The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-10-10
The Hermitage.
A VISIT TO THE HOME OF ANDREW JACKSON.

VISIT TO THE HOME OF ANDREW JACKSON.
Correspondence of the Cincinnati Commercial
NASHVILLE. Tenn, September Is 1868.
The Hermitage farm or plantation is situated on
the north side Of the Lebanon pike. about twelve
miles distant from the city and halt mile from
the pike, and now contains only about five hundred
acres, though it originally consisted of twelve
hundred acres.
As we drove in front Of the house was struck
with the dilspidated and deserted appearance not
only of the house, but of all the surroundings.
The fences were broken down in many places,
gates we're propped up and fastened with strings,
the steps to the door were sunken and half buried
in leaves and dirt, and the windows gave evidence
in many places Of the absence of panes.
The house is two stories high in the center,
while on each side is wing. running from front
to back. Of one story In height. In front of the
man building, as In the rear, Is veranda sup
ported by six large wooden columns, which are
now weatherworn and rottng at the base. There
are four windows 10 the lower story of the main
front, five in the second. and one in the end Of
each wing.
Walking across the stone floor of the veranda
we made q vigorous assault on the bell pull
which was answered by old Aunt Oracle, the COL
ored cook, whom General Jackson purchased dur
ing his first term in the presidential Office. show.
ing MS into the hall, We were requested to be
seated on the sofa, while she presented our cards
to Mrs. Andrew jackson, Jr., wife of General
Jackson's adopted son. Mrs. jackson, very
handsome lady, evidently over fifty, soon ap.
peared and did us the honor to point out the vari
Gus objects of interest.
The moot remarkable object in the hall is the
Office chair which was used by General Washing
ton for thirty years, and presented to Jackson by
the Curtis family. IL Is low-bacbed, leather
covered arm chair, the covering fastened on with
brass headed nails. Nearly half of tn, leather
covering Of the cushion had been cut away by
"relic hunters tefore il came into Jackson's
possession; but since that time it has been so
carefully preserved that not another piece has
been taken from 1t. Near this chair Is q large,
old fashioned sofa, with mohair cushions. fastsnsd
with long, glitferng rows of brass headed nails.
On this sofa General Lafayette is said to have
taken his afternoon siestd during his visit to the
Hermitage.
There are also in the hall eight mohar-c overed
chairs, which were a part of the presidents par
lor furniture On the left eide of the hall, On an
old-fashioDed mahogany marble top sideboard Is a
bust Of Levi Woodbury., who was Jsckson's secre-
tsry of the navy in the new cabinet appointed in
1881, after the cabinet rupture on account Of the
refusal of the wives of the other members to asso.
ciate with Mrs. General Eaton, who has recently
figured 30 conspicuously In the New York police
courts. There are two doors on the left or west
eide of the hall, which open into the parlor. one
to the rear the other 70 the front room. We en-
tered the front room first, which Is about eighteen
feet square, and separated from the back room by
folding doors. On the left side is picture de.
serving more notice. only because II Is less known.
II is portrait of Mrs. Rachel jackson, the gene
rails wife. This painting was also made by Earl,
and represents her in q dress OF white satin. and
pearls, which she wore at ball given to the gen.
eral at New Orleans In lsl6. In looking at the
painting, which is said to be decidedly accurate,
the observer cannot but feel that the general did
her no ipjustice in the inscription on her tomb
her face was far, her person pleasing" she
was certainly comedy enough. The bust Is per-
fection and graceful, the lips full and pouting,
the nose Grecian, the eyes of dark brown, the
hair nearly black, while the complexion Is very
Fas NJ hat la spfot osoI
with her.
Standing against the folding doors Is an ancient
style rosewood finished piano, which was pre-
scented to Mrs. Andrew jackson, Jr., by the
general, shortly after her marriage with his
adopted son. Upon II stands an equestrian paint.
ing Of Jackson. Near the end Of the piano, In the
spot where the general always sat- is the large ex-
tension chair on which he sat the night before he
died. The chair is very fine one. being covered
with deep blue velvet, and having the softest of
cushions. IL was presented to the general by
eight gentlemen, citizens OF Philadelphia. In the
corner bereath the portrait of Mrs. Jackson.
stands mahogany cabinet in which the general
placed bis rare relics and fine books. II is kept
locked, and the lcurous visitor is deprived of the
luxurious curiosity of handling the gems which
!" old Hickory laid away to keep.
Between the two windows which open out on
the front 1.-THE only two in the room) is Q small,
circular mirror, with candlestick ct.
tached on each side while above 1t hangs q steel,
full length portrait of King William of the
Netherlands, presented to Mr.. jackson by that
The back room of the parlor is now used BY
Mrs. jackson as n dining room, the old dining
room having fallen to decay. Upon the walls OF
this room hang the portraits of those whom the
general called his military famiyn-Dr. Grenoy,
General Coffee. Colonel Gsdson, of south Csrolins,
and Csptsin Eaton. General Coffee was the e-pe.
cial Fighting friendi Of Jackson, having been q
man OF Herculean strength and giant SIZE and
whenever the old general wanted a man well
whipped, land he did not want to kill him, he sent
Coffee out to whip him, which was always done.
Crossing the hall, We entered another hall which
runs at right angle with the main hail. On the
right OF this s the room In which the general died.
None OF the old furniture remains IN II now, though
II he occupied by Mrs. Jackson as sleeping apart
ment. This was the last room In the house which
We were invited 10 see, and to have asked per-
mission to have seen more would have been
Irespass.
About . quarter of mile to the north of this is
the old race course. Here began the quarrel be-
exciting race was shout to be run here, and Jack.
son. knowing the speed of the horses, was making
very excited bets on the result. Governor Can
non had been betting quite freely previously on
races, and had lost nearly all Of his funds. He
approached jackson and asked him how he was
betting. jackson told him. Cannon said he was
Out OF money, but II jackson wanted to bet
seainst twenty five negroes which he Cannon
had be would take the bet. jackson took the
bet. and Cannon lost. The uegroes were "paid
IN. but Cannon was never Jackson's friend after.
Between the old cabin and the house stands the
carriage house and the stables Substantial brick
building. 10 this is the old carriage 10 which
Jackson travelled from Richmond 10 Tennessee |
when ne came home from Washington 10 die. II |
an elegant affair, but reminds one Of the stage