The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1852-07-28

1
be an act OF barbarity unworthy of a CON-
mander and of man. EEl.
Many ofthe invalids were young men, sons
Of his neigbbors and friends, and they no
sooner heard Of the order that had Am
received, than they sent for him, ant NJ
rising from their sick couches, prayed 8, :,
! With tears, not to forsake them. They .
niinded him Of his promises, andappeale /
to has honor. This was notrns ded; his
heart bad already fixed his determination; 4
those brave young men he would watch
over and protect, even though his act Of
tsobedience should bring on him the ye..-
hgeancc of the Government. - -
The feld7officers coincidcs.N nah him..
,sybon he made his resolution known to-
them but at night they held secret
.1peetvsgir Which it lyas .lssalyeS-
monstratc against the course he was pu.-
SUNG, and recommend immediate obedi-
encc to the order of the Secretary of War.
But jackson was a man whom opposition
only fixed firmer in his resolution. and the
accumulation Of difficulties and cmbarrass-
mcnts rHused to still higher excrtions and
greater sacrifices. When this rcmOnstrancc
was read to him, he burst into a torrent
OF Indignation, charged home on the timo-
rous officers deceit and duplicity, and hca-
ped reproaches on them for wishing to
leave the destitute sick soldiers to want,
while they themselves had horses and mo-
ney with which to return. lie told them,
IN conclusion, that no power OH earth could
alter his purpose, and badc them prepare
at once to march. In the mean time, he
despatched to the Secretary full and
frank account of the matter, detailing all
the circumstances and his own conduct
General Wilkinson, hearing Of fJackson's
determination, wrote him letter Of sol
emn cXpostulation, in which he depicted
the awful consequences Of disobcying the
General Government. The latter very
curtly replied that he knew what he was
about, and was willing to take the rcspon-
sibility. Anticipating the fulfllmcnt of
the Secretary's order, the former had sent
officers to recruit from the volunteers the
moment they were disbandcd. This was
reported to Jackson, who Immediately is
sued orders to arrest and place in confnc-
ment, the first officer who entered the en-.
campmcnt for that purpose. In the mean
time, he directed tie quartermastcr to pro-
vide wagons for the transportation Of the
sick and the baggage. The latter dared
not disobey, but played the laggard so
well, that not team was sent in till the
night before the morning appointed to
march. Only eleven wagons then arrived,
and these were discharged at ot g. by the
quartermaster. But jackson was a dan
kgerous man to plny tricks upon, and pc
lremptorily ordering the untaithful officer
and commenced loading. The sick, one
after another were handed out under his
personal inspection, and made as comfor-
table rs the means in his possession allow
cd. At last all but one was slowed away.
whom the surgeon reported in a dying
condition, and too far gone to be removed.
"Not man shall be left who has life in
him." replied Jackson "bring him care
fully out" The young man, apparently
just on the verge of death, and wholly
unconscious of what was passing about
him, was lifted into the wagon, and the
| column turned its face homeward. Jack
son had given up his own horse to fee
bic soldier; and with his stern, fiery heart
beating with all Il fathers affection for the
sick youths who had volunteered to fight
and die 10y his side, trudgcd on foot amid
the wagons containing the invalids, bes-
towing words Of comfort and cheering up
the desponding with the promise of soon
seeing home and friends. Ever and anon
he was seen falling back from the head of
the column, or Fastening up from the rear
to the wagon containing the young soldier
who was supposed to be dying. For
long time the poor invalid lay insensible !;
but being at length aroused by tho heavy
jolung Of the wagon over the uneven road,
he opened his eyes, aud gazing vaguely
about him, family murmured "Where am
lp Jackson who was watching with pa
rental interest the first dawning of reason,
replied in glad tones, "On your way home,
my good fellow" That word "hoine"
reached the sources Of life, and from that
moment lie began to improve; and at
length tho kind hearted commander had
the satisfaction Of presenting him restored
to his family. (.
jackson on foot, wading through the
swamPs, and day after day, toiIing along
the miry roads, an example of heroism,
self-denial, and tenderness, seems an en-
tirely different person from Jackson in the
thunder and carnage of battle. But, in
this respect he was like Marshal Ney, pos
sessing heart which the world in arms
could not shake, yet which the cry of an
infant could overcome. In both, there
was deep seated tenderness, which lay
among their other and sterner qualities
like green Alphine valley amid the gi-
gantic cliffs and glaciers that surrounded it.
The Spring opened gloomily for the
western and northern frontier The mas
sacre at Fort Raisin had broke up Harri,
sons campaign, and left Tecumseh leisure
to travel South again, and rouse the In
4 Al. IL .s