Trivia 6-28-16

[CadmusWilcox]

James Shields .
Broad sword.
Illinois, Minnesota and Missouri.

Edit - Answer amended in subsequent post.

 

[CadmusWilcox]

I need to add (I missed the extra question): he chose the Cavalry Broadsword, as Shields was known as an excellent marksman.

 

[UCVRelics]

James Shields
Cavalry Swords "BIG ONES"
Swords gave Lincoln the advantage due to his height and reach with a sword.
Illinois, Minnesota and Missouri

 

[38th OVI]

James Shields.

Cavalry broadswords "of the largest size",
to use his height advantage and hopefully prevent either man from dying.

Illinois, Minnesota, and Missouri

http://www.civilwar.org/education/h...ns-duel.html?referrer=https://www.google.com/

 

[MaryDee]

per http://www.civilwar.org/education/history/lincoln-hub/abraham-lincolns-duel.html
James Shields. He was State Auditor in IL at the time (1842).
Weapon--per above source, "cavalry broadsword of the largest size" [presumably a saber]
States represented: Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri. Per wikipedia article, "James Shields (politician, born 1810)": "James Shields (May 10, 1810 – June 1, 1879) was an Irish AmericanDemocratic politician and United States Army officer, who is the only person in United States history to serve as a U.S. Senator for three different states. Shields represented Illinois from 1849 to 1855, in the 31st, 32nd, and 33rd Congresses, Minnesota from 1858 to 1859, in the 35th Congress, and Missouri in 1879, in the 45th Congress

Still trying to find info on yesterday's question; may give it up.

@ami, have a great vacation!!! Although I probably should put that in quotes, with three children at home....

Edit - Answer amended in subsequent post.

 

[MajGenl.Meade]

The man was James Shields

Lincoln chose 'cavalry broad sword of the largest size' because 'I did not want to kill Shields and felt sure I could disarm him… I didn't want the d—-d fellow to kill me, which I think he would have done if we had selected pistols.'

He tried to make this more certain by having a plank planted on its edge and ruling that neither duelist could cross that plank in any way. Given his reach and the far smaller reach of Shields, he may have triumphed if the fight had not been cancelled.

Shields went to the Senate from Illinois, then Minnesota, then Missouri

 

[7th Texas Mounted Rifles]

- James Shields

- A cavalry broadsword - Lincoln felt that Shields would have won if pistols were used, as Shields was the superior marksman.

- Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri

 

[JOHN42768]

James Shields
Large Cavalry Broadswords, Lincoln being 6'4" and Shields being 5'9" Abe figured with His extended reach, he could easily disarm Shields as He did not want either of them to die.
Sen. in Illinois,Minnesota and Missouri

 

[lelliott19]

James Shields (May 10, 1810 – June 1, 1879) Source: wiki James_Shields_(politician,_born_1810)
Challenged Abraham Lincoln to a duel 22 Sept 1842
On July 1, 1846, he was commissioned a brigadier general of volunteers to fight in the Mexican War
Served as a US Senator for Illinois (1849 to 1855) and Minnesota (1858 to 1859)
Shields moved to California and served as a brigadier general of volunteers from that state during the Civil War
The day after Kernstown, he was promoted to major general, but the promotion was withdrawn, reconsidered, and finally rejected.
Served as a US Senator Missouri (1879)

Weapons for the duel: "Since Lincoln was challenged by Shields he had the privilege of choosing the weapon of the duel. He chose cavalry broadswords "of the largest size." "I didn't want the d—-d fellow to kill me, which I think he would have done if we had selected pistols," he later explained. For his own part, he did not want to kill Shields, but "felt sure [he] could disarm him" with a blade. At six feet, four inches tall, Lincoln planned to use his height to his advantage against Shields, who stood at a mere five feet, nine inches tall."
http://www.civilwar.org/education/h...ns-duel.html?referrer=https://www.google.com/

 

[hoosier]

James Shields, not to be confused with the major league pitcher of the same name, was the man who challenged Lincoln to a duel.

