title: The complete memoirs of Andrew Jackson, seventh president of the United States.
text: »tf *>> *~k r oK *■ s- ,*/ ^* <"^ ; o 4> ^ ,V "7 **°<* > & ;^ K'v %^s \/»; <;■■ ***** :^ i\ *<^** i°. \,^ :i v-s. <• $ '*?i^>\ rV.. JOHN HENRY EATON 3 The complete memoirs of Andrew Jackson, seventh president of the United States. Containing a full accout of his military life and achievements, with his career as president. Philadelphia Clrxton, Remsen and Haffelfinger 1878 V X. ,E\3SL a jD r LIFE OF ANDREW JACKSON. / CHAPTER I. His Hrtn, parentage, family, and education. —Engages m the American Revolution, and is shortly after, with his brotner made a prisoner.— Their treatment and sufferings.— Commence* the study of law.— His removal to the Western country —Anec- dote —Becomes a member of the Tennessee Convention, and afterwards a Senator in the United States' Congress.— Re- tires, and is appointed a Judge of the State Courts.— De- claration of war.— Tenders the se 'ices of 2500 vcunteers to die President.— Ordered to the lower country.— His descent and return, and discluxrge of tlie troops. Andrew Jackson was born on th? 15th day of March, 1767. His father, (Andrew,) the young- est son of his family, emigrated to America from Ireland during the year 1765, bringing with him two sons, Hugh and Robert, both very young. Landing at Charleston, in South Carolina, ho af- terward^ purchased a tract of land, in what wa? then called the Waxsaw settlement, about forty-five miles above Camden ; at which place the subject of ♦.his history was born. Shortly after his birth, hi* father died, leaving three sons to be provided for by their mother. She appears to have been an exemplary woman, anu to have executed the ar- duous duties which had devolved on her, with great 2 14 LIFE OF GENERAL JACKSON. faithfulness and success. To the lessons she in culcated on the youthful minds of her sons, was no doubt, owing, in a great measure, that fixed ex- position to British oppression, which afterwards so much distinguished them. Often would she spend the winter's evenings in recounting to them the sufferings of their grandfather at the siege of Car- rickfergus, and the oppression exercised by the no- bility of Ireland over the labouring poor ; impres- sing it upon them, as a first duty, to expend their xives, if it should become necessary, in defending and supporting the rights of man. Inheriting but a small patrimony from their fa- ther, it was impossible that all the sons could receive an expensive education. The two eldest were, therefore, only taught the rudiments of their mother tongue, at a common country school. But An- drew, being intended by his mother for the minis- try, was sent to a flourishing academy at the Wax- saw meeting-house, superintended by Mr. Hum- phries. Here he was placed on the study of the dead languages, and continued until the revolu- tionary war, extending its ravages into that section of South Carolina where he then was, rendered it necessary that very one should betake himself to the American standard, seek protection with the enemy, or flee his country. It w r as not an alter- native that admitted of tedious deliberation. The natural ardour of his temper, deriving encourage- ment from the recommendations of his mother, whose feelings were excited by those sentiments in favour of liberty, with which, by her conversation, his mind had been early imbued, quickly deter mined him in the course to be pursued ; and, at the tender age o r fourteen, accompanied by his brother LIFE OF GENERAL JACKSON. ]A Robert, he hastened to the American camp, and engaged actively in the service of his country His eldest brother, who had previously joined the army, had lost his life at the battle of Stono, from 'he excessive heat of the weather, and the fatigues )f the day. Both Andrew and Robert were, at this period, pretty well acquainted with the manual exercise, ind had some idea of the different evolutions of the field, having been indulged by their mother in attending the drill and general musters of the neighbourhood. The Americans being unequal, as well from the iferiority of their numbers, as their discipline, to ngage the British army in battle, had retired be- >re it into the interior of North Carolina ; but, when they learned that Lord Cormvallis had cross- ed the Yadkin, they returned in small detach- rr.ents to their native state. On their arrival, they found Lord Rawdon in possession of Camden, and the whole country around in a state of desolation. The British commander being advised of the re- turn of the settlers of Waxsaw, Major Coffin was immediately despatched thither, with a corps of light dragoons, a company of infantry, and a con- siderable number of tories, for their capture and destruction. Hearing of their approach, the set- tlers, without delay, appointed the Waxsaw meet- ing-house as a place of rendezvous, that they might the better collect their scattered strength, and con- cert some system of operations. About forty of them had accordingly assembled at this point, when the enemy approached, keeping the tories, who were dressed in the common garb of the country, in front, whereby this little band of