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Tadeuskund Travelling Bachelor 2v Traits of Travel 2v. Trials of Life 2v. Tales of a Military life The Legenders 2v. Tales of Passion 2v. Tales and Sketches The Oxonians 2v. Tales of the Puritans The Betrothed of Wy- oming The Alhambra 2v. The Monk 2v. Vicar of Wakefield Vermont Gazetteer Women 2r. Wilderness 2v. Waverley 2v. Witch of New England Woodstock 2v. Wolf's Journal Wild Irish Girl 2v. Wish-Ton- Wish 2v. Waldegrave 2v. Walter Colyton 2v. 'Water Witch 2v. Wright's Natural His- tory 5v. Westward-Ho ! 2v. Yesterday in Ireland 2v Young Duke 2v. Zillah 2v. 2v. PLAYS. A Bold Stroke for a'A new way to pay ©Id Wife Alexander the Great As you like it Debts Beax Stratagem Belle's Stratagem 8 Beggar's Opera Castle Spectre Clandestine Marriage Coriolanus Cymbeline Deaf and Dumb Fortune's Frolic Guy Mannering Hamlet Is he Jealous Inconstant Jane Shore King Henry IV. King John King Lear Catalogue. Richelieu Soldier's Daughter Suspicious Husband The Hypocrite The Lying Valet The Tobacconist Three weeks after mar- riage The Jealous Wife The Quaker The Citizen The Midnight Hour Twelfth Night The Stranger The Woodman's Hut Know your own Mind iThe Grecian Daughter Merry Wives of Wind-The Magpie sor (The Confederacy Maid of the Mill |The Wonden Mayor of Garratt jThe Deserter Merchant of Venice. The Duenna Macbeth Provoked Husband Rule a Wife and have a Wife Recruiting Officer Rosina Road to Ruin Romeo and Juliet The Country Girl The Critic Venice Preserved Wild Oats Wheel of Fortune Who 's the Dupe Way to keep him. The subscriber has now nearly 1000 vc umes belonging to his Library, and is c stantly making additions of new and po^ lar works. N. HASKELL. MEMOIRS OP MAJOR-GENERAL IN" THE ARMY OF THE UNITED STATES; AND COMMANDER IN CHIEF OF THE DIVISION OF THE SOUTH. BY S.PUTNAM WALDO, Esq. Compiler of >*Robbins' Journal," and Author of the ''President's Tour/' HARTFORD t PUBLISHED BY JOHN RUSSELL, JK Roberts Sc Burr, Printer*. 1818. HltrF B, DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT, SS. >E IT REMEMBERED, That on the twenty-ninth .iay of September, in the forty-third year of the Independence »f the United States of America, John Russell, jun. of the said district, hath deposited in this office the title of a Book, the right whereof, he claims as proprietor, in the words following, to wit, — "Memoirs of Andrew Jackson, Major-General in the ar- ray of the United States, and Commander in Chief of the Division of the South, by S. Putnam Waldo, Esq. Compiler of " Robbins' Journal," and Author of the u President's Tour." In conformity to the act of Congress of the United States, entitled, u An Act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the ccpies of Charts and Books, to the authors and proprietors of such j ■-._ * ■ ■ >*--■ «**! mentioned. " R. I. INGERSOLLu Clerk of the District of Connecticut. A true copy of Record, examined and sealed by me R. I. INGERSOLL. Clerk of the District of Connecticut. '^'^O^t<^i<^ty^t4^^y>^^^^ t ^^ l< y )vC ^ t< ^ ERRATA. J .lowing errors, the reader is requested to correct, pre- vious to perusal. PAGE. LINE. ^ 4 8 for Scotchmen, read Scotsmen. 39 20 for intrinsic, read extrinsic. 49 24 omit the word ft 11. 151 g f or mnim f S ^ reac j m i nu f rSm 9 for promtness, read promptness. ■ ■■ To the OFFICERS and SOLDIERS OF THE AMERICAN REPUBLIC, GALLANT COUNTRYMEN:— WITH that frankness, which in your profession is a distinguishing characteristic, I uiHr this Volume to you, without apology. The fame of the Exalted Chief, who is the subject of it, how- ever imperfectly his civil and military charac- ter may be portrayed, will, I am confident, entitle it to a favourable reception from you. With admiration for your gallant achievements, I am your OVi. ServU. S. PUTNAM WALDO. TO THE REJHfEE. THE high estimation in which Maj. Gen* An- drew Jackson, is justly holden by his countrymen, was the inducement to present them with the fol- lowing Memoirs of his Life, Ever since his name became identified with the glory of his country, the author has assiduously sought for the most authentic mformation relative jto his origin, and his progress from humble life to his present elevation. The facts relative to his parentage, his birth, edu- ation, and early pursuits, were derived from a Southern Correspondent, whose means of know- ^rd^Cj entitle his communications to the character of absolute verity. From the early entrance of Gen. Jackson into public life, and fforn the laudable propensity of Americans to preserve, in the various periodical journals, detached incidents of the lives of Ameri- can Worthies, it needs only industry and research to collate them. The manner in which they are ar- ranged, and the style in which they are detailed, depends wholly upon the author. To give additional interest to the volume, a num- ber of Gen. Jackson's Official Reports, and some -elections from his numerous Letters, and Addresses are incorporated into the work. They not only .