San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1878-06-01

by main force, made several ineffectu.
al efforts, and only succeeded under a
threat by Houston to kill him unless
he pulled it out. He was carried back,
suffering intensely from the wound,
which had been much lacerated. His
iudomitable will led him Immediately
back into the fight, where he was soon
wounded by two balls in his right
shoulder. His intrepid spirit display
cd on this occasion won for him the
lasting regard of General jackson.
Disabled from further service, he was
sent back to Kingston with the sick
aud wounded. Robert H. McEwen
and myself met him some distance
from Kingston, on litter supported
by two horses. He was greatly enact
ated, suffering at the same time from
his wounds and the measles. We took
him to the house of his relative,
Squire John McEwen, brother of X,
H. McEwen, where he remained for
some time, and from thence he went to
the house of his mother, in Blount
county. After this battle he received
the appointment Of lieutenant for his
gallantry. After the restoration OF
peace he was appointed sub-agent OF
the Cherokee nation under Retusn j.
Meigs, who was agent, the agency be-
ing on the west bank Of the Hiawasse,
near where the railroad between Knox
vile and Chattanooga crosses, the spot
where the remains of Governor Nc
MINI and Return j. Meigs lie buried,
both having been agents to the Indian
nation. While in the capacity of sub
agent, a controversy arose between
himself and Mr.. Calhoun, Secretary
of War, which caused his removal
about the year 1919. Soon after this
he came to Nashville and commenced
the study of law with the Hon. James
Trimble, father Of Mr.. John Trimble,
of this city, and obtained license to
practice after six or eight months
study. At the first meeting of the
Legislature he was elected Attorney
General of this District over some dis
tinguished lawyers as competitors, and
in 1921 he was elected Major General
of the militia Of this division of the
State, and in 1923 was elected to Con-
gress, and reelected in 1926. While
member of Congress, he preferred
some charges against the Postmaster
here, who, it YVES, understood, would
hold him personally responsible on his
return home. The matter was public,
and great excitement existed among
the friends of both parties, and rumors
were afoat that a duel would follow.
Col. John Smith, a0noted duelist re-
siding in Missouri, arrived in the city.
and it was understood that he would
be the bearer of the challenge to Hous-
ton. 1t was believed that Col. Nc
Gregor, who was the second OF Gen.
Houston, would refuse to accept the
challenge through the hands of Col.
for reasons which he explained.
This caused some excitement among
the friends of Col. Houston, as they
expected difficulty to occur between
McGregor and Smith, because of the
refusal to accept the challenge if borne
by Smith, he being well known as
desperate man. 1t was anticipated
that the challenge would be delivered
at the Nashville inn, where Gen.
Houston was stopping that afternoon,
and all were on the lookout for the
movements of Smith. He was soon
seen, about where now stands the
Hicks china store, walking in the d.
rection of the Nashville inn, and the
friends of both parties hurried to the
inn, where the meeting was to take
place. Maj. Phillip Campbell, a gal
LIANT soldier in the Creek war, and a
warm personal friend Of Gen. Hous-
ton, with ten or fifteeD other Houston
men. made their appearance at the
inn. prepared to take part, as it was
expected there would be a fight when
McGregor refused to accept chal-
lenge borne by smith. The challenge
was presented by Smith to MeGreror
in front Of the door of the Nashville
inn, with these words; Il have a com
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