The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1867-02-12
GEN. JACKSON'S vALOR.

The following incident of the boyhood Of
Gen Jackson is copied from Parton's Life Of
Jackson. 1t occurred during the partisan wars
in the Waxhaws:
In that fierce Scotch Indian warfare, the alb.
sence of father from home was often better
protection to his family than his presence; be-
cause his presence invited attack. The main
object of botn parties was to kill the fighting
men, and to avenge the Staying of partizans.
The house of the quiet hero Hicks, for example,
was safe until it was noised about among the
tories that Hicks was at home. And thus it
came to pass that whom whig soldier of any
note desired to spend night with his family,
bis neighbors were accustomed to turn cut and
serve as guard to his house while he slept.
Behold Robert a.d Andrew Jackson, with six
others, thus employed one night in the spring
of lTSl at the domicil of a neighbor, Captain
Sands. The guard on this occasion was more
friendly tribute to an active partisan than n ser.
vice considered necessary to his safety. In
short, the night was not far advanced before the
whole party were snugly housed and stretched
upon the floor, all sound asleep, except one, .
British dcserter, who was restless, and dozed at
intervals.
Danger was near band of tories, bent on
taking the life of Captain Sands, approached the
house in two divisions; one party moving to.
ward the front door, the other towards the back.
The wakeful soldier, hearing suspicious noise,
rose, went out of doors to learn it's cause, and
saw the foe steathily nearing the house. He
ran in terror, and seized Andrew Jackson, who
lay next the door, by the hair, and exclaimed:
"The tories are upon u.s.
Andrew sprang up and ran out. Seeing o
body of men 10 the distance, he placed the end
of his gun in the low fork of tree near th.
door, and hailed them. No reply. He hailed
them second time. No reply. They quick
ened their pace, and had come within q few rods
of the door, BY this time, too, the guard IN the
house had been reused, and were gathered in q
group behind the boy. Andrew discharged his
musket, upon which the tories fred volley,
which killed the hapless deserter who had given
the alarm. The other party of tories, who were
approaching the house from the other side, hear
ing this discharge, and the rush Of bullets above
their heads, supposed that the firing issued from
party that had issued from the house. They
now fred volley, which sent shower of balls
whistling about the heads of their friends on tho
other side. Both parties hesitated, aud then
halted. Andrew having thus, by his single dis
charge, puzzled and stopped the enemy, retired
to the house, where he and bis comrades kept
up brisk FIRE from the Windows. One of the
guard fell mortally wounded by his side, and
another received wound less severe. In the
midst of this singular contest, bugle as heard
some distance of, sounding the cavalry charge;
whereupon the tories, concluding that they had
come upon an ambush ofWbigs, and were about
to be assailed by horse and foot, fed to whore
they had left their horses, mounted, dashed pell
nell into the woods, and were seen no moro.
1t appeared afterwards that the bugle charge
sounded by neighbor, who, judging from
the noise of the musketry that Capt. Sands was
attacked, and having not single man with him
in his house, gave the blast upon the trumpet,
thinking that even trick so stale, aided by the
darkness of the night, might have some effect in
alarming the assailants. .....