The Daily empire. (Dayton, Ohio) 1865-1867, 1865-12-06
H. H. ROBINSON.
Old Hickory.

All Americans are familiar with this
soubriquet OF General Andrew jackson,
yet very few know how IL was earned by
the old hero. happen to be able TO In
form your readers.
In 1896 | was Intimately acquainted with
Col. John Allen, United States Agent of
the Chickasaw Indians, residing in Ponto--
toe; and with his brother, Captain William
Allen, then merchant In the town.
learned from Captain William Allen that
his father was n near nelghbor and devoted
friend of General Jackson. that he and his
brother John served rs 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
favoritcs with him; and he rewarded them
for their friendship by giving them lucra-
| tive appointments In the Chicknsaw nation.
while he was President
In conversation with Captain Allen about
General Jackson on one occasion, asked
him how he acquired the name of "Old
Hickoryp" | give his reply, ns well as |
can remember In his own words:
During the campaign, which included
the battle of Emuckiaw Creek, the army
was moving rapidly TO surprise the In
dians, and we were without tents. In the
the month of March Il cold equinoctial rain
fell ON us, mingled with sleet which
lasted several days. The General was ex-
posed TO the weather, and was suffering
very severely with bad cold and sore
throat. At night we biv0uacked in a
muddy bottom, while it was pouring down
rain, which froze as il fell, My brother
John and |, finding that he WAS very un-
well, 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,
stretched in the mud and water in his suf-
fering condition, we determined to try aud
make him more comfortable.
We cut down stout hickory tree, in
which the sap was rising, and peeled the
bark from it In large flakes; cut two forks
and pole, laid down floor of bark and
dead leaves and rooted 1t, and closed one
side, or rather one end of the structure
against the wind, with bark, and left one
end open. We then dried our blankets and
made him pallet in the tent we had con
SsFdHtr With some v" Gicahlty hl op ppcteSaSsdp cteS SdpeR
crawl in. With his saddle for a pillow,
wrapped in our dry blankets, and his feet
| TO the fire, he slept snugly and soundly all
night, well cased in hickory bark.
| The next morning an old man came into
camp with jug of whiskey, with which,
after imbihng quite freely himself, he gave
MS all a "treat" as far rs the liquor would
90. He seemed to be kind-hearted, jOVial
and patriotic old;fellow sort of ''privileged
character in his country. While stagger-
ing about among the camp fires, full of fun
and whiskey, he blundcred upon our
/ hickory-bark tent, which Immediately ar
rested his attention After cycling 1t fol
a moment, he exclaimed:
"What sort Ofan outlandish Indian tiXin'
is thisY and gave IL kick which tumbed
down the queer-looking structure, and
completely buried the old hero in bark. Al
he struggled out of the ruins and looked
tiercely around for the authorof the mis-
chief the old topper recognized him, anC
exclaimed:
"Hello, Old IIickeryl Come out Of youl
bark and join us In a drink
There was something 80 ludicrous In TIN
whole scene, that respect for his presenc'
and rank could not restrain our merTiment
He very good humoredly Joined us il
laughing at the mlshap. As he rose ul
and shook the bark from him, he look s.
TOUCHED and stern we all gave him Ufco
"Hurrah for Old IIickoryW This was tn
first time that he ever heard these word
which were afterward shouted by the mil
D lions of his countrymen, whenever he ap
peared among them.
will only add that Captain VIM. AlleI
I of Dawson county, Tennessee, who died !
Pontotoc, In 1887, was distinguished TO
Integrity, courage and strict Veracity; AN
/ the above may be regarded as q true aC
count of the origin of the nickname {
General Andrew jackson.