Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1870-08-11
A Tennessee Veteran.
Biographical Sketch of an Illus
triOus Pioneer.
Origin OF fsBe Sure You're Right
and then Go Ahead"
The Celebrated Mill-Dam speech.
From the Nashville Banner.

From the Nashville Banner.
There now lives at Tullahoma
one of the most interesting men in
Tennessee, and some things con.
nected with his history ought to
be preserved. We refer to Gen.
eral VIM. Moore. A converse
ton with him while on a visit to
Tuilahoma was so interesting that
we are constrained to believe our
readers would be pleased to know
more of him and his deeds than
most of them have had an oppor.
tuny of knowing.
GoEs FOR A SOLDIER.
General VIM. Moore is now a.
bout Sc years old. He settled in
Lincoln county about 1906 or 1907
as far as we now remember
When the war of 1872 came on,
and General Jackson was put in
command of the Tennessee volun-
teers, General Moore raised com
pany at Fayetteville, and though
very young man, was elected
Captain. He brought bis cohpa-
ny to Nashville IN December, 1872,
and Joined General Jackson who
was ordered to proceed to New
Orleans by the Secretary of War,
under the impression that the
British army was going round to
that point. The army remained
at Nashville sometime wai' ing for
Aatboats to be built. During this
time an incident occurred to Cap
tain Moore, which was the origin
of the expression, ''be sure you're
right and then 60 ahead"
A REFRACTORY COMMAND.
Moore was a much younger
man than most of his company,
and doing nothing for some time,
some of his men became disobe-
dient and on one or two occasions
treated the young Captains or
.ders with contempt. Captain
Moore told them he would not
stand this, that he would 60 to
the General and ask him what to
do, and when about to start to see
the General, Davy Crockett, who
belonged to the company, and who
was a gawky boy, said he would
90 and see what the General said.
So young Crockett went along
The Captain entered the Gener-
ais marquee and stated his troub-
les. He told General Jackson
that he had some men who were
much older than himself, that
they had not been subject to mill
tary rule and were not willing to
submit to his orders. The Gener-
al told Captain Moore that he had
little to say to him; tlat he
ought TO make no order without
reflection; that before he gave an
hrder he should be thoroughly sat
flied of its necessity, but that
When he did give it, he should en-
fGce il, no matter what it cost.
Tlis, General Jackson remarked,
wa all he had to say. ~
''BBsURE YOU'RE RIGHT; THEN. Go
AHEADl"
Upn returning to the camp,
the pldiers asked the Captain
what leneral Jackson had said.
YoungCrockett, without waiting
: for Capain Moore to answer, spoke
and sal, the General told the
Captaintto be sure he was right,
and thel go ahead" This soon
,, grew to ban army by-word, and
is now aDcommon expression in
all parts o the United States.
When te boats were finished
the army Sc out for New Orleans,
but at Natchz the first order was
countermandd, as it was found
; the British hre not moving in
, that direction and Gen. Jackson
! was ordered disband his army
at that point. To have done this
would have gritty exposed the
men and endahered their lives,
as they would hse had to travel
J through the teftory of hostile
Indians and that tithout supplies.
, Gen. Jackson CALI a council and
in that council wel several Cap
tains, and among the number,
$ Captain Moore. he question
was, should GeneralJackson dis
!. obey the orders of te Secretary
n of War, draw upon he Govern
! ment for supplies, nd march
Y his army back to Tehessee be-
!. fore disbanding it. he latter
course was finally deded up.
on, and General Jacson did
It march his army back toTennes-
see and then disbanded But