Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1833-11-14
fSo" The Fred1Ioks6trg. ia. .irena.
INTERESTING ANECDOTE.


We need hardly tell our readers,
that we have been uniform and very
decided in our opposition to Gen. Jack.
son that We did what we could 10
prevent his election and re-elec ton;
that VIC have condemned many Of the
measures Of his administration and
that We shall, probably, continue TO
say hard things of him as occasion of.
fers. We take not the less pleasure,
however, in giving publicity, for the
first time, TO an anecdote, which re-
fleets signal honor upon Gen. Jackson.
and indeed upon the American charac.
ter. The authenticity of the story is
unqestionable-we heard il from gen.
tleman Of distinguished literary emf.
hence, whose writings have placed him
among the first of living authors, and
OF whom any country might be. as his
own is. justly proud. II was related
IN q company, Of whom was another
distinguished individual, now repre-
senting his country abroad, but, at the
time to which the anecdote refers, hold
ing situation, near the person of its
hero, which enabled him TO bear testi.
mony, from personal knowledge, TO its
truth.
In the year 1924, Jour informant met,
at the table Of General Sir George Al.
rey, many distinguished Englishmen,
then ia Paris. The conversation turn
ed on the pending Presidential cleo.
ton, and fears were expressed that,
should General Jackson be elected,
the amicable relations between the tuo
countries might be endangered, in con.
sequence Of his implscsblc hostility to
England, and his high handed exercise
Of power, as eyinced during his com.
mand at New Orleans. The necessity.
on the part of our informant, of reply
ing to these observations, was superse-
ded by the prompt and generous out.
break Of one Of the guests-CoI. Thorn
ton, Of the S5th--au officer well known
for his frank and gallant character, and
whose regiment suffered severely in
the attack of the 9th Of January. He
testified, in the bandsomest terms, to
the conduct Of Gen. Jackson, as an a
BILE and faithful commander on that oc-
caSioD, and declared that, had he not
used the power con6ded TO him in the
" high handed" way alluded TO, New
Orleans woeid iDfallibly have been cap
tureh. AZ to the charge Of impiaea.
bic hostility, Col. Thornton declared,
that in ell the intercourse. by flag and
otherwise, between the hostile comman-
ders, Gen. Jackson had been peculiarly
courteous and humane, and. to support
this assertion, begged leave 10 mention
one circumstance. He then proceeded
to state, that, on the day after the at
tack, the British were permitted TO bu-
ry their dead, lying beyond n certain
line hundred or two yards in advance
of Gen. JacksOn's entrenchments-all
within that line being buried by the
Americans themselves. As soon a.
this melancholy duty WAS performed,
the British General was surprised 1T
receiving n flag, with the swords. epau.
lets add watches Of the officers who
bad fallen, and a note from Gen. Jack
son, coached in the most courteous Ian.
gusge, saying that one pair Of epauleis
was still missing, but that diligent
search was making, and when found u
should be sent IN. These articles
always considered fair objects Of plum
der-wsre rescued by Gen, Jackson.
and thus handed over, with a request
that they might be transmitted to the
relatives of the gallant oflieers,to whom,
they had belonged.
This anecdOte, and the frank and
sOldier-lIke style 10 which Il was given.
turned the whole current Of feeling ~
favor Of the General, and drew forth
an expression Of applause from ell parts
Of the table. "For myself" said CUR
informant, 81 felt Hash on n,y cheek,
and thrill Of pride through my bo.
som, and in my heart ! thanked tie old
General for proving, by this chivalsous
act, that the defenders Of our country
were above the sOrdid feelings Of msr-
eenary warfare"