^ive the most satisfactory account of the battles in vvhich he fought, and the measures he pursued ; but they show that he wields the pen of a Schoiar, as well as the sword of a Soldier. Apologies for the defects of the work, cannot re- move them, and will not be attempted. It is there- fore submitted to the indulgence of the reader by, THE AUTHOR, Hartford. (Conn.) Oct. 1818. INTRODUCTION. Adoption of American Constitution — Pursuits of Anaei- icans — Diminution of Military ardour — Declaration ofWar-^-Militia — Volunteers — Regular Troops-An- drew Jackson. FROM the conclusion of the War for Amer- ican Independence, to the commencement of that war which secured it, the Amei^farjs were almost wholly diverted from the study of military tactics, x , and no opportunity had occurred to call into opera- tion the military science acquired in the revolution- ary struggle. The mild. arts of peace were sub- stituted for the ruthless carnage of war 5 and a rising people, who had severed the ligament that bound them to an European monarch, cormaen- ced the enjoyment of self-government. To organize a Republic, consisting of a confed- eracy of a number of distinct governments, having different, and in some .respects contending rnte was a task which required, and called forth the science and the energies of the first statesmen which the world had produced. Upon the conclusion* of that war, the pc of the American Republic, as it regarded a of* government, were < ; in a state of nat> Destitute of a government of their own they had before them the lights of antiquity, and 14 INTRODUCTION. the practical knowledge of modern ages, Witk the scrutinizing research of statesmen, and the calm deliberation of philosophers, they proceeded to establish a constitution of Civil Government, as the supreme law of the land. The establishment of this constitution is, perhaps, without a parallel in the history of the civilized world. It was not the unresisted mandate of a successful usurper, nor was it a government imposed upon the people by a victorious army. It was digested by profound statesmen, who aimed to secure all the rights of die people who had acquired them, by their toil, iheir courage, and their patriotism. They aimed also to give to the government, sufficient energy to command respect. To the people of the American Republic, a con- stitution was presented for their deliberation, and for their adoption. It was adopted, not with en- tire unanimity, but by a majority of tile people, sufficiently respectable to give its operation a promising commencement. The people, having emancipated themselves from the power of a British monarch — having successfully resisted his lords and his commons, looked with jealousy lip- ase who were called to the exercise of the power which they had themselves delegated to their own countrymen. ^The excellency of the constitution was tested by the practical application of its principles ; and the patriotism and integrity* INTRODUCTION. 15 of all the early officers who derived their power from it, were acknowledged by their admiring countrymen. The people, having witnessed the establishment of a republican government, of their own choice, relapsed from the energetic character of republican soldiers, to the more gentle ones of agricultural- ists, merchants, and mechanics. Agriculturalists found a capacious field for the exercise of their pursuits in the widely extended and fertile regions of the Republic. Land specu- lation became the business of the few, who had adequate funds, and the conversion of the wilder- ness into fertile fields, the pursuits of those who had industry and enterprise. The Merchants found a world before them as the theatre upon which their energies were to be ex- erted. Enjoying peace with all nations, while other nations were contending with each other for dominion or wealth, the merchants of the Repub- lic became the carriers for the corifmercial world. Into their employ they drew thousands of their countrymen, and soon rendered the American States the second nation in the world, in point of commercial consequence* Manufacturers began to struggle for the rank which they hold in~many of the countries in the old world. It was long an ineffectual struggle—; But as the " restrictive system" was deemed neces- 16 INTRODUCTION. sary from the unceasing encroachment^ of Europe- an governments upon the commercial rights of America, they rapidly advanced in wealth, and gave employ to a numerous class of citizens. These three great objects of pursuit, embraced the whole American people, if we except those of the learned professions. These employments were all calculated to divert attention from military tac- tics, and to confine it rather to the accumulation of wealth, than to the advancement of national glory, by military achievements. In addition to this, the very nature of the American Constitution, was calculated to repress military ardour, being more calculated to make happy citizens, than renowned soldiers. The surviving patriots of the revolution were following each other in rapid succession to the tomb, and the rising youth of America were sel- dom aroused to patriotism by the tales of the revo- lutionary contest. Sudden wealth was the result of the exertions o f the different classes of Americans. The voluptu- ousness and effeminacy usually an attendant upon the possession of it, was rapidly diminishing that exalted sense of national glory, for which the Saxons, the ancient stock from which Americans and Englishmen trace their origin, were always celebrated. As the collisions between the American Repub- lic, and the British empire, began to assume an INTRODUCTION. 1? hostile aspect, frequent negotiations were com- menced, and as often terminated in widening the breach between the two governments* The murder of Pierce, by order of a British na$kl officer, although, from the tranquilized, and almost paralized state of public feeling, it did not excite the same indignation as the massacre of Boston citizens, by British troops, before the revolutionary war, yet it was no less an outrage upon humanity and national dignity than that barbarous deed. The constant impressment of American seamen, although in its character a less sanguinary violation of national and individual rights, was a more wide- ly extended injury. " The social body is oppressed, when one of its members is oppressed. ,? That nation can hardly be said to be independent, who will acquiesce in an injury committed upon one of its citizens by another nation. It was an aphorism of the great Hollander, De Witt — " That no inde- pendent nation ought tamely to submit to a breach of equity and justice, from another, however un- equal the powers.*'** Although an injury to indi- viduals, is an injury to the nation ; jet, in the attack upon the Chesapeake, a national vessel, the national dignity was directly insulted. To impress seaman from an U. S a frigate, belonging to an infant navy, whose gallantry in the Mediterranean, had excited the admiration, and even the jealousy of Nelson, - produced a ferment in the American Republic # History of Holland, 18 INTRODUCTION. which could never subside until ample reparation was obtained. The Orders in Council — new and unauthorised principles of blockade, and an invasion of the rights of neutrals, added to the other injuries mentioned, and to which might* be added many more, compelled the great council of the Republic to resort to mea- sures more efficient than non-intercourse, embargoes, and negotiations. Facts will justify the assertion, that upon the momentous question whether War or Submission ghould be resorted to by America, the American people where divided in opinion ; and this division of opinion was ascertained by a knowledge of the two great political parties in the Republic. The Republican party exclaimed, with an ancient Ro- man, " Our voice is still for War." The Federal party, with another Roman, exclaimed, " Our thoughts, we must confess, are turned to Peace." The justice, necessity, or expediency of the se- cond war between the American Republic and the Kingdom of Great Britain, cannot be discussed in ihis place ; and it might be deemed arrogance to attempt it at all, at this period of time. The authorities who alone had power " to declare War," made the declaration 5 and to the American people were they responsible for the great and important - measure. INTRODUCTION, 19 It may not be inapposite to remark in this place, that a systematic opposition to government is un- known in every part of the civilized world, except- ing in America and in England, This does not arise from any deficiency of national feeling ; for no two nations on earth are more devoted to na- tional glory than Americans and Englishmen ; but it arises from that jealousy which intelligence and an exalted sense of liberty always produces in the