The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1910-01-08
Many Anecdotes of Most
Eccentric of Americans

~NeSA "a @'ht .. 11N Nn,ptHs y ttfiifs.tssiS
challenge was given and accepted.
The meeting took place on the banh
of Red River. Ark. and on the way
thither Dickinson. who was the besi
pistol shot in Tennessee, amused him
self by shooting strings IN two anc
asking the tavern keepers to tell Jack
son, who was following of his marks
manship. When the word was given
Dickinson was the first to Ere. His
aim was truS and a pun of dust flew
from the left breast of Jackson's coat
But he had failed to allow for the fact
that Jackson was very slender man
and the bullet struck too far out to
be fatal. Notwithstanding the wound,
Jackson aimed with great deliberation
fired and Dickinson fell mortally
wounded. q
In the War of 1912.
Il was in the war of 1912 that gave
Jackson an opportunity for perman-
ent distinction A large force of Ten
nessee militia at once offered their
services, and under Jackson's com
mand foated down the Cumberland.
Ohio and Mississippi rivers to Natchez
There, to his great Indignation, Jack
son received an order from Washing
ton saying that the men would not be
needed and directing them to disband
at once. Realizing the desperate
plight the men would be in if left to
shift for themselves hundreds of miles
from home, he resolved to disobey
Impressing wagons and buying sup
plies on his own personal guarantee,
he succeeded in leading the troops
back to Nashville by the overland
route. By so doing, he gained the
i'll will of some of the Washington
authorities, and narrowly escaped
having to pay all the expenses of the
march, but he greatly increased his
popularity in his own state.
1t was on this march that Jackson
gained the sobriquet of "Old Hickory"
Accustomed to share all hardships
with his men, he soon impressed
them so much with his powers of en-
durance that one day soldier re-
marked:
The generals mighty tough
He's tough as hickory" agreed an
other.
After this the men begin to call the
General Hickory the adjective "old'
was soon prefixed, and thus originated
a nickname mighty in war and poll
ties for more than one generation.
Throughout the whole of his active
career we find in jackson the same
Irish impeteuosity and Scotch persis-
tence, the same habit of regarding all
opponents as personal enemies, the
same pugnacity and self-reliance, the
same generosity and tenderness of
heart. In justice to his memory no
collection of stories concerning him
ought to omit some reference to his
last days.
The Scotch-Irish stock from which
Jackson sprang was a religious one,
and his mother intended him for the
Though his career turned
out far different one, he never whol,
Iy lost his respect for Christianity.
Gentlemen, do what you please,
le would say to his guests on Sunday
q am going to church"
A short time before his wife died
Jackson promised her that he would
Join the church as soon with uncon-
scious humor) as he got out of poli-
les. Various reasons, however, kept
aim from carrying out the promise
Until lS4S, when he was convinced by
Dr.. Edgar, Presbyterian minister. to
whom he expressed a desire to be |
aiken into membership.
Not long before his death we find |
ne broken old man, whose chief occu-
Dallon had come to be the reading OF
--e bile and the prayer book and the
aging of plans for the advancement of
dnday school work, writing in his
will; Il bequeath my body to the
lust whence it comes, and my soul to
iod, who gave it, hoping for happy
Though the atoning of
ur Lord Jesds Christ. the Saviour of
he world