patriots was completely 16 LIFE OF GENERAL JACKSON. ileceivcd, having taken them for Captain Nis- bet's company, in expectation of which they had been waiting. Eleven of them were taken prison ers ; the rest with difficulty fled, betaking them selves to the woods for concealment. Of those who thus escaped, though closely pursued, were Andrew Jackson and his brother, who, entering a secret bend in a creek, that was close at hand, obtained a momentary respite from danger, and avoided, for the night, the pursuit of the enemy. The next day, however, having gone to a neigh- bouring house, for the purpose of procuring some- thing to eat, they were broken in upon, and made prisoners, by Coffin's dragoons, and a party of to- nes who accompanied them. Those young men, with a view to security, had placed their horses in the wood, on the margin of a small creek, and post- ed, on the road which led by the house, a senti- nel, thai they might have information of any ap- proach, and in time to be able to elude it. But the tories, who were well acquainted with the coun- try and the passes through the forest, had, unfortu- nately, passed the creek at the very pcint where the horses and baggage of our young soldiers were deposited, and taken possession of them. Having done this, they approached, cautiously, the house, and were almost at the door before they were dis- covered. To escape was impossible, and both were made prisoners. Being placed under guard, Andrew was ordered, in a very imperious tone, by a British officer, to clean his boots. This order he Dositively and peremptorily refused to obey ; alleg ing that he looked for such treatment as a pris oner of wai had a right to expect. Incensed at his refusal, the officer aimed a Mow at his hrad LIFE OF GENERAL JACKSON. 17 with a drawn sword, which would, very probably have terminated his existence, had he not parried its effects by throwing up his left hand, on which he received a severe wound, the mark of which he bears to this hour. His brother, at the same time, for a similar offence, received a deep cut on the head, which subsequently occasioned his death. They were both now taken to jail, where, sepa rated and confined, they were treated with marked severity, until a few days after the battle before Camden, when, in consequence of a partial ex- change, effected by the intercessions and exer- tions of their mother, and Captain Walker, of the militia, they were both released from confinement Robert, during his confinement in prison, had suf- fered greatly ; the wound on his head, all this time, having never been dressed, was followed by an in- flammation cf the brain, which, in a few days after his liberation, brought him to the grave. To add to the afflictions of Andrew, his mother, worn down by grief, and her incessant exertions to pro vide clothing and other comforts for the suffering prisoners, who had been taken from her neigh- bourhood, expired in a few weeks after her son, near the lines of the enemy, in the vicinity of Charleston. Andrew, the last and only surviving child, confined to a bed of sickness, occasioned by the sufferings he had been compelled to undergo whilst a prisoner, and by getting wet, on his return from captivity, was thus left in the wide world, without a human being with whom he could claim a near relationship. The small pox, about the same time, having made its appearance upon him. had well nigh terminated his sorrows and his ex istence. 2* 18 LIFE OF GENERAL JACKSON. Having at length recovered from his compli- cated afflictions, he entered upon the enjoyment of his estate, which, although small, would have been sufficient, under prudent management, to have completed his education, on the liberal scale which his mother had designed. Unfortunately, however, he, like too many young men, sacrificing future prospects to present gratification, expended it with rather too profuse a hand. Foreseeing that he should be finally obliged to rely on his own ex- ertions, for support and success in life, he again betook himself to his studies with increased in- dustry. He recommenced under Mr. M'Culloch, in that part of Carolina which was then called the New Acquisition, near Hill's iron works. Here he revised the languages, devoting a portion of his time to a desultory course of studies. His education being now completed, so far as his wasted patrimony, and the limited opportuni- ties then afforded in that section of the country, would permit, at the age of eighteen, he turned his attention to acquiring a profession, and in preparing himself to enter on the busy scenes of life. The pulpit, for which he had been designed by his mother, was now abandoned for the bar ; and, in the winter of 1784, he repaired to Salisbury, in North Carolina, and commenced the study of law under Spruce M'Cay, Esq., (afterwards one of the pidges of that state,) and subsequently continued it under Colonel John Stokes. Having remained at Salisoury until the winter of 1786, he obtained a license from the judges to practise law, and con- tinued in the state until the spring of 1783. The western parts of the state of Tennessee were, about this time, often spoken of, as presenting LIFE OF GENERAL JACKSON. 