The weekly standard. (Port Gibson, Miss.) 1865-1867, 1865-12-09
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GENERAL JACKSON.
How He Received the SOubri-
quet of cold HickOTy''---An
Interesting Historical Remi-
niScence.
From the jackson (Missl News

All Americans are familiar with this
soubriquet of Gen.. Andrew jackson,
yet few know how it was earned by
the old hero. I~happen to be able to
inform your readers
In 1886 was intimately acquainted
with Col. Jno Allen, United States
Agent of the Chickasaw Indians, resi-
ding in Pontotoc, and with his BROTH
er, Capt. VIM. Allen, then merchant
IN that town. learned from Capt
VIM. Allen that his father was a near
neighbor and devoted friend of Gen.
Jackson, and 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 du-
ring the Greek war. They were GER
tainly great favorites with him; and he
rewarded them for their friendship by
giving them lucrative appointments in
the Chickasaw nation while he was
President. In conversation with Capt
Allen, about Gen. Jackson, on one oc-
casion, I asked how he acquired the
name of @Old Hickory" I give his
reply, as well as I can remember, in
his own words:
During the campaign which inclu-
ded the battle of Emuckfaw creek, the
army was moving rapidly to surprise
the Indians,and were without tents
In the month of March, cold equi-
noctial rain fell on us, mingled with
sleet which lasted several days. The
General was exposed to the weather,
and was suffering severely with bad
cold and sore throat. Atnight we biv-
ouacked in muddy bottom, while it
was pouring down rain, which froze as
it fell. My brother John and I, find
ing that he was unwell, became uneasy
about him, although he did not COM
plain, and laid down upon the blanket
by the camp fire with his issoldiers. See
ing him wet to the skin, stretched in
the mud and water in his suffering con-
dition, we determined to try and make
him more comfortable.
'We cut down stout hickory tree,
In which the sap was rising, and peel
ed the bark from it in large flakes; 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 structure, against the wind with
bark, and left the other open. We
then dried our blankets, and made him
a pallet In the tent we had constructed.
We woke up the old General, and with
some difficulty persuaded him to crawl
in. With his saddle for a pillow, wrap
ped In our dry blankets, and his feet
to the fire, he slept snugly and soundly
all night, well covered IN hickory bark.
"The next morning an old man from
the neighborhood came into camp with
a Jug of whiskey, with which, after i'm
bibing quite freely himself, he gave us
all a treat, as far as the liquor would
go. He seemed to be kind-hearted,
iovial and patriotic old fellow; sort of
privileged character in his country
While staggering about the camp-fres,
full of fun and whiskey, he blundered
upon our little hickory bark tent, which
Immediately arrested his attention.
After eyeing it for a moment he ex-
claimed: What sort an outlandish In
dian fxin' is this? and gave it kick,
which tumbled down the queer odd
looking structure, and completely burr
ed the old hero in bark. As he strug-
gled out of the ruins, and looked
fercely around for the author of the
, mischief, the old topper recognized him
exclaimed: Hello, Old Hickory come
out of your bark and join us in a
drink. !"
There was something so ludicrous In
the whole scene, that respect for his
rank could not restrain our merriment.
He very good humoredly Joined us IN
Laughing at the mishap. As he rose
up and shook the bark from him, we
gave him a UiUa s'Hurrah for Old Hick-
} ory." This was the first time he ever
heard these words, which were after
wards shouted by the millions of his
countrymen whenever he appeared
among them.
I will only add that Capt VIM. Al
len, of Davidson county, Tenn, who
died in Pontotoc, in 1887, was distin-
guished for courage, integrity and strict
veracity; and the above may be regard
| ed as a true account OF the origin Of
the nickname of General Andrew
| jackson.