The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1865-10-31
General Jackson.
From the jackson C'Iiss.) News.

From the Jackson (Aiss.) News.
All Americans sre familiar with the SOU
briquet Of General Andrew Jackson vel
ve1y few know how 1t was earned BY the old
hero. happen 10 be ablo - inform youI
reEdefs.
In 1896 was intimately acquainted with
Colonel John Allen, United States Agent o.
the ChicEassw Indisns, residing iu Ponto-
tac and with his brother, Captain William
Allen, then merchant in that town.
learned IRON Capt. Vii ism Allen that his
father was a near ncighhor snd devoted
friend Of General jackson, ana thst he and
bis brother John served As soldiers in bis
escort, ina all his campaigns, and eamped al
the same fire. and messed with him during
abe Greek war. They were certainly greal
iavorites with him and be rewarded Them
for their friendship by giving them lucra-
tive appointments in the Chickasaw nation
while be was President. Ia conyersa son
with Captain Allen about General jackson,
on one occasion ] asked how heacquired the
name Of gold Hickory Y' I give his reply,
a. well az can remember, IN his own
words;
.'During the campaign which included
the battle OF Emuckiaw creek, the army
was moving rapid 10 surprise the Indians,
aud W. w. re without tents. In the month
81 March, a cold equinoctial rain fcl on us,
mingled with sleet, which lasted several
dave. The General was exposed O. the
westher, and was suffering severely with a
bad cold and sore throat. At night we
bivounckcd la 3 muddy bottom, while il was
pouring down min, which froze as il fell.
Ny brother John and /, finding that he was
unWell, became uneasy about him, altho'
be did not complain, aud laid down upon
the blanket by the camp fire with his sol
diers. Seeing him wet 10 the skin, stretch
"a 10 the mud and water in his suffering
condition. We determined TO try and make
him more comfortable.
I'VE cut down a stout hickory tree. in
which the sap was rising, and peeled the
bark fr, M 10 IN large flakes; cut i've forks
and pole, laid down a hoor Of bark and
dead leaves, and rooted ID, and closed one
side. or rather one end OF ihe structure,
against the wind with bark. aud left the
other open. We then dried our blankets,
aud made him q pallet in the tent We had
constructed. We woke up the Old General,
and With some difficulty persuaded him 10
crawl in. With his saddle Tor q pillow,
wrapped IN our dry blankets, aed his feet TO
the ire, he slept snugly and soundly all
night, well cased in hickory bark.
''rhe next morning an I'D man from the
neighborhood came into camp with lug Of
whisky, with which, Rfter imbibing quite
freely himself, be gave Us al "treat.' as
lar as the liquor would 60, He seemed 20 he
q kindheBrted, jovial and patriotic old fel
low, q sort 81 privileged character in his
country. While staggering about among
the camp fires, fun of fun snd froic, he
Numbered upon our little hickorv-bark tent,
which Immediately arrested his attention
Amer cycling it for a moment he exclaimed:
what sors OF an outlaBdish Indian fxin' IS
thiss' and gave IL D kick which iumbled
down the queer locking structure. and com
pletely buried the old hero IN the bark. As
he struggled out of the runs and looked
Aercely around for the author OF the mis-
'hiri, the old topper recognized han, aud sx-
claimed Hello, old Hickor1i come out Of
your bark and join ne ina a drinkF"
Thcre wac something g. lu6icrous IN the
whole scene, that respect Tor his presence
Snd rank could not restrain our merulnent.
Re very good humoredly joined u. IN laugh
ing az the mishsp. As De rosr up. and
shook the bark nom HIM, W an gave hin,
a r.Ua "Hurrah Tor Old hickory" Thi.
was the first time he ever heard these words,
which were Afterwards shouted by the mil.
hons q his countrymen whenever ne sp-
l'eafea among them.
! will only add that Captain William |
allen, OF Davidson county, Tennessee, who |
died m fohtotoc, IN lS4s. was distinguished /
ioT eourage, integrity and strict veracit,. /
a1d The uboNe may b. reearlel a. a i'm.
A'coant 81 the crgln OF the nickname If /
General Andrew jackson