Thanks a lot, Jim

In the early morning hours of September 22nd, 1842, James Shields, State Auditor for the state of Illinois, former state Supreme Court Justice and state legislator, ducked as the branch above his head was sliced clear off by a six-foot-tall madman with a broadsword. Had the wind been blowing one way, the branch would've simply hit the ground to his left with no more concern. But the wind blew the other way, knocking the branch into Shields's head, and momentarily fazing him.

The so-called "madman" was not really insane, but was merely putting on a show, using his height and skill to scare his former colleague into calling off the duel. But he miscalculated. Shields was not a man to be trifled with, and he *was* the injured party. The branch may have dulled his senses, but as soon as he recovered, and saw the frightened look on his opponent's face, he knew what to do. He took his broadsword and plunged it straight forward, gutting his rival and ending the fight.


HERE LIES
ABRAHAM LINCOLN
BORN FEBRUARY 12, 1809
HODGENVILLE, Ky.

DIED SEPTEMBER 22, 1842
SUNFLOWER ISL., Mo.

POSTMASTER OF NEW SALEM, ILL.
ELECTED AS A WHIG TO THE ILLINOIS LEGISLATURE,
1834 TO 1842
KILLED IN A DUEL BY JAMES SHIELDS​
 
abraham lincoln owned a broadsword?

I guess so, if not before then he bought them for the duel. According to one source, he publicly buried the broadsword "20 years later." I can't find any source on where he or James Shields got the broadswords. Given Lincoln's insistence on using heavy swords for the duel, I'm guessing Lincoln acquired them, as was his right (I think).
 
Lincoln's friend, John J. Hardin was shocked. Dr. English pronounced Lincoln dead moments later, as the sword pierced his heart. And James Shields was incredibly morose following the news from Hardin that Lincoln was not the one who wrote all the insulting letters that led to the duel. They were written, partially, by Lincoln's fiance, Mary Todd. It is rumored the death of Abraham Lincoln may have contributed to her mental health issues that plagued her late in life.

The immediate effect of the man's death was not apparent. Lincoln's friends mourned him. The Illinois State Register and Sangamon Journal ran sensationalized obituaries on their "favorite son," both exaggerating Lincoln's accomplishments and denouncing the state auditor. Shields killing of a man with broadswords was highly publicized and he would retire to a quiet law career, with future attempts at returning to politics squashed by the event.

But within weeks, it was all forgotten by the public at large. Hardin became a US Congressman for several terms, Mary Todd would marry her former suitor, a young lawyer named Stephen A. Douglas, and the rest of the world would continue on the way one would expect - for about 10 years.
 
Hmm, wondering who'll end up leading the *Republicans (Or just republicans, don't know if Lincoln was very important in their formation), maybe a more radical administration and more border states seceding?
 
The Republicans should form as OTL -- Lincoln wasn't at the first meeting in 1854, and was pretty much unknown nationally prior to 1858, meaning 856 should also roughly play out as OTL (with the young party coming in second, etc).

So the real question is who comes in second in the first ballot for the party's Pres nomination in 1860, becoming Seward's chief rival (I can't see any reason his career or standing to be impacted). Will it be Cameron? Chase? Someone else?
 
The Republicans should form as OTL -- Lincoln wasn't at the first meeting in 1854, and was pretty much unknown nationally prior to 1858, meaning 856 should also roughly play out as OTL (with the young party coming in second, etc).

So the real question is who comes in second in the first ballot for the party's Pres nomination in 1860, becoming Seward's chief rival (I can't see any reason his career or standing to be impacted). Will it be Cameron? Chase? Someone else?

Well, I know one person who won't be coming in second place in the 1856 Republican Vice Presidential balloting.
 
I guess so, if not before then he bought them for the duel. According to one source, he publicly buried the broadsword "20 years later." I can't find any source on where he or James Shields got the broadswords. Given Lincoln's insistence on using heavy swords for the duel, I'm guessing Lincoln acquired them, as was his right (I think).

I read that article and it ends with this Shields guy almost having a duel with Jeff Davis as well...

He could have killed them both.

Actually, though, the article also states that Lincoln ordered a board to separate the combatants so he could take advantage of his superior reach. He didn't intend to kill him, but a broadsword injury could surely become complicated in the 19th century. If anything I'd like to know, "What if Abraham Lincoln killed a man with a broadsword?"

That thread would certainly get a lot of attention.

Keep this up, as well, though!
 
Wow. Holy crap!:eek::eek:

So wanting to see how this pans out, especially the Republican party (if there still is one), would actually be more radical than in OTL.
 
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