Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1845-07-03
Biographical sketch of Gen. jackson.

Biographical Sketch of Gen.
The following facts are compiled from Kendal's
Life of Jackson:
Andrew Jackson was born on the 10Th of March,
1767, in the 'Waxhaw' settlement, South Carolina.
His parents were e%migrants from Ireland, who had
settled in the place two years before, where they fol-
lowed the industrial occupation of farming. They
belonged to that class of the Irish people called the
yeomanry, distinguished for the quiet virtues of hon
esty, sobriety, and hospitality. Shortly after the
birth of Andrew Jackson, his father died, leaving him,
aleng with two elder brothers, TO be provided for by
their mother woman who seems to have possessed
many Of the excellent virtues of her sex. The patri-
mony left by Jackson's father was small-not enough
to educate literally her three sons 1T was, therefore,
determined that the youngest should be brought up
for the ministry, while the brothers, Hugh and Ro-
bert, should follow the calling of their father. An
drew, accordingly, was sent to a furnishing school in
the settlement, until the revolutionary war brought an
enemy into the neighborhood. 1t now became neces-
sary for even the boys to shoulder the musket or rifle,
and at the tender age of fourteen, encouraged by his
patriotic mother, young Jackson, accompanied by his
brothers, sought the ranks of the American army, and
ranged himself under Its banners.
The Waxhaw settlers, among whom were the
J~acksons, were obliged to retire before the British
into North Carolina. They, however, soon returned
to the Waxhaws. Shortly after their return, a band
OF forty patriots, with whom were Andrew Jackson
and one of his brothers, (the other having already
persisted at the battle Of Stono) were surprised and
routed by a superior British force, many of their num-
Der being taken prisoners. Jackson and his brother
escaped, but on the following day, having entered the
house of a friend TO procure food, they were captured
by a marauding party of the enemy. An anecdote is
told Of Jackson's conduct on this occasion. Being or
dered by a British officer to wipe the mud off his
boots, Jackson peremptOrily refused, demanding the
treatment due a prisoner of war. On his continuing
to refuse obedience to the commands of the officer, the
latter became enraged, and, drawing his sabre, struck
at the head of young Jackson, which blow Jackson
caught with his left hand, receiving a wound, the
mark of which he carried with him TO his grave. His
brother, for a similar offence, had his head laid open
by a sword wound. which afterwards caused his
death.
The two brothers were carried to Camden, where
they were imprisoned until after the battle of Cam
den, when they were released by the exertions of an
ahectionate mother. This heroic woman shortly af-
ter expired near the city of Charleston, TO which place
she had gone on an errand of mercy-the relief of the
suffering American prisoners. Jackson's remaining
brother also died about the same time, leaving him
friendless In the world.
The war was brought to a close. and Jackson hav-
ing contracted an intimacy with some wealthy and
rather dissolute young men belonging to Charleston,
and who had been staying at the Waxhaws, now ac-
cOmpanied them on their return to their home. In
such company his small patrimony soon dwindled
away, and he was hourly contracting pernicious hab-
Its. Before it was too late, however, by an energeict
step, he broke off from his evil associates, and in the
winter of 1854, at the age of Is, he retired to Sails
bury, N. C., where he entered a laWyer's office, and
commenced the study of law. In two years he was
admitted to practice, and not liking Salisbury as a
theatre for his talents, he emigrated to Tennessee,
where, in 17SS, he located himself permanently.
Here he soon obtained lucrative practice, and was
also distinguished among the citizen soldiers and bold
Spirits of the place as one of the boldest.
In 1896, he was elected one of the members of a
convention assembled to frame a constitution for the
State. In the following year he was sent to Con-
gress, to the House of Representatives. and in the
next he became a member of the U. S. Senate. lie
resigned, however, In the same year, not being salts
fed with his political duties at Washington. While
he was still at Washington, in the capacity of Sena-
tor, the Tennessee militia. without consultation with
him, had elected him their Major General, which rank
he continued to hold until 1914, when he received the
same grade in the regular army. Immediately On his
return from Congress he was appointed one of the
Judges of the Supreme Court of Tennessee. He en-
tered upon the duties Of this Office with. reluctance,
and laid them down as soon as he conveniently could,
retiring to his farm on Cumberland river, about
twelve miles above Nashville. Here he remained
occupied with rural pursuits and pleasures, until the
news of a war with Great Britain In 1872 called him
once more into the service of his country.
When the u. S. Government authorized the calling
out Of volunteers, Jackson, as Major General publish
ed a spirited proclamation to his division, to which
$500 brave fellows readily responded, and assembled
IN Nashville. jackson received instructions to carry
them down the Mississippi, for the defence of the
lower country, which was thought to be in danger.
In the month of January, 1913. he conducted his
troops to Natchez, where be had been instructed to
await further orders Here he continued several
weeks in ~bivouack, drilling his army. The danger of
invasion on this quarter passed over, and Jackson re-
ceived orders from the Secretary of War to disband
his troops, and to deliver up the wagons, public stores
&c, to Gen. Wilkinson, of the u. S. Army, then
commanding in this district. This order, Gen. Jack
son thought proper to disobey, alleging as his excuse
that the volunteers, when disbanded. could not reach
home in safety, and that many of them would be
obliged to enlist in the regular army. He therefore
retained his military stores, and marching his volun-
teers into Tennessee, there disbanded them formally.
lie was not permitted to remain long inactive.
The Creek Indians, south of Tennessee river, excited
by British emissaries, and infatuated by the represen-
tations of the celebrated Chief Tecumseh, had become
hostile to the United States, and were numbering the
dcfenceless inhabitants ON the frontiers. Fort Minis,
In the TensaW settlement, had been captured by a
band of braves, and 300 persons ~savagely butchered.
Only seventeen escaped The people of Tennessee
were exasperated by the news, and all eyes were
turned towards Jackson. The legislature ordered out
$500 men at the head of whom, IN the middle of Oc-
tober. Jackson crossed the Tennessee river and enter
ed the hostile territory. He shortly after fought the
battle of Talladega, in which nearly 500 were killed
and captured, but was obliged for want of provisions.
to return to Fort Suother his head quarters. From
the repeated failures Of the contractors to supply his
army, the troops suffered the extreme of hunger, and
at last become Disconnected and mutinous. Jackson
used every effort to prevent their return, and succeed
ed in quelling revolt. Having waited in vain for
supplies, he was at last compelled to yield his reluc-
tant consent to their return, and was thus deserted by
ell but about 100 brave men. In January, a fresh
force Of 500 volunteers having reached him., he pro-
ceeded to Emucfaw Greek, on the Tallaposa river,
where he fought the field. From the weakness of-hs
force. however, he was obliged to retreat to Fort
STROLLER.