Lincoln chose cavalry broadswords of the largest size, because his distinct advantage in height and reach over the much smaller Shields made it unlikely that Shields could prevail in a sword fight.

Shields served as Senator from Illinois, Minnesota, and Missouri.

 

[MaryDee]

Oops, sorry, left out why Lincoln chose the saber/"cavalry broadsword." At 6'4", with long arms, Lincoln had a distinct advantage over his 5'9" opponent. Lincoln also pointed out that he didn't want to kill Shields, which was why he didn't pick pistols.

 

[BlueGrayBlood]

James Shields
Expired Image Removed
http://www.civilwar.org/education/history/lincoln-hub/abraham-lincolns-duel.html

Choice of weapons: Calvary broadswords of the largest size

Why this choice, see quotes below,
1. did not want to be killed or kill
2. Lincoln had the advantage of height, so planned to disarm Shields

Civil War Trust
Since Lincoln was challenged by Shields he had the privilege of choosing the weapon of the duel. He chose cavalry broadswords "of the largest size." "I didn't want the d—-d fellow to kill me, which I think he would have done if we had selected pistols," he later explained. For his own part, he did not want to kill Shields, but "felt sure [he] could disarm him" with a blade. At six feet, four inches tall, Lincoln planned to use his height to his advantage against Shields, who stood at a mere five feet, nine inches tall.

. . . the two men called a truce.

Served as (per wiki) US Senator from:
Illinois 1849 -1855
Minnesota 1858 - 1859
Missouri 1879

Civil War Trust
Fighting in the Shenandoah Valley in March 1862, Shields delivered Stonewall Jackson's only defeat at the Battle of Kernstown and was gravely wounded in the process. Lincoln nominated him for promotion to Major General, symbolically burying all ill-feelings between the two men.
. . . .
Lincoln did not like to talk about the duel. An officer once asked him, in the Oval Office, if it was "true…that you once went out, to fight a duel and all for the sake of the lady by your side?" Lincoln replied, "I do not deny it, but if you desire my friendship, you will never mention it again."

Great question !
I had never heard nor read of this.
, . . . Lincoln must have had many lasting friendships that never mentioned this.

 

[TinCan]

1. James Shields
2. cavalry broadswords (of the largest kind) gave him an advantage in height over Shields.
3. Illinois, Minnesota, and Missouri.

 

[Gerry Seaquist]

JAMES SHIELDS
Illinois
Missouri
Minnesota
Swords?????

Edit - Welcome to the trivia game, Gerry Seaquist.

All five of the answers you gave are correct. Unfortunately, I can't give you credit for a completely correct response, because this question had a sixth part to it, which asked for players to state the reason why Lincoln chose swords as the weapons for this duel.

Sorry your first try at the game involved such a complicated question. Hope you'll come back and play again.

Hoosier

 

[chellers]

1. James Shields

2. Lincoln chose cavalry broadswords because Lincoln later said, "I didn't want the d—-d fellow to kill me, which I think he would have done if we had selected pistols."

http://www.civilwar.org/education/history/lincoln-hub/abraham-lincolns-duel.html

3. Illinois, Minnesota and Missouri

 

[57th Indiana Infantry]

James Shields
Cavalry broadsword, as Shields was an excellent marksman.
Senator of Illinois, Minnesota and Missouri.

He was wounded at the Battle of Kernstown on March 22, 1862, but his troops inflicted the only tactical defeat of General Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson during the campaign (or the war).

 

[ami]

James Shields
Cavalry Sabre, because Lincoln was taller than Shields and had a much longer reach. And Lincoln did not want to use dueling pistols as Shields was a good shot.
Illinois, Minnesota and Missouri - wikepedia

Edit - I will accept either one of the above reasons as a correct answer to the part of the question which asked why Lincoln chose the weapons that he did.

Hoosier