Difficulties that led to a challenge and its acceptance, in the olden times, were rarely ever adjusted before the combatants arrived on the field. The distinguished duellists followed the custom on this occasion; and, with their seconds and others who knew of the affair, went to the ground selected--the hill on the south side of Jonesboro, and not “the hollow” north of town. The distance was measured off, the principals stationed and the word given--and Jackson and Avery both fired in the air, to the great gratification of their friends. The two principals approached each other with extended hands. While holding his recent antagonist by the hand, Jackson said: “Col. Avery, I knew that, if I hit you and did not kill you immediately, the greatest comfort you could have in your last moments would be to have ‘Bacon’s Abridgment’ near you; and so I had my friend bring it to the ground.” Thereupon, Jackson’s second unrolled the package in his hand, which was about the size of a law book, and out fell a piece of old, well-cured _bacon_! Parton, in a note appended to his account of the duel, says that there was a comic incident connected with it, which Jackson would not tell and Adair did not. The version here given was told me by three different old men, in Washington county, years ago. They were Abram Gregg, Micajah (or Michael) Hodges and John Fullmer, each of whom had been a soldier in the war of 1812, Gregg having been, I believe, a captain. The last time that I talked with Fullmer and Hodges on this subject was in 1879, and they were both clear in their recollection, without any consultation with each other, residing in different parts of the county, Fullmer on the Watauga river and Hodges on the Holston, eight miles distant.[P] The foregoing version of this duel is supported by the old court records at Jonesboro. Years ago I read and copied therefrom the following entry: “Waightsell Avery having for want of Acts of Assembly Crept into an Error in Taking Two pounds instead of One pound Six Shillings and Eight pence Was by the Court freely Pardoned at his Own Request.” It is also borne out by the fact that, when Jackson was President, this duel was mentioned to him by Samuel P. Carron, then a member of Congress from the district in North Carolina in which Col. Avery died, whereupon the President, according to Parton, asked Carron, “Who told you about it?” “Gen. Adair,” was the answer. “Did he tell you what happened on the ground?” “No.” “Well, then, I sha’n’t,” said Jackson, laughing. This would indicate that the duel had had some comic ending, and not a comical beginning.