19 flattering prospects to adventurers. He imme- diately determined to accompany Judge M'Nairy thither, who had been appointed, and was going out to hold the first supreme court that had ever 6at in the state. Having reached the Holston, they ascertained it would be impossible to arrive at the time appointed for the session of the court ; and therefore determined to remain in that section of country until fall. They reached Nashville in Oc- tober. It had not been Jackson s intention, certain- ly, to make Tennessee the place of his future resi- dence ; his visit was merely experimental, and his stay remained to be determined by the advantages that might be disclosed ; but finding, soon after his arrival, that a considerable opening was offered for the success of a young attorney, he determined to remain, though the prospect before him was, cer- tainly, not of an encouraging cast. As in all newly settled countries must be the case, society was loosely formed, and united by but few of those ties which have a tendency to enforce the performance of moral duty, and the right execution of justice. The young men of the place, adventurers from dif- ferent sections of the country, had become indebted to the merchants; there was but one lawyer in the country, and they had so contrived,* as to retain him in their business ; the consequence was, that the merchants were entirely deprived of the means of enforcing against those gentlemen the execu- tion of their contracts. In this state of things Jack- son made his appearance at Nashville, and while the creditor class looked to it with great satis- faction, the debtors were sorely displeased. Appli- cations were immediately made to him for his pro- fessional services, and on the morning after his 20 LIFE OF GENERAL JACKSON. arrival he issued seventy writs. To those prodi- gal gentlemen, it was an alarming circumstance ; their former security was impaired ; but, that it might not wholly depart, they determined to force him, in some way or other, to leave the country ; and, to effect this, broils and quarrels with him were to be resorted to. This, however, was soon abandoned, satisfied by the first controversy in which they had involved him, that his decision and firmness were such as to leave no hope of effecting any thing through this channel. Disregarding the opposition raised to him, he continued, with care and industry, to press forward in his professional course, and his attention soon brought him forward, and introduced him to a profitable practice. He was subsequently appointed attorney-general for the district, in which capacity he continued to act for several years. Indian depredations being then frequent on the Cumberland, every man, of necessity, became a soldier Unassisted by the government, the set- tlers were forced to rely for security on their own bravery and exertions. Although young, no per son was more distinguished than Andrew Jack- son, in defending the country against these preda- tory incursions of the savages, who continually harassed the frontiers, and not unfrequently ap- proached the heart of the settlements, which were thin, but not widely extended. He aided alike in garrisoning the forts, and in pursuing and chastis- ing the enemy. In the year 1796, having, by his patriotism, firm- ness, and talents, secured to himself a distinguished standing, he was chosen one of the members of the convention for establishmaf a constitution for the MFB OF GENERAL JACKSON. 21 state. His good conduct and zeal brought him more prominently to view; and, without proposing or soliciting, he was, in the same year, elected a member of the house of representatives, in con- gress, for the state of Tennessee. The following year, his reputation continuing to increase, he was chosen a senator of the United States' congress, and took his seat on the 22d day of November, 1797. About the middle of April, business of an important and private nature imposed on him the necessity of asking leave of absence, and return- ing home. Leave was granted, and before the next session he resigned his seat. He was but a little more than thirty years of age, and hence, scarcely eligible, by the constitution, at the time he was elected. The sedition law was introduced into the senate, by Mr. Lloyd, of Maryland, in June, and passed that body on the 4th of July fol- lowing ; hence the name of Jackson, owing to the leave of absence which had been granted him in April, does not appear on the journals. On the alien law, however, and the effort to repeal the stamp act, he was present, resting in the minority. The state of Tennessee, on its admission into the Union, comprising but one military division, and General Conway, who commanded it, as major- general, dying about this time, Jackson, without being consulted on the subject, was, as the con- stitution of the state directs, chosen by the field officers to succeed him ; which appointment he con- tinued to hold until May, 1814, when he was con stituted a major-general in the United States' ser- vice. Becoming tired of political life, for the intrigues of which he declared himself unqualified, and hav- 22 LIFE OF