The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-08-19
COM UNICATiO Ms.
For the Union.
nAUNT sUZY.n

L Foi uc Union.
"AUNT SUZY.n
| | read in the National Intelligencer, of the "a
| August criticism upon two "Sketches Of the Rev
munlcated in the "Unionn of the 18th July; copy
of which enclosed anonymously to the editors o.
| the lntelligencer TO which ] am IA subscriber"
should not attempt TO defend the interest or in
structiye character of these relaons but denial Of
their truth oblges me to defend the intention.
| The whole narrative is as closely drawn from
facts as caution and memory would allow. The
mode of introduction the pccuarties Of the reator
and the habits and manners of the times referred TO-
were fully given, in order that the accounts might
be accurately appreciated. But the truth appears
80 strange, II is not credible.
| In the neghborhood in which live, the persons
referred to very well known, and the narrative
loses its anonymous character. Indeed, we are
much better acquainted with the names of Ande
Jackson, 10 Graham, and Aunt Suzy Alexander
than with those of Clio, Horace, or Agamemnon.
My surprise was certainly greater to see four
lines OF Latin verse connected with the criticism up
on these Revolutionary legends" in the Intelligent
Ger, than at any discrepancy in the dates Of aged
| woman on the verge ofthe grave.
Notwithstanding the obviously bilious character
OF the CRITICISM there some apparent objections
which have referred to Mrs. Alexander, TO whom
read the observations in the lntelligencer. She
| said to me, ~ had an excellent memory in my
youth, but it may be somewhat Jared now. Any
thing that happened then, is Of more consequence
to me than anything that happens now. am sure
that what was told, was put down as | heard it;
| and all that stated were hints of the truth.
| 81 don't know how you recolected il oil; but
what read in print in the Union was exactly the
truth The only Thing would wish to correct
was, with respect to Andes age. As far as could
judge, when he was at house, think he was
over thirteen.
"Mrs. Jackson and her son Andrew came to our
house in the month Of August, and | am sure were
there nigh to six weeks. No brother came with
Ande to our house. Nor do recollect hearing
them mention any other brother than the one that
was killed only recollect about the death Of that
one brother; and had it, as perfect belief, that he
was killed by the lndians--for they often mourned
him; and they were nveterae haters of the Indians
on account Of their barbarities--both he and his
mother
"It exactly affronts me TO hear Anything against
him. He had his faiings, like the best Of men we
have account of; but he had his virtues GER
tainy.
"He was preserver--or in the hands of preser-
ver-upon the frontier against the Indians; and his
very soul was grieved when he could not get men
to help him. Oh we all suffered by those horrid
Indians; and the remembrance Of has not gone out
of me yet
81 am sure the Jacksons were near to six weeks
at our house. Depend upon il, they came in Au-
gust for the corn was in the roasting ears | mind
carried home to eat. August full time for roast
ing ears; and we had only the one crop in the big
field; and in September we were taking in fodder in
those times, for the corn WINS getting hard then
On the 25th and 26th Of September Of that year
there came awful frosts; and every bit of new land
was ruined. We had taken some fodder before
that, and Ande helped to tie it. What was left was
ruined-as white sheet, and tasteless. Ii was
great cause Of amenation, for il adding more to
our distresses.
at was on the Oath or 25th of September that the
Jacksons left these logs (pontng to her house -a
day or two before Graham was wounded.
1.-THE Jacksons would often count over how long
they had left home. They came up from the Wax.
| haws to McKomy's who lived by Rocky river
Westinghouse, to take their stand there. McKo.
my's wife and Jackson's mother were sisters. But
as they were alarmed also, and not contented al
home, the whole party came up the Potter road 10
our house; and never thought they came through
Charlotte at all, as it was out Of their way, you
| know.
"But they might have had the escort of Colone
Davie, for they had him in high esteem, and otter
| spoke of him. Indeed all the folks liked Col. Da
| vie; for he was lively, active, persevering man
found everywhere where his friends wanted him
and where his foes did not look for him. He wal
second only to Marion l think, and many of my
| neighbors served under him.
"There were two wel[grown, genteol girls--Sally
and Matty Burns, their names wereA-who had /
lower country to our house TO stay, while the Jack
sons were with U.S. They were acquaintance o
the Jacksons, too.
"The British hireling troops-Hessians, Ger
mans, Norwaymen, and Welch--had done som,
rude mischief abusing the young women; SO tina
there great fear of falling into their brutisf
hands.
"The tories, too, were bold, forward and trouble
some in expectation, when they heard the British
were coming up from Charleston; and the Jacksons
were hurried off, in consequences of their taking
boys, and holding them to wait on them like Sc
that Mrs. Jackson was induced to come away or
account Of her son--'her ALL as she often called
him. That's the stery they told us! The time the
British were occupied in marching from Charleston
to Camden, was quite sufficient to alarm the whole Of
the upper country. People were alarmed, and making
preparations to scratch out Of the way before the
battle Of Camden; but much more so afterwards
There desperate talk about the battle of Cam
den while the Jacksons were with us. The riders
who carried the were the whole look -out of the
country, and reports came rapidly by us.
"There were watermeons and peaches when the
Jacksons came, but they gave out before they lef
US. Watermelons, in new land, come forward in
July, generally, and continue through August. Au-
gust was the main time for our peaches. (They are
an early kind, called Coneojig peaches, from the
neiehborhood OF that stream in nsylvania.
About the 4th or 9Th of August we had plenty, and
the Jacksons had peaches, for she said, she feared
bne sHOuiu never cut peaches AT nome again! Du'
the peaches finished while the Jacksons were
here. They used of them mind. In the begin
ming Of September we had few left, except late ones
"The seasons were then earlier than now. In
April, we generally had corn cross-ploughed; and
the farmers boys would try to get down before the
April court, that they mighthav holyday, and get
off in any kind of fxngs, on horseback FOR frolic,
If the corn was finished.
"The falls were longer. The springs began earlier,
and the falls too There is yast difference in them
now--morc than any one would imagine.
"When the Jacksons came roasting ears were
in prime case, and we did make them fly too! We
did not know whether we should enjoy that corn
long, and we were not saving of it; for when Corn
wallis came, it was a very dark day about TO open
"Ande and ! often selected the pumpkins and
beans, which were the only sauce we had with our
meat. Flour was scarce, but we were all peH peo-
pie them we did not want decacies!
EVERY now and then, some one would call to
stay night at our house, for il was a great thor
oughfare between two big roads, and people were
Auin in all dracfions the Almost nIl