The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1865-11-18

All Americans are familiar with this SOub-
riquet of General Andrew Jackson yet
very few know how it was earned by the
old hero. l happen TO be able to inform
your readers isaI s.i sie'a Ti2a.s t71oeia
In 1886 was Intimately acquainted with
Col. John Allen, United States Agent Of
the Chickasaw Indians. residing in Ponto.
toe !; and with his brother. Capt. William
Allen. then q merchant in that town. u
learned from Captain VIM. Allen that his,
father was a near neighbor and devoted
friend Of General Jackson, and that he and
his broih her John served as soldiers in his
escort, in all his campaigns, and camred
at the same FIRE, and messed with him du-
ring the Greek war. They were certainly
great favorites with him !; and he rewarded
lucrative appointments in the Chickasaw
nation while he was President. 10 conver-
saton with Captain Allen about General
jackson, on one occasion, ! asked him how
he acquired the name of "Old Hickory 2"
| give his@eply, as well 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 In
dans, and we were without tents. In the
month of March. cold equinoctial 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. At night
we bivoucked in a muddy bottom, while it
was pouring down rain, which froze as it
fell. My brother J ohm andI, finding that
he was very unweli, became uneasy about
him, although he did not complain. and
laid down upon his blanket by the camp
fire with the soldiers. Seeing him wet 10
the skin, stretched in the mud and water
in his suffering condition, we determined.
to try and make him more comfortable. aie
1--WE cut down a stout hickory tree, in
which the sap was rising, and peaied the
bark from it in large fakes cut two forks
and pole laid down a floor Of bark and
dead leaves, and rooted it, and closed one
side, or rather one end of the structure,
against the. gind with bark, and left the
other end open. We then dried our blank
had constructed. We woke mp the old
General, and with some difficulty persuaded
him to crawl in. With his saddle for apil-
low, wrapped in our dry blankets, and his
feet TO the fire, he slept snugly and sound
" all night, well cased in hickory bark,
"'lhe next morning an old man from the
neighborhood came into campwlth a jug OF
whskey, with which, after lmbibing quite
freely HIMSELF he gave US alla'a treat'as far
as the liquor would go. He seemed TO be
| a kind-hearted, jovial and patriotic old fell
low; sort of privileged character in his
county While staggering about among
! the camp fires, full of fun and whiskey, he
blundered upon our little, hickory bark tent,
which Immediately arrested his attention.
AfterIeyeing it for a moment he exclaimed;
| What sort Of an, outlandishs Indian tixin'
is this? and gave it kick which tumbled
down'tbe queerlooking structure, complete
| ly burying the old hero in bark. AS he
| struggled out Of the ruins, and looked fierce
! " around for the author of the mischief,
! the old topper recognized him, and exclaim-
ed: 'lIeilo Old Hickory! OUme out Of
| yonr bark, and Join us ina drink = 'igi'iaor ?
There was something so ludicrous in he
| whole scene,i that respect forighs presence
and rank could not restrain our merriment,
lie very good humoredly joined us in laugh,
! ing at the mishap AS erose up an d shook
! the bark from him; he looked so tough and
i stern we all gave him d oipa sHnrrah for old
/ Hickory.' This was the first time he ever
heard these WORDS which was afterwaad
shouted by the millions Of his countrymeu
| whenever he appeared among them s,t
! will only add thatCaptain William AL
/ len, of Davidson county, Tennessee, who
/ died in Pontotoc, in 1887. was distinguished
fol, courage, integrity and strict yeracityj
and the above, may be, regarded as q true
/ account Of the origin Of the nickname o.
| General ANDREW Jacksonfa ply s'i' i''4
+ esr poet inthe Nebraska City News
concludes long poem with the following