GENERAL JACKSON ing for two years voted in the minority in congresa, he resigned, after the first session, his seat in the senate. To this measure he was strongly in- duced, from a desire to make way for General Smith, who, he conjectured, would, in that capaci- ty, be able to render more important services to the government than himself. His country, unwilling that his talents should remain inactive and unem- ployed, again demanded his services. Immediate- ly after his resignation, he was appointed one of the judges of the supreme court of the state. He advanced to the office with reluctance, and in a short time resigned, leaving it open for those, who, he believed, were better qualified than himself, to dis- charge its intricate and important duties. Unam- bitious of those distinctions and honours which young men are usually proud to possess ; finding, too, that his circumstances and condition in life were not such as to permit his time and attention to be devoted to public matters, he determined to yield them into others' hands, and to devote him- self to agricultural pursuits ; and accordingly set- tled himself on an excellent farm, ten miles from Nashville, on the Cumberland river ; where, for several years, he enjoyed all the comforts of do- mestic and social intercourse. Abstracted from the busy scenes of public life, pleased with retire- ment, surrounded by friends whom he loved, and who entertained for him the highest veneration and respect, and blessed with an amiable and affec- tionate consort, nothing seemed wanting to the com- pletion of that happiness' which he so anxiously desired whilst in office. Great Britain, by multiplied outrages on our rights, as an independent and neutral nation, liaa LIFE OF GENERAL JACKSON. 23 provoked from our government a declaration of war against her. This measure, though founded in abundant cause, had been long forborne, and ev- ery attempt at reconciliation made, without effect ; when, at length, it was resorted to, as the only al- ternative that could preserve the honour and dig- nity of the nation, General Jackson, ever devoted to the interests of his country, from the moment of the declaration, knew no wish so strong as that of entering into her service, against a power, which, independent of public considerations, he had many private reasons for disliking. In her, he could trace sufferings and injuries received, and the efficient cause, why, in early life, he had been left forlorn and wretched, without a single relation in the world. His proud and inflexible mind, however, could not venture to solicit an ap- pointment in the army, which was about to be rais- ed. He accordingly remained wholly unknown, until, at the head of the militia, employed against the Creek Indians, his constant vigilance, and the splendour of his victories, apprized the general government of those great military talents which he so eminently possessed, and conspicuously dis- played, when opportunities for exerting them were afforded. The acts of congress of the 6th of February and July, 1812, afforded the means of bringing in to view a display of those powers, which, being amcnown, under other circumstances, unfortunate ly, might have slumbered in inaction. Under the authority of these acts, authorizing the president to accept the services of fifty thousand volunteers, he addressed the citizens of his division, and twenty-five hundred flocked to his standard. A 24 LfFE OF GENERAL JACKSON. tender of them having been made, and the offer ac- cepted, in November he received orders to place Himself at their head and to descend the Missis- sippi, for the defence of the lower country, which was then supposed to be in danger. On the 10th of December, those troops rendezvoused at Nash- ville, prepared to advance to the place of their des- tination; and, although the weather was then ex- cessively severe, and the ground covered with snow, no troops could have displayed greater firm- ness. The general was every where with them, in- spiring them with the ardour that animated his own bosom. Having procured supplies, and made the necessa- ry arrangements for an active campaign, they pro- ceeded, the 7th of January, on their journey ; and, descending the Ohio and Mississippi, through cold and ice, arrived, and halted at Natchez. Here Jackson had been instructed to remain, until he should receive further orders. Having chosen a healthy site for the encampment of his troops, about two miles from Washington, he devoted his time, with the utmost industry, to training and pre- paring them for active service. The clouds of war, however, in that quarter, having blown over, an order was received from the secretary of war, dated the 5th of January, directing him, on the re- ceipt thereof, to dismiss those under his command from service, and to take measures for delivering over every article of public property, in his pos session, to Brigadier-General Wilkinson. When this order reached his camp, there were one hun- dred and fifty on the sick report, fifty-six of whom were unable to raise their heads, and almost the whole of them destitute of the means of defrav- LIFE OF GENERAL JACKSON. $3 ing the expenses of