Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1845-06-27

naming brother also died about the same uuiv'
leaving him fricndless in the world.
The war was brought to close, ana JacNson
ba,ino contracted an intimacy with some wealthy
and rather absolute young men belonging to
Cbarlestot. and who had been staying at the Wax
haws. now accompanied them on their return to
their home In such coap any, his small par'mony
soon dwinded away, and he was hourly contract
ING pernicous habits. Before it was too late,
however, by an energetic STEP he broke OIL rom
his evil associates, and IN the winter OF i'oi, Ut
the age of iS, he retired TO Salisbury, Norm caro-
lima, where he entered lawyers othcc ana con-
menced the study Of the law. In two years ne
was admitted to practice, ana not l!N''le '''ST!
as a theatre for his talents he em'grateu 10 GU
nessee Ease and Afterwards 10 NashN,'e' "',ole'
in 1888, he located hn'sel pc,..ane.'I' ei.
he soon obtained lucrative practice, ana was also
DISTINGUISHED among the citizen soldiers and bold
shirts of the place as one Of tie boldest.
In 1896. he was elected une of the members Of
Convention assembled to frame Constitution Tor
the State. In the year following he was sent to
Congress, in the House Of Representatives, and IN
the next year he become a member OF the united
States Senate. He resigned, however, the same
year, not being satisfied with his political duties at
Washington While he was still at Washington
in the capacity Of Senator, the Tennessee militia
without consultation with him, had elected nun
their Major General, which rank he continued to
hold till 1914, when he received the same grade
in the regular army. Immediately on his return
from Congress he appointed one Of the Judges
of the Supreme Court of Tennessee. He entered
upon the duties of this Office with reluctance, and
laid them down as soon as he conveniently could,
retiring to his farm on the Cumberland river about
- miles above Nashville. Here he remained oc-
cupcd with rural pursuits and pleasures until the
news of a war with Great Britain in 1872, called
hiln once more to the service ofhis country.
When the United States Government authorized
the calling of volunteers, Jackson as Major Gener-
al published spirited proclamation 10 his division,
TO which $500 brave fellows readily responded and
assembled at Nashville. Jackson received in
structions 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 he had
been instructed to await further orders. Here he
continued for several weeks in bivouack, drilling
his army. The danger of invasion on this quarter
passed over, and Jackson received orders from the
Secretary of War to disband his troops, and deliver
up the wagons, public stores, &c. to General Will
kinson of the United States army, then command
ing in this district. This order General Jackson
though proper 10 disobey, aledging as his excuse
that the volunteers when dsbanded could not
reach home in safety, and that many of them
would be obliged to enlist in the regular army
He therefore retained the military stores and
marching his volunteers into Tennessee there dis
banded them.
The Creek Indians, south of the Tennessee river,
excited by British emissares and infatuated by the
representations OF the celebrated chief TCcumseh,
had become hostile to the United States govern
ment, and were numbering the defenceless inhabi.
tants on the frontiers. Fort MimBs, on the Ten
saw settlement, had been captured by band OF
braves, and 300 persons savagely buchered. Only
II escaped. The people OF Tennessee were exas-
perated by the news and all eyes were turned to.
wards Jackson. The Legislature ordered ont $500
men, at the head of whom, in the middle of Octo-
ber Jackson crossed the Tennessee river and en-
tered the hostile country lie shortly after fought
the battle of Taladega, in which nearly 500 war.
riors killed and captured, but obliged for
want of provisions, to return to Fort Stroher his
head quarters From the repeated failures of con-
tractors 10 supply his army, the troops suffered the
extreme of hunger, and at last became disconnected
and mutnous. Jackson used every effort TO pre-
vent their return and succeeded in quelling revolt
after revolt. Having waited in vain for supplies,
he was at last compelled TO yield his reluctant
consent to their return, and was thus deserted by
ali but about 100 brave men. In January, fresh
force of 500 volunteers having reached him, he
penetrated to Emuckaw Creek, on the Taaposa
river, where he fought the Indians, leaving nearly
200 of their warriors on the field. From the weak
ness of his force, however, he was obliged to re-
treat to Fort Strother
Towards the end of February, his army was in.
creased by fresh draught of militia to the number
$500, and he commenced his march for the "Horse
Shoe" Bend (Tohopeka) on the Tallaposa river
Here the hostile tribes had concentrated their
strength, and having fortified the Bend, were de-
termned to make desperate and final stand
Jackson arrived in the neghboriood of 'Tohopeka
on the Goth Of March, and on the morning of the
21:h commenced the attack Both the attack and
defence were managed with exceeding skill, and
the contest severe and bloody. The Tennessee
ans, however, at last drove the savages from their
hold with immense loss. Hardly 200 escaped out
of loco warriors, yho would neither give nor re-
ceve quarter.
The defeat of Tohopeka broke the war spirit of
the Indians, and the hostile chiefs soon after sub
hitting, the campaign was brought to close and
the Tennessee army returned to their homes and
were discharged.
General Jackson was now appointed Commits
sioner to enter into u treaty with the conquered
tribes during the ratification of which he received
information that British force had been landed at
Pensacola, under the very eye of the Spanish Gov
ernor, and was proceeding to arm and equip hordes
of savages who had taken shelter in the neutral
Territory. He accordingly sent advices 10 the
government, and urged the necessity Of dismantling
this fortress. In the mean time, this British force,
with Col Nichols at its head, attacked the Ameri-
can post at Fort Bowyer, but were repulscd with
severe loss. General Coffee now arrived on the
spot with 20C0 well armed Tennesseans, and Jack
son. placing himself at the head of this force, en-
tered Pensacola, drove out the British and Indians,
and reduced the Spanish Governor to terms He
did not hold the place long, as he had become con
vnced that New-Oreans was the chief object of
attack, and thther he marched ON the LIST Dccem-
Der. Making the city OF Ncw-Orleans his head
quarters, he prepared for its defence.
On the 10th, the British forces entered the lakes
lying TO the East of New Orleans, and on the ODD,
General Jackson received certain information that
hey were making landing through the Bayou
Bienrenu, about eight miles below the city, on
narrow strip Of land lying between the river and
swamp, and running all the way up the city,
Jackson Immediately marched to the spot, and
reaching 1t at dark-made an attack on the enemy
THIS spirited attack kept up for several hours
IN Inc darkness when the troops, getting into some
confusion, were Withdrawn to await the morning
light The battle of the 23d was the means Of
saving New-Orleans, as it had the effect of re-
straining the British troops, unit, the American
COMMANDER completed his celebrated breastwork.
which afterwards opposed their advance upon the