Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1875-04-09
AN INTERESTING TALK.
A VETERANS RECOLLECTIONS OF AND
REV JACKsON-THE FLORIDA WAR
oYD r,rcuopv ON HON FsT prrpT TT OF

REV JACKsoN-THE FLORIDA WAR
OLD HICKORY ON HONEST PUBLIC Of
FIcERs,
&C., &C., &C.
Happening into the room of Captain
James Mcclure at the Virginia Hotel
Monday Eight, we fell heir to some most
interesting "reminiscences Of the past, by
hearing the captain mention Andrew jack
son. The captain is well known to our
citizens, the picture of a frank, sturdy
old soldier, whose recollections of the Flor
ida war, through which he served, are told
with an engaging modesty and instructive
clearness.
ssThen you knew Andrew Jackson, ''said
| we.
s'Knew him; yes, I knew him well. You
see our people came from the same county
in Ireland. came to this country just a
boy, and like other boys 1 thought
! could teach the people of a new country a
good deal. But after being while in New
| Y DIRK l found they could teach me. A
Frenchman there proposed to 60 in part
nership with me in the lithographing bus
mess. / furnished the capital and he fur
nished the brains; he knew all about the
work and we got the marble for the stones
from Europe. We Autographed sheet
music and other work, and at the end of
the first year my share of the profits was
| I'm, A,,sy,
Adams, who was just retiring from the
Presidency, granted number of officers
furloughs to 60 to Europe, and when Gen
eral Jackson was elected he recalled them
all. w hen they came back they had seen
| the art of lithographing over there and it
was determined to start a government
Office in Washihgt on. answered the adj
vertisement for manager OF it and went
| there though my partner was much opposed
to my going, but 1 told him my word was
out and it was as good as my bond and I
should go. It WASH such pleasant berth,
though. The art was new and when the
appropriation came up, CALHOUN and Web
ster and all those old coons, had to have it
explained to them, AND it was generally
looked upon as useless expenditure
sit was then you got acquainted with
| Jackson?"
| "Yes: was always fond of fine horses,
and 1 was troubled with dyspepsia and
every morning rode out. / used to see
| Jackson riding at the same hour and he
was fond of fine horses too and rode good
one. One morning he entered into con-
versation with me and as my name told
him my nation he asked me what county
was from, and commenced asking me about
the people there. l knew most all that he
asked about and he said he correspondent
with all the people he had named and iii
you come to the White House 1 will show
you the letters" When we were coming
back to town from where Soldiers Home is,
[ didn't want to ride up the Avenue with
him, so would turn off there. "Why."
said he. ''you told me you kept your horse
at the Seven buildings and we are not
there YETI ''Mr. President" said 1, II
am only a young man, and if 1 ride up the
Avenue with the President everybody in
Washington will be talking about it and
will have any nEmber of applications fol
recommendations to you for Office, and
besides. it is after o'clock and the Head
of the Bureau will want me at O'CLOCK"
"You tell the Head of the Bureau" said
Jackson. "that l ordered you to the White
House, and now you come with me-" So ]
obeyed orders and went with him and hit
read me the letters from his correspondents
in Ireland. Sure enough it got into TIT !
papers and there was piece in black
guard paper published in Washington by
Mrs. Roy, about Jimmy Mcguire riding
up the Avenue with the President
''He gave you your appointment in the
Marine service. didn't he.''
eyes: he gave me the appointment OF
Lieutenant. We all thought it was holi-
day affair. The marines were gathered i'll
from all the stations, enough to make a
regiment. None of us thought it would
last long, and we were glad to get into the
Indian war. Gen. Scott was in command,
but Gen. Jessup wrote to Jackson that
Scott was making paper war" and he
removed him and Jessup got his place. The
Greeks in Georgia surrendered and we re.
moved the m to the reservation in Arkan-
sas: but we had a hard time with the Sem
inoles in Florida. They only made one
stand up fight and then took to the Ever
glades where the men had to learn new
drill in canoes to fight them. President
Jackson was very anxious that the war
should be ended during his administration,
but it was not. was in Washington the
day Jackson went out Of Office and Harrison
| was inaugurated. Jackson was very weak.
He told me he wanted to see me after the
| Inauguration ceremonies were over to tell
him about the war. After they were over
| I went and found that he was sick. He
had given Jimmy O'Neil orders to admit
no one but me. I found him propped up in
bed and he said to me in feeble voice 81
can't talk to you. You must sit down and
| tell me all about it,
$50 sat down and told him all about
the campaign. didn't say much about
Scott, you see, for the old General hated
I told him Quarter Master, and he called
me nearer and said Shave you settled your
accounts?" I said Eyes, and the govern
ment owes me ninety cents" "That's
right said he, putting his hand OH my
head, 'sthat's right, never owe the govern
| ment. If in the transaction of business
| you get the best of a man you wrong only
one man, if you cheat the government you
defraud millions of men, have never
forgotten the old mans big hand on my
| head.'