their return. The consequence of a strict compliance with the secretary's or- der inevitably would have been, that many of the sick must have perished, whilst most of the others, from their destitute condition, would, of necessity, have been compelled to enlist in the regular army, under General Wilkinson. Such alternatives were neither congenial with their general's wishes, nor such as they had expected, on adventuring with him in the service of their country ; he had carried them from home, and, the fate of war and disease apart, it was his duty, he believed, to bring them back. To have abandoned them, therefore, at such a time, and under such circumstances, would have drawn on him the merited censure of the most deserving part of his fellow-citizens, and sen- sibly wounded his own generous feelings. Add to this, those young men who were confined by sick- ness, learning the nature of the order he had re- ceived , implored him, with tears in their eyes, not to abandon them in so great an extremity, remind- ing him, at the same time, of his assurances, that he would be to them as a father, and of the im- plicit confidence they had placed in his word. Having made known his resolution to the field- officers of his division, it met, apparently, their ap probation ; but, after retiring from his presence, they assembled late at night, in secret caucus, and proceeded to recommend to him an abandonment of his purpose, and an immediate discharge of his 3 2G LIFE OF GENERAL JACKSON. troops. Great as was the astonishment, which this measure excited in the genera], it produced a still higher sentiment of indignation. In reply, he urg- ed the duplicity of their conduct, and reminded them, that, although, to those who possessed funds and health, such a course could produce no incon- venience, yet to the unfortunate soldier, who was alike destitute of both, no measure could be more calamitous. He concluded by telling them, that his resolution, not having been hastily concluded on, nor bottomed on light considerations, was un- alterably fixed ; and that immediate preparations must be made for carrying into execution the de- termination he had formed. He lost no time in making known to the sec- retary of war the resolution he had adopted ; to disregard the order he had given, and to return his army to the place where he had received it. He painted in strong terms the evils which the course pursued by the government was calculated to pro- duce, and expressed the astonishment he felt, that it should have originated with the famous author of the " Newburg Letters," the once redoubted advocate of soldiers' rights. General Wilkinson, to whom the public proper- ty was directed to be delivered, learning the de- termination which had been taken by Jackson, to march his troops back, and to take with them so much of that property as should be necessary to their return, in a letter of solemn and mysterious inport, admonished him of the consequences which were before him, and of the awful and dangerous responsibility he was taking on himself, by so bold a measure. General Jackson replied, that his con- duct, and the consequences to which it might lead. LIFE OF GENERAL JACKSON. 27 had been well considered, and that he was prepared to abide the result, whatever it might be. Wilkin- son had previously given orders to his officers to recruit from Jackson's army ; they were advised, however, on their first appearance, that those troops were already in the service of the United States, and that, thus situated, they should not be enlisted ; and that he would arrest and confine the first offi- cer who dared to enter his encampment with any such object in view. The quarter-master, having been ordered tc furnish the necessary transports tion for the con veyance of the sick and the baggage to Tennes see, immediately set about the performance of the task ; but, as the event proved, with not the least intention of executing it. Still, he continued to keep up the semblance of exertion ; and, the bet- ter to deceive, the very day before that which had been appointed for breaking up the encampment, and commencing the return march, eleven wagons arrived there by his order. The next morning, however, when every thing was about to be packed up, acting doubtless from orders, and intending to produce embarrassment, the quarter-master entered the encampment, and discharged the whole. He was grossly mistaken in the man he had to deal with, and had now played his tricks too far to be able to accomplish the object which he had, no doubt, been instructed to effect. Disregarding their dismissal, so evidently designed to prevent his marching back his men, General Jackson seiz- ed upon these wagons, yet within his lines, and com- pelled them to proceed to the transportation of his sick. It deserves to be recollected, that this quar- ter-master, so soon as he received directions fo r 2 s * L.1FE OF GEMiRAl I IvSON. furnishing transportation, had despatched an ex- press to General Wilkinson ; and there can be but little doubt, that the course of duplicity he after- wards pursued, was a concerted plan between him and that general, to defeat the design of Jackson ; compel him to abandon the course he had adopted ; nd, in this way, draw to the regular army many of the soldiers, who, from necessity, would be driv- en to enlist. In this attempt they were fortunately disappointed. Adhering to his original purpose he successfully resisted every stratagem of Wilkin- son, and marched the whole of his division to the section of country whence they had been drawn, and dismissed them from service, as he had been instructed. To present an example that might buoy up the sinking spirits of his troops in the arduous march, he yielded up his horses to the sick, and, trudging on foot, encountered all the hardships that were met by the soldiers. It was at a time cf the yeai, when the roads were extremely bad, and the swamps, lying in their passage, deep and full ; yet, under these circumstances, he placed before his troops an example of patience and hardship, that lulled to silence all complaints, and won to him, still stronger than before, the esteem and respect of every one. On arriving at Nashville, he com- municated to the president of the United States the course he had pursued, and the reasons that had induced it. If it had become necessary, he had sufficient grounds on which he could have jus- tified his conduct. Had he suffered General Wil- kinson to have accomplished what was clearly his intention, although it was an event which might, at the moment, ha; e benefited the service, by add LIFE OF GENERAL JACKSON. 2. ing an increased strength to the army, yet the ex- ample would have been of so serious and excep- tionable a character, that injury would have been the final and unavoidable result. His conduct, ter rible as it first appeared, was in the end approved, and the expenses incurred directed to be paid by Ihe government. 3* 30 LIFE OF GENERAL JACKSON CHAPTER II. Indian preparation for hostilities. — Teatmseh arrives amongst the. soidliern tribes ; his intrigues. — Civil wars of the Creeks. — De- struction of, and butchery at Fort Mimms. — Expedition against the Luiians. — Jackson unites with tlie army, and enters the ene- my's country. — Scarcity of supplies in his camp. — Learns the savages are imbodied. — Seeks to form a function witJi the East Tennessee division. — Detaclies General Coffee across tlie Coosa. — Battle of T'alluslwichee. The volunteers, who had descended the river, having been discharged early in May, there was little expectation that they would again be called for. Tennessee was too remotely situated in the interior of the country to expect their services would be required for her defence, and hitherto the British had discovered no serious intention of waging operations against any part of Louisiana. Their repose, however, was not of long duration. The Creek Indians, inhabiting the country lying between the Chatahochee and Tombigbee, and ex- tending from the Tennessee River to the Florida line, had lately manifested strong symptoms of hostility towards the United States, from which they had received yearly pensions, and every as- sistance which the most liberal policy could bestow. This disposition was greatly strengthened, through means used by the northern Indians, who were then making preparations for a war against the United States, and who wished to engage the southern tribes in the same enterprise. An artful impostor had, about this time, sprung up amongst the Shawnees, who, by passing for a LIFE OF GENERAL JACKSON. 31 prophet, commissioned by the u Great Spirit" to communicate his mandates to his red children, had acquired, among his own and the neighbouring tribes, astonishing influence. Clothed, as thoy be- lieved him to be, with such high powers, they lis- tened to his extravagant doctrines, and in them fully confided. He succeeded in kindling a rage against the Anglo-Americans, which soon after burst forth in acts of destructive violence. His brother, Te- cumseh, who became so famous during the war, and who was killed subsequently, at the battle of the Thames, was despatched to the southern tribes, to excite in them the same temper. To the Creeks, by far the most numerous and powerful, he directed his principal attention. Having entered their na- tion, some tune in the spring of 1812, he repaired to Tookaubatcha, where he had repeated confer- ences with the chiefs; but, not meeting with the encouragement he expected, returned to the Ala- bama, which he had previously visited, and there commenced operations. Finding there several leaders of great influence, who entered into his views, he was enabled to carry on his schemes with greater success. Deriving his powers from his brother, the Prophet, whose extra- ordinary commission and endowments were well understood by all the neighbouring tribes in the south, bis authority was regarded with the highest veneration. He strongly interdicted all intercourse with the whites, and prevailed on the greater part of the Alabama Indians to throw aside the imple- ments and clothing which that intercourse had fur- nished, and return again to their savage state, from which he represented them as highly culpable for having suffered themselves to be estranged. In 32 LIFE OF GENERAL JACKSON. a word, no moans