend, Gen. Whiteside, that you are the author of 
those articles. This information satisfies me that I have become by some 
means or other, the object of your secret hostility. I will not take the 
trouble of enquiring into the reason of all this, but I will take the 
liberty of requiring a full, positive and absolute retraction of all 
offensive allusions used by you in these communications, in relation to my 
private character and standing as a man, as an apology for the insults 
conveyed in them. This may prevent consequences which no one will regret 
more than myself. Your ob't serv't, JAS. SHIELDS.

[3]   Simeon Francis.

[4]   According to Dr. Elias H. Merryman, Lincoln's second, who published 
the full account of the circumstances in the Journal on October 14 in reply 
to an account, published in the Journal on October 7, by General John D. 
Whiteside, Shields' second, the following note from Shields was prepared in 
about an hour. Whiteside conferred ``two or three hours'' with Lincoln's 
friend William Butler without presenting the note to Lincoln. ``This was in 
consequence of an assurance from Mr. Butler that Mr. Lincoln could not 
receive any communication from Mr. Shields unless it were a withdrawal of 
his first note or a challenge. Mr. Butler further stated to Gen. Whiteside 
that on the withdrawal of the first note and a proper and gentlemanly 
request for an explanation, he had no doubt one would be given.'' Whiteside 
agreed to take the suggestion to Shields and wait until Monday (it being 
Saturday the seventeenth) before taking further action. Merryman continues, 
``On Monday morning he called and presented Mr. Lincoln the same note as 
Mr. Butler says he had brought on Saturday evening. It was as follows: A. 
Lincoln, Esq. TREMONT, Sept. 17, 1842.

In your reply to my note of this date, you intimate that I assume facts, 
and menace consequences, and that you cannot submit to answer it further. 
As now, sir, you desire it, I will be a little more particular. The editor 
of the Sangamo Journal gave me to understand that you are the author of an 
article which appeared I think in that paper of the 2d Sept. inst, headed 
the Lost Townships, and signed Rebecca or Becca. I would therefore take the 
liberty of asking whether you are the author of said article or any other 
over the same signature, which has appeared in any of the late numbers of 
that paper. If so, I repeat my request of an absolute retraction of all 
offensive allusion contained therein in relation to my private character 
and standing. If you are not the author of any of the articles, your denial 
will be sufficient. I will say further, it is not my intention to menace, 
but to do myself justice. Your obd't serv't, JAS. SHIELDS.''

Merryman's account continues: ``This Mr. Lincoln perused, and returned to 
Gen. Whiteside, telling him verbally, that he did not think it consistent 
with his honor to negociate for peace with Mr. Shields, unless Mr. Shields 
would withdraw his former offensive letter.'' Shields, however, replied by 
designating Whiteside as his second, and Lincoln promptly designated 
Merryman as his. These gentlemen, mutually agreed to ``endeavor to settle 
the matter amicably,'' returned to Springfield Monday night only to 
discover that much excitement prevailed and that an arrest was probable. 
``To prevent this,'' Merryman continues, ``it was agreed by Mr. Lincoln and 
myself that he should leave early on Tuesday morning. Accordingly he 
prepared the following instructions for my guide, on a suggestion from Mr. 
Butler, that he had reason to believe that an attempt would be made by the 
opposite party to have the matter accommodated.''