The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1865-12-02
of President johnson.


Anecdote of President Johnson
From Harper's Weekly.
~ say l say, Gen. Jackson, for fear you
should think have some axe to grind be
cause l try to keep you at my poor house all
night, | will agree TO entertain you free OF
expense |" expotulated the landlord of the
ouly inn in the village of Jefferson. Ashe
county, n ,rth Carolina, to Gen. jackson, late
one evening in the autumn of lS-as he en-.
tered his carriage to pursue his way toward
ed with bandItti, and you will certainly be
robbed, and possibly murdered, before morn.
ing. | beseech you, stay
You are very kind, sir, and thank you,
replied the General, "but shall proceed,
and try and reach the Tennessee line at all
events. | have no fears of being molasted.
Drive on, Ned, briskly. Adeu, gentlemen
ALL" and The old hero drove off 1T a rapid
pace.
'Hllo there, ycrrgster," cried the land.
lord to a slim. wiry. faxen headed STRIPPING
andius 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 walk.
ing
"Sure enough l reckon I'd better, and
thank yon, replied the young man. jumping &
up behind the coach as it drove off.
They rode on quietly for some hours until
they began to ascend the mountain when the
General hearing slight cough behind,
called out sternv:
who's that ?'
dts me, sir-Andrew Johnson I am a
traveller, on my way to Ttnnessee, and |
thought might get a lift on your carriage,
sir. | beg your pardon, sir
= Iou are quite welcom, sir, to my carriage.
Come forward and take a seat with me-
- Thank vou, sir; bat as the mountain is
rather steep here, I'll jump off and walk up
He walked forward up the mountain side
in advance Of the carriage bu; had not gone
far before he saw a man ahead of him ascend
ing the mountain. He appeared to be into<i-
Gated. He lurched this way and the other
his knees would double up, and he would miss
step as i ;',e eth eth had suddenly vanished
before him; then be would cross his iegs,
aud a lurcl woui send HIM diagonaiiy across
the road. He stopped aud braced himself
up so as nearly to fall backward; and then
drfted helplessly along. Presently he tnrned
an angle n the road ana las out of sight.
- THAT man is beasily drunk p remarked
the General.
drunk, not much, sir," laughed the
voung man; he's no more drank than am.
He playing pos,um, and means mischief
Look there hes lying in the road
As they drove up he raised himself lazily
and hailed them. :" He! ah! II say gen
tIemen. can't YOU give a nan a liG ? II
hic-cln's walk I'm loaded too heavily with
ID mean whisky
- Then stay where you are and get nd o..
it. replied the General .iernly.
:. The devill' exclaimed the man. spring.
ing TO his feet with the agility of cat. He
gave a keen whistle and planted himself in
front OF the coach Three men sprany out
from the bushes, and nude 4 rush at the
carriage.
Qlick as thought the General sprang upon
one of them, and they rolled over in the road
together. \ dull, crushing sound was next
heard over the conflict, aud second one
rolled over III the dust, propelled by the load
ed whip in the powerful hands Of the driver.
The Young man, bv timely shot, fred and
brought down a third and then sprang to he
assistance of the General who still fought
manfuly with his hercglean Antagonist, while
the driver engaged the remaining robber.
STAND back . stand back criei the
General to the yodng man. I've are man
10 man. ! {! give lIc WI u u ialE pi'it. ~
the eternal, | have YOU now and he threw
his antagonist over, apparently liieless.
Are YOU hurt my hvy% ;ss%ed the Gone
ral Az! you, :oo, Ned? Where's Ned ?"
Here, misss" replied the boy, putting
up the road Ny robber coward-he run
he ! he! he! golly; save one, massa
save one, an deyoung gentleman save one
he, he he
All this occurred in less time than it ia C!
to record it
..B you, General, are you hurt?"
"No, Eottan;;..e but few bruises, thank
God But, look there! one g. them Is STIR"
ring. You. sir and Ned, Pinion his hands,
while | examine the others
None of them were fDundto be dead. Two
yere oav stunned, and the third had received
a pistol-shot through the shoulder, and was
crouc ing in alright. They were all soon
pinioned, and a coun il was held, when 1t
was determined to diSarm them and let hem
60 rather than be detained on the road. No
further incident befeli our travellers during
the aunt.
On their separation in Tennessee the Gene
raj gave the young man much cool advice.
He r-counted TO hin, his own history. and
5ade him aspire to be good and useful. lhe
General continued en- route for his home In
Middle Rennessee, and the young man stop
ped and settled in the town OF Greenville, as
a iourneyman tailor. Of his subsequent
career it is needless to speak; 1t IS part OF
the history of our country. NJ. T.. u.
/ JoyEsBoRoUGH, Tenn, Nov, lc6j.