were left untried to excite them to the most deadly animosity and cruel war. To afford additional weight to his councils, this de- signing missionary gave assurances of aid and sup- port from Great Britain ; whose power and riches he represented as almost without limits, and quite sufficient for the subjugation of the United States. So considerable an influence did his intrigues and discourses obtain over the minds of many, that it was with difficulty the most turbulent of them could be restrained from running immediately to arms, and committing depredations on the exposed fron- tiers. This hasty measure, however, he represent- ed as calculated to defeat the great plan of opera- tions which he was labouring to concert; and en- joined the utmost secrecy and quietness, until the moment should arrive, when, all their preparations being ready, they might be able to strike a deci- sive blow ; in the mean time, they were to be indus- triously employed in collecting arms and ammu- nition, and other necessary implements of war. Having ordained a chief prophet, whose word was to be regarded as infallible, and whose direc- tions were to be implicitly followed, and established a regular gradation of inferior dependants, to dis- seminate his doctrines through the different parts of the nation, Tecumseh set out to his own tribe, accompanied by several of the natives. From this time, a regular communication was kept up between the Creeks and the northern tribes, in relation to the great enterprise which they were concerting together ; whilst the parties carrying it on committed frequent depredations on the frontier settlers. By one of these, in the sum- mer of 1812, several families had been murdered LIFE OF GENERAL JACKSON. 33 in a shocking manner, near the mouth of the Ohio and, shortly afterwards, another party, entering the limits of Tennessee, under circumstances of stil) greater barbarity, butchered two families of women and children. Similar outrages were committed on the frontiers of Georgia, and were continued, at intervals, on the inhabitants of Tennessee, along her southern boundary. These multiplied outrages, at length, attracted the attention of the general government, and ap- plication was made, through their agent, (Colonel Hawkins,) to the principal chiefs of the nation, who, desirous of preserving their friendly relation with the United States, resclved to punish the murderers with death ; and immediately appointed a party of warriors to carry their determination into execution. No sooner was this done, than the spirit of the greater part of the nation, which, from policy, had been kept, in a considerable degree, dormant, suddenly burst into a flame, and kindled into civil war. It was not difficult for the friends of those mur derers, who had been put to death, to prevail on others, who secretly applauded the acts for which they suffered, to enter warmly into their resent ments against those who had been concerned in bringing them to punishment. An occasion as they believed, was now presented which fully au- thorized them to throw aside all those injunctions of secrecy imposed on them by Tecumseh and their prophets. They now resolved to lay aside all restraint, and execute at once their insatiate and long-projected vengeance, not only on the white people, but on those of their own nation, who, by 84 LIFE OF GENERAL JACKSON. this last act of retaliatory justice, had unequivocally shown a disposition to preserve their friendship with the former. The war clubs* were immedi- ately seen in every section of the nation; but more Darticularly among the numerous hordes residing near Alabama. Brandishing these m their hands, they rushed, in the first instance, on those of their own countrymen who had shown a disposition to preserve their relations with the United States, and obliged them to retire towards the white settle- ments, and place themselves in forts, to escape the first ebullition of their rage. Encouraged by this success, and their numbers, which hourly increas- ed, and infatuated to the highest degree by the predictions of their prophets, who assured them that the "Great Spirit" was on their side, and would enable them to triumph over all their enemies, they began to make immediate preparations for extend- ing their ravages to the white settlements. Fort Mimms, situated in the Tensaw settlement, in the Mississippi territory, was the first point destined to satiate their vengeance. It contained, at that time, about one hundred and fifty men, under the command of Major Beasley, besides a considerable number of women and children, who had betaken themselves to it for security. Having collected a supply of ammunition from the Spaniards at Pensacola, and assembled their warriors, to the number of six or * Instruments used by the Indian tribes on commencing hos- tilities 5 and which, when painted red. they consider a declaration of war. They are fonned of a stick, about eighteen inches in lenglh, with a strong piece of sharp iron affixed at the end, and resemble a hatchet. They use thorn principally in pursuit, and after they have been able to introduce contusion into the ranks of an enemy. LIFE OF GENERAL JACKSON. 