Chuck and Andy set facing each other on the banks of the Red River in Harrison Mills, Kentucky. Both looked at each other with a steely glare, each had resentment in their hearts that they could not let go of. You see words had been said, double-crosses had been dealt, both men felt cornered by their own pride. This dynamic duo is not about a partnership, but about a very different thing This is about one Chuck or Andy would in the next few minutes kill the other. This was a showdown, a duel.
The year was 1806 and dueling was illegal in Tennessee where Chuck and Andy were from. They both traveled from their homes to meet in Logan County, Kentucky to put an end to a long-standing feud that had been ongoing for many years. There on the banks of the Red River, blood was going to spill and someone was about to die.
Chuck and Andy were both horse breeders as many plantation owners in that region were at the time. And of course, this breeding of horses revolved around horse racing. And of course, horse racing revolved primarily for gambling. So it was a huge industry during this time.
Chuck accused Andy of reneging on a horse bet.
You see Andy had made a bet with Chuck’s father-in-law for $2000 dollars. That’s $2000 dollars in 1806. That’s about $37,000 today. Chuck’s father-in-law lost the bet and as things turned out there this confusion over who owed who on what notes. So Chuck’s father-in-law owed a few people in this transaction and owed Andy $800 (about $2k in today’s money.)
So Chuck sends a messenger to get the story straight from Andy on who owes what, and Andy being a bit of a hot head assaults the messenger. Chuck then writes to Andy and calls him a “Coward and an equivocalor” Then it was on! Who the heck likes to be called an equivocator I ask each of you!!!
Anyway, insults go back and forth via letters and finally, Chuck called Andy’s wife Rachael a bigamist in order to get under his skin. This worked. It seems that Andy married Rachael while her previous marriage had not yet been dissolved because Rachael’s previous husband had not finalized the divorce. Chuck then had stated in a paper called the National Review that Andy was a “worthless scoundrel and a coward”.
This did not sit well with Andy, known for his short temperament and he decided to have a duel with Chuck. Andy sends a letter to Chuck stating, “I demand satisfaction due for the insults offered” aka in today’s terms “Up yours, let do this!”
<sigh>
Here’s the thing. Chuck is known across eastern Tennessee for his expert marksmanship. He literally never misses. This in no way deterred Andy, he was blinded by hatred towards his newfound opponent.
So, there they stood. Face to face, 24 feet apart from each other.
I found this distance remarkable as a Krav Maga Instructor. You see there is a ‘rule of thumb’ distance for gun disarmament that was determined by the Israeli Defense Forces. If someone across from you has a firearm and is within 23 feet you can get to them and take their gun away using the proper technique (potentially). That was 23 feet. In 1806 the dueling distance was 24 ft. Isn’t that interesting… As if this study had already existed.
So Andy and Chuck stood across from one another. Dueling pistols at their side. An official gave the count. 1 - 2 - 3. BANG!!!!!
Chuck the expert marksman was far faster than Andy. The gunpowder flash went off and hit poor Andy square in the chest. Smoke rose from his jacket and blood seethed from his chest.
BUT, Andy did NOT fall.
By the rules of engagement of dueling in 1806, if opponent C fires upon opponent A and opponent A does not fall, opponent C must stand in place until which time opponent A has discharged his firearm. This is the law of the land and the great state of KY and that is just the way it is.
It is said when Chuck, the greatest marksman in Tennessee at the time, shot Andy, and Andy did not fall, it is said that Chuck said aloud, “My God Have I missed him!” He had not.
At this time, Andy drew his pistol, took slow and very careful aim at Chuck, and pulled the trigger. The flint hammer stopped, half-cocked and by the rules of dueling did not count as an actual shot.
Imagine that, you are in a duel, and by some miracle, the gun does not discharge from your opponent. But by some crazy rules of dueling at the time, your opponent gets a second chance. You don’t get to shoot back, you get to stand there - still.
Andy pulls his gun a second time, aims, and delivers a fatal blow to a major artery in Chuck’s chest. Chuck died several hours later. Andy would live. The bullet that hit Andy broke two of his ribs and he would live for many years later but the bullet would remain next to his heart, inoperable at that time. In fact, Andy by rumor survived over 100 duels mostly with people who insulted his wife, Rachael, as being a bigamist.
I bring this story to you as Andy has a significant history with our area… as well as this country. In fact, every time you go to the ATM you are familiar with Andy. Andy, as I call him is Andrew Jackson. And Chuck is Charles Dickinson a Senator in Tennessee and the duel occurred prior to Andrew Jackson’s Presidency. Andrew Jackson would later be a General in the War of 1812 and would liberate Pensacola and Florida from the Spanish government. As it turns out in my research Andrew Jackson never set foot in Gulf Breeze and doesn’t have any affiliation to his own trail through the Naval Oaks Reservation. Actually, that was designated by John Quincy Adams who should get more credit than Andy the equivocator.
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