Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1865-11-16
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fs & cold Hickory." ~
All Americans are familiar With this So
briquet Of General Andrew jackson, yet
very few know how it was earned By the
old hero. happen to be able to inform
your readers. ~ ~ = 2
In 1885, I was intimately aoquainted
with Colonel John Allen, United States
Agent Of the Chicasaw Indians, residing in
Pontotoo, and with his brother, Captain
William Allen, then . merchant in the
town. Learned from Captain VIM. Allen
that his father was near nsighbor and de.
voted friend Of General jackson, and that
he and his brother John served as soldiers
in his escort, In al his campaigns, and
camped at the same fire, and messed with
him during the Creek war. They were
certainly great fayorites with him and he
rewarded them for their friendship by Civ:
ing them lucrative appointments in the
Ghicasaw nation while he was President.
In conversation with Captain Allen about
General jackson, on one occasion, ! asked
him how he acquired the name Of sOld
Hickory ]" give bis reply, as well as I
can remember, in his own words:
aDuring the campaign which included
the battle of Emuckfaw creek, the army
was moving rapidly to surprise the Indians,
and we were without tents. In the month
of March, a cold equinoctial rain fell on us,
mingled with sleot, which lasted several
days. The General was exposed to the
weather, and was suffering severely with q
bad cold and sore throat At night We
bivouacksd in muddy bottom, while it
was pouring rain, which froze as it fell.-
My brother John and I, finding that he was
very unwell, became uneasy about him, al
though he did not complain, aud laid down
upon his blanket BY the camp fire with his
soldiers. Seeing him wet to the skin,
stretched in the mud and water in his suf.
fsring condition, We determined to try and
make him more comfortable. ~. !,
uWe cut down o stout hickory tree, in
which the sap was rising, and pealed the
bark from it in large fakes !; 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 a.
gainst the wind with bark, and then left
the other end open. We then dried our.
blankets, and made him pallet in the tent
we had, constructed We woke up the
General, and. with some difficulty persuaded
him to crawl in. With his. saddle for q
pillow, wrapped iu our dry blankets, and
his feet, to the fire, be slept snugiy and
souudly all night, we'll cased in hickory
bark. :.
tsThe next morning, an old man from the
neighborhood came into camp with a jug
Of gbiskey, with which, after imbibing
quite freely himself, he gave usall q treat,
as far ss the liquor would go. Heseemed
to bea kind-hearted, jovial and patriotic
old fellow; sort of privileged character
in his county. While staggering about
among the camp-fres, full of fun and whis-
key, he blundered upon our little hickory
bark tent, which Immediately arrested his
attention. After eyeing it for a moment,
be exclaimed, sWhat sort of an outlandish
sIndian 6xin' is this?"' and gave ita kick
which tumbled down the queer looking
structure, and completely buried the old
hero in bark. As he struggled out of the
ruins, and looked fercely around for the
author of the mischief, the old topper recog-
uized him, and exclaimed, "Hello, old
Hickory! come out of your bark, and join
us in drink !"
aThere was something so ludicrous in
the whole scene that respect for his presence
and rank could not restrain our :merriment.
He very good humoredly joined us in
laughing at the mishsp: As he rose sp,
and shook the bark from him, be looked so
tough and stern We all gave him q viva
sHurrah for. old Hickory This was the
first time he ever heard these words, which
we're afterwards shouted by the millions of
his countrymen whenever he appeared
among them"
I will only add that Captain William
Allen, of Davidson Co., Tenn, who died
at Pontotoo in 1887, was distinguished for
courage, integrity and strict vsfecjt8; and
the above may be- regarded as 8 true &C.
count of the origin of the nickname of
General Andrew Jackson. -
y Jackson { Miss } Mevs.