Seems a little crazyIt was all about "honor", belMarduk. The place where the duel took place was known as "the field of honor" and the duel itself was conducted according to a "code of honor".
Is that crazy?
From my little survey, the practice began in Italy prior to 1500 and then spread to France and England. It was also practised in the new republic of America where it died out in the South last [where the 'aristocratic' culture of the slave plantations prevailed].
A 'gentleman' was the head of his family, and his family was a noble line that could not suffer the blot of an unanswered insult or the eternal ignominy of an act of cowardice. Therefore, it was better to die with honor than to survive with your escutcheon forever blemished with disgrace. [One cannot live forever but the blemish on the family's reputation lives forever -- that sort of thing.]
Any boy who fought as a kid understands the mentality perfectly. Back down from a fight, even with a bigger kid, and you forfeit not only your reputation with everyone who knows you for your courage, but also your personal pride.
Men, in particular "gentlemen", protected their wives and families so there would be no reason for women to duel with one another. The men of the family, in particular the head of the family, represented the honor of the family and the family lineage.
BTW Jackson knew that his opponent Dickinson was the better shot so he probably made a conscious decision to let him fire first, hoping he would not be fatally wounded and would have time to take careful aim in reply -- which is exactly what happened.
In another report of the duel, I read that Dickinson exclaimed "Great God, I missed him" after Jackson took his shot and prepared slowly and methodically to fire back. Then Dickinson fled but he was required by the "code of honor" to return to his mark and take the shot 'like a man' -- which he did.
"Dickinson ran from the line of fire, but he was ordered back to his place, a mere 24 ft. from Jackson, according to the code of honor. Dickinson stood awaiting Jackson's bullet with his arms crossed over his chest; Jackson steadied himself, aimed slowly and deliberately, and shot his opponent in the groin. Dickinson died a slow and painful death, and Jackson carried his bullet for the rest of his life; it had lodged too close to Jackson's heart to be removed."http://snipurl.com/chfc