Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1865-11-18
anecdote orprestdent johnson.

Anecdote of President johnson.
From Harper's Weekly
II say, General jackson, for fear you
should think l have some axe to grind
because l try so hard to keep you. at my
poor house all night, will agree to enter
tain you free of expensel" expostulated the
landlord of the only inn in the village of
Jefferson, Ashe county, North Carolina, to
General jackson, late one evening in the
autumn of 1S-, as he entered his carriage
to pursue his journey toward Tennessee.
"The Blue Ridge. sir, is infested with BAN
ditti, and you will certainly be robbed and
possibly murdered, before morning. be-
seech you, stayl"
"You are very kind, sir, and thank you,"
replied the General, "but l shall proceed,
and try and reach the Tennessee lire at all
events. / have no fears of being molested
Drive on, Ned, briskly. Adieu, gentlemen
ALL" and the old hero drove off at rapid
pace.
"H,loa there, youngsterl" cried the land
lord to n SLIM wiry, tlaxen headed STRIPPING
standing in the motley crowd in front of
the tavern, "if you are going to Tennessee,
you had better jump up behind and go
along with the General it's as cheap riding
as walking"
"Sure enongh l reckon I'd better, and
thank you," replied the young man, jump
lug up behind the coach as it drove off.
They rode en- quietly for some hours until
they began to ascend the mountain, when
the General, hearing q slight cough behind,
called out sternly:
"Who's that2"
"Its me, sir-Andrew johnson. am a
traveller, on my way to Tennessee, and l
thought might get lift on your carriage,
sir. beg your pardon, sir"
You are quite welcome, sir, to my car
riage. Come forward and take q seat with
me-
"Thank you, sir; out as the mountain is
rather steep here, I'll jump off and walk up.'
He walked forward up the mouutain-sidc
in advance of the carriage, but had not gone
far before he saw man ahead of him as
cending the mountain. He appeared to be
intoxicated. He lurched this way and the
other way, staggering backward and for
ward; now his knees would double up, and
he wonld miss step, as if the earth had
suddenly vanished before him; then he
would cross his legs, and lurch would send
him diagonally across the road He stop
ped and braced himself up so as nearly to
fall backward, and then drilted helplessly
along Presently he turned an angle in the
road and was out of sight.
That man is beastly drunk" remarked
the General
"Drunkl-not much, SIR" laughed the
man; "he's no more drunk than am. He's
playing 'possum, and means mischief. Look
there! he's lying in the road"
As they drove up he raised himself la2ily
and hailed them. "lIic! alb! IL say, gen
tlemen, can't you give man littl IL
hc, cant walk; I'm loaded too heavily
with id mean whiskey."
Then stay where you are and get rid o.
it; replied the General sternly.
The devil !" exclaimed The man, spring
ing to his feet with the agility of a cat. lie
gave a keen whistle and planted himself il
front of The coach. Three men sprung ou
from the bushes, ard made a rush at the
carriage.
Quick as thought the General sprang up
on one Of them, and they rolled over in The
road together. A dull, crushing sonnd wa
next heard over the conflict, and a secont
one rolled over in the dust, propelled by tht
loaded whip in the powerful hands of th'
driver. The young man, bya timely shot
fired and brought down third, and thel
sprang to the assistance of the General whC
still fought manfuly with bis Hercuean an
tagonist, while the driver engaged the re
manning robber
Stand back stand baeki"r cried the Gen
cral to the young man; 1--WE are mar t.
man. I'll give the william fair play. By
the Eternal have you now!' and he threw
his antagonist over, apparently lifeless.
"Are you hurt, my boyl" asked the Gene
ral "And you, too, Ned' Where's Ned!
Here, NASAL" replied the boy, putin!
up the road. "My robber coward----he rul
he he! be golly'; save one, mass
save one, an de young man save one-he
he! he!n
All this occurred in less time than it take
TO record it.
"Rut you. General are you hurts"
'No; nothing but few bruises, thanl
God But look there! one of them Is stir
ring. You, sir, and Ned, pinion his hands
!, while | examine the Others"
None OF them were found to be dead
, Two were only stunned, and the third haC
, received pistol shot through the shoulder
, and was crouching in alright. They wer
all soon piuioned, and council was held
when it was determined to disarm them anC
f let them 60 rather than be detained on tn
road. No further incidents belell our ira
velers during their jaunt.
On their separation in Tennessee the Gen
/ eral gave the young man much good advice
. He recountel to HIM his own history, anC
bade him to aspire to be good and useful
The Genera continued en- route for his hom
in Middle Tennessee, and the young MAJ
stopped and settled in the town of Green
, Vile, Tennessee as journeyman tailor. O
his subsequent career it Is needless to speak
l it is part of the history of our country.
t NJ. L. ID.
| JoNEsBoRoUGH, Tennessee, Nov. 1865.