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Challenged Abraham Lincoln to a Duel
SHIELDS, James (1806-1879).American Democratic politician and army officer. He is the only person in U.S. history to serve as Senator for three different states. At the outbreak of the Mexican-American War he took an appointment as brigadier general of volunteers. He was wounded twice. Shields was appointed and confirmed by the Senate as the first Governor of the Oregon territory which he declined. He moved to Minnesota and founded the town of Shieldsville. During the Civil War his troops inflicted the only tatical defeat of Stonewall Jackson. He worked as a State Auditor in the Illinois House of Representatives. He was criticized by a young Abraham Lincoln who with his fiancée Mary Todd published a series of inflammatory letters in a local newspaper. Shields challenged Lincoln to a duel and the two met on Bloody Island between Illinois and Missouri on September 22, 1842. Lincoln chose the weapons for the duel and selected cavalry broadswords. He did this knowing Shields was an excellent marksman. Lincoln being 6’4” and Shields at 5’9” felt Lincoln had a major advantage. Most accounts say Lincoln gave an apology and they left the island without following through with the duel. Autograph letter signed, one page to a collector in Menden, New Hampshire. Washington, January 11,1854. “Sir,Your favor of the 7th inst is rec’d, I am Very truly Yours. Jas, Shields U.S.A.” Affixed to a larger page otherwise in very good condition...............$175.00
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