Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1859-01-09

his stirrups, drew his sword and gave the sig
nal for a charge, the foam few from bis lips,
and his whole face was one concentrated fash
Of electricity. Electrical il must have been,
for it communicated courage 10 men who had
little training or discipline as soldiers, and
who had to meet The fearful war-whoop OF
Indians, and the steady ranks Of British regu-
lars. pefhaps. however, the best test OF his
true nerve was exhibited when in collision with
his own mutinous soldiery. The scene at Ten
Islands between him and the Brigade Of Ten
nessee Volunteers, was one Of The most heroic
and affecting that is presented IN military
annals.
They claimed that their term was about to
expire, and that they would return home and
disband. He strongly urged that they were en-.
listed tor a longer period Of actual service, ano
that their retreat would ruin the campaign. he
| appealed 20 their oaths, their honor, and that Of
the state which would be sacrificed BY theiI
deseriion. His eloquent appeal was IN VAN,
Rest from the privations Of war, thoughts Of
home and pride Of opinion, proved welghuei
than an the reasoning or persuasion Of then
General
II was then, when all other means Of re-
straining them had failed, that taking counse
from his own high view Of patriotism and duty
10 The country, be determined to risk his Owl
life rather than submit 10 the demands Of m
mutinous soldiery, and thus addressed them, "
cannot, must not believe that" The Nolun'
teers Of Tennessee e" a name ever dear tofame
will disgrace themselves, and a country thel
have honore' BY abandoning her standard al
mutfneers and d~eserters but should ] be disap
pointed and compelled 10 abandon this pleasing
hope, one thing ! will not resign-my duty
Mutiny and sodidon, as long as IhaTe the pow,
er Of queling them, shall be put down and eveI
when left destitute Of this, / will still b. fount
in the last extremity, endeavonng to diseharg'
the duty I owe 10 my country and myself"
The day claimed For discharge was the l0l
Of December, and the morning Of the 9th brok'
dark and threatening, the men stood IN groups
arguing and asserting their rights. The on
GERS were nerving themselves for the struggle
| Before sunset, 1t was hurriedly communicated
70 the General, that these troops were in opeI
rebellion, and ready to decamp. He immedi.
ately announced the fact 10 his other troops By
general order, posted his artillery in their front
ordered Col. Wynne's Militia TO seize the emf
nences beyond them, and mounted his horse an'
rode up and dow their line. He addressed then
IN lofty and impassioned strains Of eloquence
conjuring them even yet to desist, and freely
exposing his person to their IRE. They hest
tated, but stood their ground. he then close'
with these memorable words. 81 have dom
with entreatY, il has been used long enough
/ viii attempt il no more. You must now de-
termine whether you will 90 or stay. II yot
still persist in your determination TO moF'
| forciblV of, the point between US shall soon b,
decided The lines wavered but did not retire
He raised himself to his full hight, ordered tn
artillerists to prepare their matches, anc
hraced himself for the shock; but the contes'
was over, shame and admiration had done it'
work, the word " return passed rapidly down
the line, their arms were brought TO their shoul'
ders, they were soldiers again, and the mutiny
was al an end.
II ----E-amH ..maHnn
ton that this exhibition was one Of Tashnes'
on the part oil the General, that he might hav'
brought his troops into collision, made th'
waters Of the Tennessee run red with IN
blood Of his own soldiers, and have iTeparably
broker up his army, not 30 however did h
think, and his Judgment was right He knew
that the Indians were divided a. to the policy
Of the war, and were ausyed against eacf
other. If he was compelled 70 retreat th'
"peace partyo would be overwhelmed, and th'
whole nation al once precipitated onthe settle
ments. We were containing too almost fol
existence with he greatest power Of the earth
II might and did soon become necessary for NJ
30 measure arms with the British legions. II
mutiny and sedition could not be prevented
then discipline and courage were impossible
and our defeat rendered certain. He had more.
over a high and undying reliance on his Owl
mighty powers, ne knew his soldiers thorough
~ Gnu nA- .AENt.a NlAHE4 AAE NAAHAAA "a us 50
gacity. From that day forward he was the
idol Of his troops, they believed him irresistible
and he was prepared for any coming fight.
