Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-11-26
NO. $50.
MISCELLANEOUS READING
CAPTAIN sHREvE .sp GENERALJACKso

CAPTAIN sHREyE ASp GENERALJA JACkSuA.
\ correspondent communicates the tul-
lowing characteristics anecdote OF General
Jackson to the Cleveland (Uhio) Review
During the last war with England, Cap,
tam Shreve was commander and owner ut 4
vessel which piled the Father Of aters.
and which during the period General Jack
SON had New Orleans under martial law.
made rs appearance III the leyee of that city
General Jackson, being apprised ot the al
rival ot the vessel, ut once sent tor Captain
ShreSe announced 10 him that he should
consider himself, his crew, and vessel, "a ia
the service ot government, and 10 hold ham
seit IN readiness to discharge any duty thal
might be imposed upon HIM. Captain
Shreye unhe>ltatingly accepted the cunjI
.lons thus stated 10 him, and obtained per
mission from General jackson to make some
necessary repairs to his vessel before being
compelled 10 do active service.
Wnle these repairs were in progress, and
the appearance OF the British army was iai
! " expected before the city, u number OF cit
aens applied 10 Capt. Shreyc. requesting hm
to carry their families some fifty miles ny
the river to place Of safety. The captain
explained to the applicants his situation.
and the orders he was under, but assured
| them that if they could obtain General
Jarkson's consent, he would himself inter
/ pose no objections to their request. depn
tation Of the citizens then applied % Gen
eral Jackson and obtained his consent, AMI
Capt. Shrevr had freighted his vessel with
and also considerable goods. when he r.
In. ..rin
ing him % perform some service which would
compel him at once to discharge his living
freight, aud completely disarrange his plans.
Capt. Shrcvc bluntly told the officer who
had brought the message that he would not
obey the order The officer warmly expostu
lated with Shreye, and held up TO him, IN
! glowing culors, the terrors of jackson
| dlspleasure: but Capt. Shre,e was built
Of quite ~ unbendlng metal as Gen. Jack
son. and Indignantly refused 10 do the bldd
| my.
The officer returned to the "Old Chief"
and detailed 10 him the circumstances ot
\ Captain Shreyes refusal. In u towering
| passion, the General ordered file Of men t.
arrest Shreye and bring him at once into his
\ presence.
| But comparatively little time had elapsed
/ before the cnragcd Captain stood in the pre-
,cnce Of the equally enraged General. The
hitter, ticrcely eyeing Captain Shreve, ina
voice husky with intense passion made the
inquiry:
by -, Capt. Shreve, dare you dtsobey
4 mn gOJdeyS.''
Yes, by, dare" was the yehe
mcnt and impetuous reply of the undauntei
Captain.
Jackson could not repress the expression"f
surprise which spread itself over his face at
the unexpected and emphatic reply Of the dar
| iug Captain. and in u tone Of voice considera
/ bly, mlder than his first inquiry, babe ShreSa
explain his conduct. Upon the explanation
| being given. Jackson dismissed him. simply
saying that hr had forgotten his promise to
| the citizens w hose wives aud children Capt
Shrevc then had upon his vessel.
Afterwards, during Jackson's Presidency.
Congress made appropriations for a large
sum oi money for the removal Of the innu
ucrable snags and other distractions which
made the nus gation of the Mississippi river
AZ that time very dangerous 10 life and pro
perty. Notwithstanding the fact that many
Of his warmest political friends applied 10
General Jackson to secure the appointment
Of one Of hl~ friends 10 supcrintend that i'm
p,rtnnt work, and that Capt. Shreye was
III, rcsolutc and unrelentins political enemy,
Gen. Jackson persisted III awarding the
place to the stern and honest old Captain.
and the success with which he performed tho
duty attested Jackson's sagacity in making
I his choice