Just previous to his marriage with Mary Todd, Mr. Lincoln was challenged
to fight a duel by James Shields, then Auditor of State. The challenge
grew out of some humorous letters concerning Shields, published in a
local paper. The first of these letters was written by Mr. Lincoln.
The others by Mary Todd and her sister. Mr. Lincoln acknowledged the
authorship of the letters without naming the ladies, and agreed to meet
Shields on the field of honor. As he had the choice of weapons he named
broadswords, and actually went to the place selected for the duel.
The duel was never fought. Mutual friends got together and patched up an
understanding between Mr. Lincoln and the hot-headed Irishman.