The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1903-11-12
CHAPTER XXI.

RECOGNITION ET FIRE-LlGRr A%2 GJS-
II was the afternoon OF the ed of
December, 1914. Lisutenaut Bal
lauchs and Mr.. Vernon were not tho
only friends of the American cause
who had seen the British soldiery
feeling their way toward New Orleans.
Major Gabriel YIllere, by most dar-
ing dash, had escaped from the enemy
after they had captured him at his
fathers plantation'house. He brought
News which, added to what the scout
and Ballauche reported, confirmed
jackson in the belief that large
army was, indeed, immediately before
hin.
All was hurry and excitement.
Orders had been sent to the officers Of
the verions little divisions OF the army
to move their forces at. once down the
east bank OF the river and take posi-
tion ir the vicinity Of the Rodrigues
Canal. q small fiume or ditch stretch
Jug from the river to the swamp, an
hours ride below the city.
General Jackson, swarthy and
bilious, rode out to Tort st. Charles
to review the moving troops. Mr..
Vernon Joined him thcrs and watched.
grim aud silent, while his own dusky
fiaemen filed past, their picturesque
ednirments aud vi?ac!ous features
showing iu marked contrast to the
staiwart Teunesseeau ba ckwoodsmen's
coppsras clothes and lean, uuke mpt
faces. The reckless forbans fling up
their cdapeaax with jaunty grace aud
salused the general with load cheer
lug. and then, catching sight of Mr..
Vernon, they took up lis name and
redJublGd the shout. The old man
lifted his hat, aud they saw flash u
baltic in his eyes.
.'Gy the Eternal" exclaimed Jacf-
son.. I've will make those redcoata
feel Us before morning! Mr.. Vernon.
your men look like bad fellows to face
in fght. I'd risk my head on theu,
sir--risk my head!'
'You shall not be deceived in
them said Mr.. Vernon, preparing to
join them i'll their march. They
will do whatever tell them to-
"Thsn tell them, sir, to make
m;ucsmeat OF those internal invade.s!
Mr.. Vernon extended his hand. and
Jackson grasped it with hearty good
will.
Near by, on tall gray horse, sat
that strange genius. Edward Living
ston, looking on with keen interest.
He was Jackson's other self, his un-
firing and all-seeing friend and coun-
seller. Is was he who said to the
commander as Mr.. Vernon rode away:
There goes the king of all the
outlaws, the master Of the Barrata-
rians, tho Chats Huants and tho pi-
rates of Honey Island. But fof him
they would have ell been against US.
King or devil, said Jackson. fol-
lowing with his eyes the grand figure
of the old man as he galloped along
the marching column to its head, she
is superb. He is magnetic. He fas-
ciuates me. There is something great
in him"
Livingston smiled thoughtfuily; for
he himself was friend Of Latitte's
and the defender Of the freebooters.
He bad had great trouble at first get
ting Jackson's consent to permit any
of them to join the army; but what
was his influence or even that Of La.
fitte, in comparison with Mr.. Yer
mons? He knew far more tha., he
dared to tell the general; but ct this
moment of enthusiasm he coLsss sa:s
forbear remarking, as Dacqui-'s sos.
orel men and Dominique's cfGatsG
smugglers from the water hats at Bar
ataria went dashinS by:
81 told you this, general. Set dev-
lis to fight the devil.
"Bnt that man Vernou is gentle
man, sir!" exclaimed Jackson, impet-
uansly, "he's no piyatc!'
''Oa, of course not. You are
right" replied the diplomatic Iiv-
ingston, whose memory held ON its
leaves the Inscriptions OF Eurr and
Raneau and all .hc other great Grim.
their home OF their calling poias-
"You read men like print, general.
-. Somehow, fatte-.. no matter how
bald sad obvious. WAS weicoma to
Jaat---~ %ssn !: e.ne from the .ITr
Of this brilliant aad engaging citizen
whom he had attached to his staff.
Fairfax had been assigned to duty
with General Coffee, and was already
far on the way to the Rodrigues Ca
nal
When oil the troop had passed,
Jackson turned to Da, ezac, another
of his citizen aids. and said. while
his sunken, jaundiced face glowed
with almost startling passion:
Eve arc invincible, sir, absolutely
invlnciblo! We wilt drive these red.
coats into the gulf"