The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-09-05
1nsere2tln4 Aneedote 81 Andrew John.
son and Andrew Jackson.

house all night, will agree to entertain
Won free of cxpcnse!" expostulated the
landlord of the only inn in the village OF
Jefferson, Ash county, North Carolina, 70
General Jackson, late one evening IN inc
autumn of IS, as he entered bis carriage
TO pursue his journey towards tennessee.
1.-THE Blue Ridge, sir, is infested WIN pan,
ditti, and you will certainly be ROBBED, and
possibly murdered, before morning. be-
sccch you to stay"
"You arc very kind, sir, and thank
you," replied the General, "but shall
proceed, and try and reach the Tennessee
line. of all events. have no fear of being
molcstcd. Drive on, Ned, briskly. Adieu,
gentlemen, all" and the old hero drove
on at rapid pace.
"Tiilloa there, youngstcr.' cried the
landlord to slim, wiry, faxen-headed
STRIPPING standing in the motley crowd in
front of the tavern, elf you are going to
Tennessee, you had better jump up be-
hind and go along with the General; it is
as cheap riding as walking"
"Surc enough, reckon I'd better, and
thank YOU" replied the young man, jump
ing up behind the coach as it drove oil.
They rode on quietly for some hours
until they began to ascend the mountain,
when the General, hearing a slight cough
behind, called out sternly:
"Who's thatf'
at is |, sir-Andrew Johnson. am a
traveller, on my way to Tennessee, and |
thought l might get lift on your carriage,
sir. | beg your pardon, sir
"You are quite welcome to my carriage,
sir. Come forward and take seat with
me-
"Thank you, sir; but as the mountain
is rather steep here, l'll jump oil and walk
up"
He walked forward up the mountain
side in advance of the carriage, Dut nau
not gone far before he saw man alcad OF
him ascending the mountain. lie ap-
reared to be intoxicated. lie lurched TINS
way and the other way, staggering BACK
ward and forward; now his knees would
double up, and he would 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 stopped and braccd himself
up so as nearly to fall backward, and then
driitcd hclplcssly along. Presently no
turned an angle in the road, and was out
Of sight.
aThat man is bcaStly drunk ~ remarked
the General.
drunk not much, sir" laughed the
Young man shes 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
lazily, and hailed them. llic! ali. Il
say, gentlemen, can't walk; I'm loaded too
heavily with mean whisky"
Then stay where you are, and get rid
of it," replied the General sternly.
"The devil" exclaimed the man,
springing to his feet with.the agility of
cat. lie gave keen whistle, and planted
himself in front of the coach. Three men
Sprang out from the bushes and made a
rush for the carriage.
Quick as thought the General sprang
upon one Of them, and they rolled in the
road together. 4 dull, crushing sound
was next heard over the conflict, and a
second one rolled over in the dust, propelled
by the loaded whip in the hand of the
driver. The young man, by timely shot,
fired and brought down a third, and then
sprang to the assistance Of the General,
who still fought mantully with his hercu-
lean antagonist, while the driver engaged
the remaining robber.
"Stand back. stand back. :" cried the
General to the young man; "we are man
to man. I'll give the villain fair play. BY
the Eternal, | have you now" and he
threw his antagonist over, apparently life
less.
care you hurt, my boy!' asked the
General. "And you, too, Ned! NhereS
Ned II"
"Here, massa" replied the boy, putting
IN the road. "My robbcr coward-he
run-he. he. he. / golly; | save one,
massa save one, an dc young gentleman
save one-hc he . he :"
All this occurred in less time than it
takes to record it.
"But you, General, are you much hurt''
"No: nothing but few bruises, thank
God. But, look there! one of them is
stirring. 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 had
received a pistol shot through the shoulder,
and was crouching in alright. They were
all soon pinioned, and council was held,
when it was determined to disarm them
and let them 60, rather than be detained
on the road. No further incidents bctel
our travellers during their iaunt.
On their separation in Tennessee, as
Mason always doing good, the General
gave the young man much good advice.
He recounted to him his own history, and
babe him to be good and useful. The
General continued en- rouie for his home in
Middle Tennessee, and the young man
stopped and settled in the town of Green
Vile, Tenn, as u journeyman tailor.