The Union flag. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1865-187?, 1868-02-07
Gen. John B. ROdgerS-The COM
peer OF Marquis De Lafayette
ana Gen. Andrew Jackson.

nas s""eIoN Oul Ihelh III every POI
sible manner-driven from his hom,
plundered of his property. A fe,
facts in regard to this veteran throug
the long history of the past half
century may not be uniuterestlng t,
our readers and the public generally
He emigrated from West Virgins
to East Tennessee in 1912. In Feb
ruary 1914 his father settled in tn,
county of Warren; about Septembe
of that year, when about Is years o
age, he was put into the military ser
vice by the Adjutant General Of tht
State and sent on express to the coun
ties of Wbito, Overton and Jackson
with orders for the draft and move
ment of the militia, when ordered, to
take the field IN defense of New Or
leans and Louisiana He carried or
ders to Gen. BirG Smith, then living
on Cane Creek, White county, from
whom he brought orders in return
TO Maj. II. G. Harris, his aid-de-camp
then residing in Warren county; and
but for the mandate Of his father
positively forbidding him-he would
have gone with the army to New Or
leans.
In 1918, when Gen. Jackson called
for volunteers for the Florida service
he at once entered the army, and re-
ported at Headquarters, Fayetteville,
Tenn, when Col. Robert Il. Dyer (the
old friend of his father) commanding
the first Regiment of Tennessee Vol
unteers, appointed him Judge Advo-
cate, in which capacity he served un-
til he entered Florida, when by per-
mission of Col. Dyer, he joined com
pany of scouts Or spies, commanded
by Maj. RAssle. In a conflict with
the Indians ut the old Indiantown of
Mickaseeky on the 1st of April, 1918,
he was slightly wounded by the shot
of an Indian in a swamp; for this
wound, not dangerous but trouble
some, he was designated by the Sur.
geon as one that was to be left in the
Hospital at Port Leon then st. Marks,
he begged off from being left, and on
the morning of the ninth whom Gen.
Jackson resumed his march 10 Sew.
aney, he set out again with the scouts
before the dawn Of day.
On the 18th of April, in open con-
fict fwounded as he was) he killed
two Indians with his own hands; one
of the Indians was in the very act of
shooting his first Lieutenant, (E. Nc
Mican,) evidently saving the life of
the Lieutenant; and so it was believ-
cd by Gen. Jackson at the time, as is
shown by letter now in the posses
sion of Gen. Rodgers, from under Gen.
Jackson's own hand some years there
after, highly complimentary.
On the 18th of April, when Robt.
c. Ambrester an ex-Lieut. in the
British marines, was captured, Gen.
Rodgers was present. He was also
present at the trial and execution on
the 10th of April of Ambrester and
Arbuthnot, full account of which is
seen in the I'd volume OF the life Of
Jackson by Parton, furnished the au.
thor by Gen. Rodgers from a journal
he kept and from his recollection of
tho events. Gen. Rodgers is possibly
the only person now living that wit
messed the scenes in a great degree
that gave rise 10 the difference be-
tween Gen. Jackson and Mr.. Clay.
Ia the afternoon of the 29th of
April, 1918, Gen. Rodgers left St.
Marks for New Orleans, 10 charge of
q detachment of sick and wounded
soldiers, dressing their wounds and
caring for their wants as a Surgeons
mate in the absence of other medical
assistance, whom he delivered in good
time to DR.. Bacces in New Orleans,
and was cOmplimented by Gen. Biple
for the manner in which he performed
this arduons duty. From New Or
leans Gen. Rodgers with Col. George
West and the able portion of the com.
mand, came through Louisiana and
Mississippi-then a wild county
by land TO Tennessee, and we're mus
tered and discharged at Columbia,
Tenn, the Both of June, 1918. From
his discharge up to 1920 he read med
ieine With the Drs. hcKinneys of Fay
etteville. Tenn. In 1921 be began the
study of the law. In 1922 be was H.
censed an attorney at law. In the
summer Of 1923 he was elected Col
onel of cavalry. In the month of No
vember, 1923, when Gen. Jackson was
elected a Senator ia Congress, he was
at the seat of government and told
his friends Mr.. Polk, Mr. Crundy, the
eccentric Col. Crockett, and others of
his friends he desired they should elect
Gen. Rodgers Attorney General for
the State of Tennessee, which they
did, the legislature voting for him
unanimously.
In 1926, Gen. Rodgers, then Colon
el of cavalry, was ordered by Gov.
Carroll 10 command Gen. Lafayetts's
escort and left guard, when in Nash.
vile on bic visit 70 Tennessee in the
.-s e. Tafa.-ot.. haI laa.nnd