Smyrna times., 1858-04-22

: Previous to the battle of New Orleans, Gen
jackson had raised regiment in Tennessee
1t was composed of young and ardent patriots
[ personal friends of its COMMUNICATIVE wer
ready to follow him anywhere and stand by hin
against all odds. The members of the regi
| ment were poor, and their commander was poo
5 as they. He marched them to Nashville, in
fchding from that point to move down to New
Orleans When he reached Nashville he wal
, met by peremptory order from the Secretary
, of War, commanding him to dsband his regi
ment and send it home. 1t was hard case.-
The troops were poor, i'll clothed and i'll fed.-
1t was cold weather. The poor fellows had M
money. and had no means to remain and none
to rOturn home. The troops had left home
with their commander, whom they loved
They had enlisted at the call of their country
to die, if it need be, in her behalf. Their com.
mander resolved that they should not suffer
and he pledged all he had in this world-ob.
tanned credit-made provision on his own ac-
lcOunt for their departure-and dismissed them
with tears and thanks. 1t was now the purpose
OF Gen. Jackson to induce The government to
: assume this debt, and refund what had been ad-
vanced on behalf of his soldiers. lie found an
able and capable man to make the appeal, in
the person Of Col Benton. He agreed to go on
to Washington, report the matter TO the Plesi-
cent and induce him to approve the acts of
Jackson. A journey from Tennessee to the city
Of Washington in 1914 was quite a different af-
fair from what it is in 1853 The way was
long--it lead through a waste, bowling wilder
ness. Beasts Of prey. and men worse than
these put the travellers life in peril--the roads
" ere bad--the journey was long, arduous, per-
ilous. But it was undertaken with cheerful al.
9crity by Col. Benton, on behalf of his dear
tEiend and it was successfully accomplished.
| While Col. Benton was on his way home
| from Washington, he heard that quarrel had
broken out between his brother at Nashville
and resident in Tennessee, known as the
"Naor," whose real name was Carol. In the
quarrel, Gen jackson had AIKEN sides, and was
the friend and adviser of Carol in the quarrel
A duel was not fought, but in the personal en-
counter that took place, Mr. Benton was dam
gerously wounded by bullet from pistol and
was for time in great peril. Such was the
news that greeted Col. Benton when he came
heme from his perllous journey. His brother
dangerously wounded--his friend for whom he
had done and suffered so much, the ally and
adviser of his brothers. foe. he was hot with
rage. lie felt indignant at the course pursued
by Gen Jackson and did not hesitate to charge
Jackson with ngratitude They separated.
THE RECONCILIATION.
The ennity was long and complete. The
Bank question came up. Col. Benton was in
the SeEate. He made speech on the ques-
ton. lie defended the course ofthe President
as a President, while he held to his wEongs as
man. The speech was an able one. Mr..
Benton was to be q marked man in the contest
dawnng. The President needed Col. Benton.
lie sent for the Senator to call at the White
House. A reconciliation took place, and their
friendship was broken only by death.
HARD MONEY QUESTION.
During the excitement growing out of the
bank, Gen. jackson was charged with high
crimes, and it was asserted that when the bank
was destroyed he would take the high handed
measure of having currency OF his own in de-
| fiance of Congress. Col. Benton remarked that
| he thought the new currency would be three
pieces to the dollar" The Colonel even init
mated that the currency was then out and he
| had some of the coin in his pocket. To the as
| tonishment ofthe company Col. Benton took out
| of his pocket silver half dollar and two silver
quarters of a dollar, and asked the crowd if
those 4" three pieces" did not make one dollar.
" With this currency" said the Senator, " the
President will sustain the Administrator"
GREAT CONFEDERATION.
| The disastrous fire that consumed COL Ben
toms dwelling house at Washington, with his
| papers, private memora ndums, and the labors of
! many years, is we'll known. On the morning
| of that day he had made one of his characteris
| tic speeches which was TO have been printed the
next day in the Globe. The speech was writ
ten and lay oil his table ready for the printer.
| lie was out for walk in the afternoon-he
heard the alarm of fre-he was soon met by
friend who told him that his house was in
flames, and that his library, books and papers
in his private room were already consumed
| When he learned that his papers and the men,
orlals of the days past, that that room contained
were gone, he ceased to care for the part not
consumed, but said" let the house 90, then"
Many doors were opened to him, for Col. Ben
ton had a warm heart and was greatly beloved
by all who had social intercourse with him.
and he was soon domiciled with some friends.-
Many called upon him that night. He was
found calm and collected, engaged in writing
out that speech that on that morning he had de-
lvered and which had been consumed by the
flames of that dny. 1t was to appear the next
day, and Col. Benton remarked that his brain
was not burnt" 1t was near midnight when he
was found at his task and the speech was writ
ten that night and was printed the next day.
HIS LOVE FOR HIS FAMILY.
For long while before her death, Mrs. Ben
ton had been an invalid. BY the softening of
her brain her mind was greatly enfeebled. But
from the time of her sickness TO the hour of her
death, her husband tended her with al the care
of a mother towards an only child. She sat by
his side while he wrote; aud at times the old
smile would come back to her Palid check
Never did Mr.. Benton appear greater than on
the day his house was consumed. He saw un-
moved the work ofthrty years destroyed. But
when he knew that with his property, and his
valuable papers, other things had vanished more
valuable than gold, the fountain of feelings
were broken up and bitter tears flowed.
Some of his friends, anxious to know how the
confagration had affected his property, made
some inquiries about the pocuniary damage he
had suffered He said little of his loss of goods,
but with deep feeling alluded to those treasures
which could never be recalled or replaced
lie opened the secret chambers of his heart