The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1866-01-31
The Two Andrews

81 say, say, General jackson, for lear you
should think have some axe to grind, be-
cause try so hard to keep you at my poor
house all night, will agree to keep you free
of expensei" expostulated the landlord OF the
only inn in the village of Jefferson, Ashe Co.,
North Carolina, to General Jackson, late one
evening in the autumn of 18-, as he entered
his carriage to pursue his journey toward
Tennessee. 'Ihe Blue Ridge is infested with
bandtti, anu you will certainly be robbed,
and possibly murdered before morning. l
beseech you stayl !" ~. -... >-..-.. ...~.
'tYou are very kind sir, and I thank you,
replied the General, "but shall proceed, and
try and reach the Tennessee line at all events.
have no fears of being molested, Drive:on
Ned, briskiy, Adieu, gentlemen, alll''.a
the old hero drove off at rapid pace. f...@
"Hilloa, there, youngster !" cried the land
lord, to a slim, weary, faxen-headed strip
ling, standing 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 as walking"
Sure enough, I reckon I'd better, and
thank you" 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 sternly: "'Who's that?" ~. ....-. III.
''Its me, sir, Andrew Johnson. am
traveller on my way to Tennessee, aud l
thought might get lift on your carriage,
sir beg your pardon, sir.':' :.
, "You are quite welcome, sir, to my car
riage.. Come forward, and take a seat with
me-" -: .r.-..- ...-. -. -, -:
=, y ,..'Thank, you, sir; but as the mountain is
very steep here, I'll jump off and walk up"
He walked forward Up the mountain side,
in advance of the carriage, but had not gone
far before he saw a man ahead of him, as
cending the mountain; he appeared to be in
toxicated. He zlurched this and that way,
staggering backward and forward now his
knees would double up, and be would miss q
step, as if the earth had :uddenly Vatlghed
before him. then he would cross his legs, and
a lurch would send him diagonally across the
road. He stopped and braced himself up, SO
as nearly to fall backward, and then drlfted
helplessiy along. Presently he turned an
angle in the road and was out of sight. r..
."9That fellow is beastly drunk, . remarked
the General. ~ - = = = = - ~
St'Drunk! Not much, sir" laughed the
young man. ~"He's no more drunk than !
am. He's playing possum. and means mis-
chief Look therei he's lying in the road
Z. As they drove UP, he raised himself laz;ty
and haiIed them: "Hicl ah--t say, gentle
men, can't you give man a lift? 1-i-hic!
can't walk I'm loaded too heavily with
id mean 8hiskey." - : ~
7'sThen stay E where you are and get Eid Of
It." sternly replied the General" -
= "rhe devil !" exclaimed the man, springing
to his feet with the agility Of a cat. He gave
a keen whistle, and planted himself IN front
of the coach. Three men sprung out from
the bushes and made rush for the carriage
~ Quick as thought the General sprang upon
one of them, and thsy rolled over in the road
together a dull, crashing sound was next
heard over the road, and second one rolled
over in the dust, propelled by the loaded
whip in the powerful hands of the driver.
The young man, by timely shot fred and
brought down a~.third, and then sprang to
the assistance of the General, who still fought
Danfully with the hereulean: antagonist, while
the driver engaged the remaining robber. \
'fStand back! stand back I" cried the. Gen
eral to the young man. !; 1--WE are man to man,
FL give the villain fair play. By the Eternal,
mist over, apparently ifeless: . -
80 Are you hurt my boy?" asked the Gene
ral. tsAnd you, too, ned ?? Wheresis ned:?''
"aHere, massa,p replied the boy, putting up
the road. my rob6er coward, be run. /
gcIly.@ lHet he! he! I save one, massa save
one, and de young gentleman save one. He !
It1el hei' = :. -rs,--..-
All this occurred a in + Jess time than it M takes
TO record it. - =. = - -.
"Bat you, General, are you hurt ?" -
.s:No; nothing but q few. bruises, thank
God! But look here; one Of them; is stirring.
You, $fr, and Ned, pinion his hands, while T
examine the Others = =; p p - >-=s
None ofthen were found to be dead. Two
were only stunned, and the third had received
a pistol shot through the shoulder, and was
erouching in alright They were all soon
piTifaionned, and a council was held, when 1t was
determined to disarm theinsa and let them 60,
rather than be detained on the road. No fur
ther incidents befell our travellers during
their jaunt. On, their separation in Tennessee,
the, General gave the young man much good
advice He recounted to him his own history,
and bade him aspire to be good and useful.
The General continued en- route for his home
in middle Tennessee, and the young man
stopped and settledin the Town of Green
vile, Tennessee, as journeyman tailor. VI
his subsequent career it is needless TO speak
it is part of the history of our country.
n. z. D.
'Jonesboro, Tenn, Nov, 1865.