The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-02-27

AY MORNING. FEBRl
chasing Bragg through Kentucky in the
meantime and was then on its way to re.
lieve the belesgued force. At Gallatin,
twenty.six miles from the capital OF Tennes-
see, 1t became necessary for Gen. Critten-
den to communicate with Gen. Negley in
Nashville. A young officer commanding
company ofcayalry was detailed to leave
Gallatin inthe might timeandtry theexperi-
ment OF opening communication. His dis
patches were written upon tissue paper,
and the commanding General gave him
the comforting assurance that the chances
were hundred 10 one that he would be
captured. In case there was the slightest
chance Of the communication was TO be
chewed and swallowed. A negro guide
was furnished to show the country roads
as far as "rhe Hermitage" 80 as to keep
the courier and his fcrce of the main pike.
The burial place Of Andrew Jackson was
reached shortly after l2 o'clock at night,
and the place seemed citadel Of quiet se.
clusion as II slept in the shadows OF that
beautiful moonlight night.
The lights and shades OF that night cut
some queer figures on the face OF the old
place. Andrew Jackson Donaldson, an
adopted son OF "0ld Hickory" then lived
lie was aroused and directed TO dress and
guide the bearer OF the dispatches by the
country'roads TO Nashville. He plead that
llo was an old man, and that there was no
way of getting there except by the main
pike, as the bridges were all down, and
there was no place where the Cumberland
River could be iorded except just below
where the Gallatin Pike crossed it. He
pleaded so hard to be left behind that his
parole was taken under penalty OF death
not to leave the house until after o'clock
the next morning. Old Uncle Alfred, the
same old .darkey who still lives upon the
the place, was sent TO guide the little col
nmn Of cavalry up to the pike that led to
Nashville.
JACHsoN's LITTLE CHURCH.
After the old negro turned the column
in the right direction he returned to the
cabin where I found him to-day. The
company surrounded the little brick
church that stands in the edge Of the
woods bordering the turnpike, and the Of
ficers matured plans for the dangerous ride
before them. This little house Of God was
built by General Jackson when he built
the Hermitage, and it still stands as mon.
ument to his memory. Its bulletpierced
sides tell it played something Of a part in
the late rebellion. The few cavalrymen
who gathered around it on that November
night, in 1862, did not tary long, but
formed and moved on TO obey orders to go
to Nashville, Before day.dawn they reach
ed the Federal lines without serious in
jury, and, the next morning early, deliver
ed the messages to the Union General.
Thus was communication opened between
the advancing Union army and the be-
seiged force: |
UNCLE ALFRED AND IIIs spoUsE.
+ Uncle Alfred, recalling the events OF that
night to-day, said:
"De Lor' knows dat remember It.
was pow'iul bad skeered that night. 1t had
ben SO long since ! seena Yankee soldier
that l thought desc ole eyes had gone
wrong. Heah, Aunt Jane" said the old
darkey, calling little old colored woman,
bent aud wrinkled with age, who stood on
the chip pile near by. AS sue approached
he said: ibis am my wife; she wasn't one
OF dc ole slaves raised on de place. De ole |
Central bought her down Maryland and l
dun married her two years after lie fetched
her here. She has been many year on
dis farm, and we two are all derc is left.
Jane, dis man am Yankee, and dis udder
one am Mr.. John Hill Aiken, who libes in
Nashville. know'd his father"
"Dese gemmen want to 60 in an see de
house, said old Alfred to bis wife.
Aunt Jane led the way rather reluctant
ly, and we soon passed between the gretEt
Corinthian pillars that once made such a
deep impression upon my mind and were
soon in the broad hall that cuts the house
in Twain. Atthe right OF the house as yon
enter, sits Washington's chair that was
presented to General Jackson, and few |
other relics OF byEone days sit about. rhe
walls are covered with old.lashioned paper,
gaudy in coloring; representing farm scenes
and landscapes. A door 10 the left Of the
hall leads into the parlor, d little room
covered with velvet carpet and rarely
opened, should think, except TO favored
visitors. Over the door is picture Of
General Jackson, by Healy, and one OF his
wife. Not lar away was Q portrait Of Lafay-
ette, and few others did not recognize |
wele scattered over the wallsE The furni.
ture was old, but there were very few relics |
TO remind one that this was once the home
OF one OF the greatest OF American Presi!
dents.