The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1865-12-27
Old Hickory.

sobriquet of General Andrew jackson,
yet v,ry few knew how it was earned by
the old hero. happen to be able to in
form your readers. ..t ...r.t t....e.
Ia 1886 was intimately acquainted
with CJl John Allen, United States
Agent Of the Chickasaw Indians, residing
10 POntotoc; and with his brother, Cap
tain William Allen, then a merchant in
the town. | learned from Captain Will
liam Allen that his iaIhcr was a near
neighbor and devoted friend of General
JAG ksOn, that he and his brother John
served as soldiers in his escort in all his
campaigns and camped at the same fire,
and messed with him during the Creek
war. They were certainly great favor.
ties with him and he awarded them for
their friendship by giving them lucrative
appointments in the Chickasaw nation,
while be was President.
10 conversation with Captain Allen
about General Jackson, on one occasion,
asked him how be acquired the name Of
"Old Hickory" l give his reply, as
we'll as can remember, in his own
words:
During the campaign, which included
the battle Of Emuckfaw Greek, the army
was moving rapidly to surprise the indi.
ans, and we were without tents. In the
month Of March cold equinqctial rain
fell on US, mingled with sleet, which last
ed several days The General was ex
posed to the weather, and was suffering
very severely with bad cold and sore
throat At night we bivouacked in O
muddy bottom, while it was pouring down
rain, which froze as 1t fell. My brother
John and l, finding that he was very un.
we'll, became uneasy about him, although
he did not complain, and laid down upon
his blanket by the camp fire with his sol.
diers. Seeing him wet to the skin, lying
in the mud and water in his suffering
condition, VIC determined to try and make
him more comfortable.
We cut down stout hickory tree, in
which the sap was rising, and peeled the
bark from it in large fakes ; cut two
forks and pole, laid down floor of bark
and dead leaves, and rooted it, and closed
one side, or rather one end, of the struct.
ure against the wind, with bark, and left
one end open. WO then dried our blank.
cts and made him pallet in the tent VIC
had constructed. We woke up the Gen
eral, and with some difficulty persuaded
him TO crawl in. With his saddle for Q
pi low, wrapped in our dry blankets, and
his feet to the fire, he slept snuely and
soundly all night, we'll cascd in hickory
bark.
The next morning an old man came in
to camp with jug of whiskcy, with
which, after imbibing quite freely him
self he gave us all Great" as far a:
the whiskey would go. He seemed to b.
kind.heartsd, jovial and patriotic ole
fellow sort of privileged character
in his country. While staggering about
among the camp fires, full Of fun ant
whiskey, he blundered upon our hickory
bark tent, which Immediately arrested
his attention. After eying it for mo
moment, he exclaimed '
"What kind of an outland'sh Indiar
fxin' is this ?" and gave il kick which
tumbledss lown the queer-looking structure
aud completely buried the old hero in
bark. As-he struggled out Of the ruin
and 6ercely looked around ior the autho
Of the mischief the old topper recognized
him, and exclaimed:
"Hello, Old hickory Come out o
your bark and join us in drink"
There was something so ludicrous il
the whole scene, that respect for his pres
ence and rank could not RESTRAIN our mer
rimeut. He very good huuoredly JOINED
Joined us in laughing at the mishap. Al
he rose up TOUCHED and stern we all CAV,
him rd6a, "Hurah for Old Hickory 7
This was the FIRST time that he ever hearc
these words which we're afterwards shout
ed by the millions Of his countrymen
whenever he appeared among them.
would only add that Captain Will
liam Allen, Of Dawson county, Tennessee
who died in Pontstoc, in 1887, was dis
tinguishod for his integrity, courage ant
strict veraci,y aud the above may be re
| Oarded aa N trtia acconnt of thu cr.o;n a