The Coolidge examiner., 1934-01-05

life time after time in challenges to duels and In
duels themselves TO shield her good name from
slanderous whispers about the irregularity Of
their marriage-irregular only because Of legal
technicality in her divorce from her first hus-
band, Lewis RObards.
Even though he had been elected major-gen-
eral of the Tennessee militia ten years before
there was no compelling reason for him to leave
Rachel and march away to the wars But he in
stantly offered to President Madison a militia
division of $500 trained men and promised to
make successful invasion of Canada within 90
days. But his offer was disregarded and had it
not been for Governor Blount of Tennessee, who
signed his commission majorgeneral Of Unit
ed States volunteers he might not have got into
the war at all
Through the machinaton of Gen. James Wilk-
inson, scoundrel in high places if there ever
was one, all of Jackson's efforts to serve his
country were about to come to naught when
the news came of the Creek uprising and the
massacre at Fort Minis in Alabama. So Jack
son started on the campaign which was to bring
him his first military glory. But early in that
campaign difficulties arose Before he could win
decisive victory over the Creeks, the term of
enlistment of the majority of the volunteers un-
der his command expired and the men prepared
to go home without waiting for the arrival of
relnforcements to take their places
Then Governor Blount threw up the sponge.
advising the evacuation of Fort Strother and a
retreat to Tennessee. 1t was literal summons to
join the dismal file of funking military chieftains
whose crowded march into the limbo had dis
tinguished our management of the war. One
ill-calculated step and Andrew Jackson should
bear company with the dim shapes of Hull, Dear
born Hampton, lizard, Chandler, Wfnder-the
list could be heightened"
So Jackson wrote a letter to Blount: Arouse
from yr. leathargy-despise fawning smiles or
snarling frowns-with energy exercise yr. func-
tions-the campaign must rapidly progress or
yr. country ruined. Call out the full quota
execute the orders of the Secy. of War, arrest
the officer who omits his duty, and let popu-
larity perish for the moment Save Mobile-save
the Territory-save yr frontier from becoming
drenched in blood. What retrograde under
these circumstances? will perish first"
That was in December, 1913. A year later
faced with a similar situation of impending dis
aster (although redcoats, not redskins were the
enemy this time) Jackson was duplicating his
II will perish first" with the statement 'T will
smash them, so help me Cod" Smash the Creeks
he did at Tohopeka or the Great Horseshoe Bend
and Jackson's return to Tennessee was a tri-
umphal progress. A year later he also smashed
the British and ito country that had almost
completely lost faith in itself, to a country that
had almost learned to cringe this news came
like a reprieve to man upon the gallows It
literally crazed with Joy, and in its delirium
it flung the name of Andrew Jackson against the
stars"
Later to a suggestion that he might become a
candidate for President he replied do you
think / am such a ID fool? No, sir; know
what l am fit for. l can command a body of
men in a rough way but am not fit to be Pres
ident." Thirteen years later American democ
racy thought differently. SO it sent this border
captain to the White House.
. by Western Newspaper Union.