35 seven hundred, the war party, commanded by Weatherford, a distinguished chief of the nation, on the 30th of .August, commenced their assault on the fort; and, having succeeded in carrying it, put to death nearly three hundred persons, including' women and children, with the most savage barbari- ty. The slaughter was indiscriminate: mercy was extended to none ; and the tomahawk, at the same stroke, often cleft the mother and the child. But seventeen of the whole number in the fort escaped, to bring intelligence of the dreadful catastrophe. This monstrous and unprovoked outrage was no sooner known in Tennessee, than the whole state was thrown into a ferment. Considerable excite- ment had already been produced by brutalities of earlier date, and measures had been adopted by the governor, in conformity with instructions from the secretary of war, for commencing a campaign against them ; but the massacre at Fort Mimms, which threatened to be followed by the entire de- struction of the Mobile and Tombigbee settlements, inspired a deep and universal sentiment of solici- tude, and an earnest wish for speedy and effectual operations. The anxiety felt on the occasion was greatly increased from an apprehension that Gene- ral Jackson would not be able to command. He was the only man, known in the state, who was believed qualified to discharge the arduous duties of the staticn, and who could carry with him the complete confidence of his soldiers. He was at this time seriously indisposed, and confined to his room, with a fractured arm; but, although this ap- prehension was seriously indulged, arrangements were in progress, and r. easures industriously taken. 36 LIFE OF GENERAL JACKSON. to prepare and press the expedition with every pos- sible despatch. A numerous collection of respectable citizen?, who convened at Nashville on the 18th of Septem- ber, for the purpose of devising the most effectual ways and means of affording protection to their brethren in distress, after conferring with the gov- ernor and General Jackson, who was still confined to his room, strongly advised the propriety of march- ing a sufficient army into the heart of the Creek na- tion; and accordingly recommended this measure, with great earnestness, to the legislature, which, in a few days afterwards, commenced its session. That body, penetrated with the same sentiments which animated the whole country, immediately enacted a law, authorizing the executive to call into the field thirty-five hundred of the militia, to be marched against the Indians ; and, to guard against all difficulties, in the event the general govern- ment should omit to adopt them into their service, three hundred thousand dollars were voted for their support. The settlers were fleeing to the interior, and every day brought intelligence that the Creeks, collected in considerable force, were bending their course towards the frontiers of Tennessee. The governor now issued an order to General Jackson, who, notwithstanding the state of his health, had determined to assume the command, requiring him to call out, and rendezvous at Fayetteville, in the shortest possible time, two thousand of the militia and volunteers of his division, to repel any invasion that might be contemplated. Colonel Coffee, in audition to five hundred cavalry, already raised, un- der his command, was authorized to organize ant LIFE OF GENERAL JACKSON. 37 receive into his regiment any mounted riflemen that might make a tender of their se-rvices. Having received these orders, Jackson hastened to gi\e them effect; and with thus object appealed to those volunteers, who, with him, had heretofore descended the Mississippi to Natchez. He urged them to appear at the rendezvous, on the 4th of October, equipped for active service. He pointed out the imperious necessity which demanded their services, and urged them to be punctual; for their frontiers were threatened by a savage foe. In the mean time, until this force could be collected and organized, Colonel Coffee, with the force then un- der his command, and such additional mounted riflemen as could be attached at a short notice, was directed to hasten forward to the neighbourhood of Huntsville, and occupy some eligible position for the defence of the frontier, until the infantry should arrive ; when it was contemplated, by the nearest possible route, to press on to Fort St. Stephen, with a view to the protection and defence of Mississippi. Every exertion was now made to hasten the prep- arations for a vigorous campaign. Orders were given to the quarter-master, to furnish the neces- sary munitions, with the proper transportation ; and to the contractors, to provide ample supplies of pro- visions. The day of their rendezvous being arriv ed, and the general not being sufficiently recovered to attend in person, he forwarded by his a i.!- do- camp, Major Reid, an address, to be read to the troops, accompanied by an order for the establish- ment of the police of the camp. For the police of his camp, he announced the following order : 33 LIFfi OF GENERAL JACKSON. "The chain of sentinels will be marked, and the ecntries posted, precisely at ten o'clock to-day. 