His truth and earnestness was an admirable
gem in his eonsi ellatoin Of qualities, and II
shone clear and distinct in all its Developments
He never wilfully deceived any person, or lured
him on 20 bis support BY fraud or deception, he
scorned snv success that was achieved without
the fullest and clrarest exposition Of his views
and intentions. There was no palteuing OF
phrases OF doubtful meaning in his addresses e
Congress or the people, he cut shear through
whatever he touched, leaving a wall on either
side, so that he who could read might under
stand; his public documents carried with then
their own Interpretation. He always found The
masses Of the people willing TO hear the truth.
and however unWelcome It might be, what hs
believed, he said % them. When told by some
Of his timid supporters that the removal Of ths
deposits from the United States Bank and the
issuance Of his specie circular, would hTeak
all men who traded on borrowed capital, hs
sterhly replied, 4" that they ought to break
and there left il. When Informed, in 1887, that
the merchants in Neve Orleans were.beginning
10 suspend, and that the storm would sooI
sweep over the commercial cities, "Letit come
said he, they viii never owe less until they
learn BY suffering These were bitter truths
and to the sufferers seemed like the injection OF
llf PROBE uN AIF same MdIQ NldL udA lulGlEl
the wound, but their utterance was not dicta.
ted by any want Of sympathy or kindness tc
the distressed it was a necessity Of his nature,
What his mind fully believed his tongue mus
speak, be would have regarded silence, OF CON,
misseration as an untruth TO the convictions Of
bis own judgment.
He was hereely pressed whilis at Washing,
ton, BY crowds Of hungry expeetants on hi
bounty, he was often deceived or betrayed by
A. II -- - - NL---a--I M
he had, he scattered with a liberal hand, and
when Il was expended he had the courage e
say that the feast was over and the balance
must disperse.
His keenest affection in life was to find him
self deserted, OF betrayed BY one on whom ht
had relied, his own friendship was 50 strong
his devotion so limitless, that he regarded de-
Serfi0n as the most unpaTdonable Of crimes. H,
had identified himself so strongly with the in.
tsrest Of the country, and his faith in his owl
rectitude Of intention and action was so unlim,
tied that he could not recognize the idea Of per
sonal friendship as discovered from political
support. When men abandoned his party, they
were untrue 10 the best interests Of The Union
they had seen the light, and loved darkness bet
ter. He divorced them from his friendship
once and forever he could not be reconciled
for his faith in their patriotism was extin-
guished.
His eaTnestness Of purpose was visible in his
countenance: II did not evince unhappiness OF
restIessness, bat that state Of constant emo
ton and action shown on the face Of the ocean
when a volcano is at work beneath. Even when
in repose, and the smoke Of his pipe curling
around his lofty head, there was no abatement
in the working Of his muscles, no saddening OF
softening Of the outlook Of his soul. His face
constantly reminded me Of one Of those Old
sphinxs or statues OF the demi-gods Of an
tiquity, 50 massive, 80 grand, and as L he re-
sponsibility of empires ever weighed uron their
souls.
II there was any quality Of his mind which
overshadowed the rest, 1t was his chivalry, a
high admiration and respect for woman; a lofty
disdain Of meanness, and a warm sympathy for
those who were weak and oppressed. This
characteristic is most generally found in the
scion Of a youthful community. whose popu-
lation is sparse, people are. mostly agricultural,
and refinement not far advanced. I may re-
mark in passing, that It is even vet more fire.
quently exhibited amongst southern people than
% is amidst the denser masses Of the North and
East With him the feeling was predominant,
and assumed, as in the greatest men Of the
earth. something OF the sublime and heroic
although in his earlier years wild, reckless, and
almost dissolute, he was never accused Of licen-
tiousness. rudeness or indeconum to ne gentler
sex: he was never ruled or controlled by woman
in his public life, as so many great men have
been, vet be was always gentle, kind and snder.
He was not much moved with the romance Of
love, but never failed IN the instructive respect
Of a Paladin for the honor Of the sex. His
kindness to captive enemies, and TO the sick
and wounded Of his own troops, was prOverbial,
and often exhibited in times Of great mental
excitement and bitter personal suffering. Il is
well known 10 those familiar with the history
Of the times, that after the bloody and over
whelming defeat Of the Creeks, at Emuchfau,
he could almost have exterminated their nation,
and made their lands open to emigration and
settlement, but be listened to their terms Of
peace, sheathed hrs sword, and left the broken
tribe again to return 10 their homes. After the
decisive battle Of the Sth Of January, he was
fully sensible Of the weak and unprotected con-
dition Of he remains Of the British army. He
might have captured their wounded, seized their
camp stores, and defeated the dispirited rem
nant Of their forces; but in tenderness to his
own troops, and horror Of producing unneces-
sary slaughter, he steadily declined this useless
struggle.
Amidst all the accusations hurled against him
in his day Of power, he was never charged with
deserving a friend to his enemies. trampling on
a PROSTATE foe, or meanness in avoiding respon-
dbiity for.his own conduct. His lofty chfval-
~ rescued him from all such imputations. In
deed, the accusation generally made, and some
lines justly, was, that he fell into the opposite
extreme, was too bold and open, and BY his
kindness to seeming friends, was often made
the victim Of treacherous and designing men.
We often see in the physical world parasites
cIiuglnw 10 the Iuffieef rreez ana rcvsrfnr fho