governed towards their governours. Having one common origin, but no longer any common inter- est, let the citizens of the American Republic, and the subjects of the British Monarch, judge for themselves which government most consults the happiness of the people, and upon which side of the Atlantic the greatest freedom is enjoyed. Until the declaration of the last war, the energy of the American constitution had never been test- ed. Under its benign influence the people had suddenly arisen, from infancy to manhood- — from vassalage to freedom — from national penury to national wealth. Its provisions were found abun- dantly adequate for the government of a great and growing people in a state of peace. The jealousy or the fears of the framers of this inim- itable compact, had restricted the military pow- er. It permitted the Captain-general of the militia of the United States, after proper advice to call them into action, to " execute the laws of 20 INTRODUCTION. the union—suppress insurrections — and repel inva- sions ;" and even this limited power became the subject of animated discussion. At the commencement of the war, we had no- thing that gave any idea of a Standing Army* Six thousand troops dispersed over a country, half that number of miles in length and in width, presented nothing but a fractured skeleton of an ar- my. The American militia^ although perhaps the best in the world, were organized by the different states ; from the different state governments deri- yed their authority, and had different attachments and different interests. An hundred thousand of them were drafted by the national authority to hold themselves in readiness to take the field at a mo- ment's warning. But the history of modern tactics shows that the trade of war is not learned in a mo- ment. Fifty thousand Volunteers were invited to enrol themselves for the public defence ; but the amount and efficiency of this species of force de- pended upon the opinion of the people in regard to the justice of the war, and of the rectitude of the administration. Enlistments, from which alone an efficient army, for any considerable length of time be produced, were authorised. In some sec- tions of the country, the best blood in them was aroused to patriotism^ and the most distinguished citizens flew to the standard of the Republic. In others, it was considered a disgrace to aid, either INTRODUCTION. 23 by men or money, what was openly pronounced to be an " unjust, unnatural, wicked, and cruel zcar.*^ From such discordant materials, was the Ameri- can army of 1 8 1 2, and 1813, composed. Although the melancholy catalogue of disasters in the cam- paigns of those years, was occasionally gilded by achievements of resplendent glory ; yet, until the commencement of the campaign of 1814, the Ame- rican armies had added but few laurels to those acquired in the war of the revolution. A new era in the military history of America then commenced. As the gathering storm, which had, for two years, hung over what was deemed in Europe the devoted Republic of America, increased in darkness and horror, the character of the rising generation of Americans developed itself. A constellation of heroes suddenly arose and illuminated the hemis- phere of the western world. They conquered gen- erals who had become familiar with victory in the old world — secured for their country the indepen- dence acquired in the revolution, and for themselves . fame, as lasting as immortality. Major General ANDREW JACKSON, the sub- ject of the following Memoirs, deservedly holds a distinguished rank amongst the veteran officers of the American Republic, in the last war. But while almost every American is anxious to join his indi- vidual note, to the harmonious concord of applause bestowed upon this distinguished chieftain, few know 22 INTKODfcCTION. the arduous toils, the severe privations, and the ex- cessive fatigues, by which he acquired his fame. The writerwill endeavour, in amanneras perspicuous as he is able, to do it •, and from materials of unques- tionable authenticity, to present the reader, in the following volume, abrief Biography of this American Hero. If the delineations will not be so minute as they might be in a more voluminous work, it is hop- ed the prominent features of this great man's life and character, in his civil and militarj^career, will be presented in their proper light and shade. MEMOIRS OF ANDREW JACKSOK CHAPTER I. His family, birth, and early pursuits — Enters into the array of the Resolution— is captured by the British — resists an illegal order of a British officer — receives a wound, and is committed to goal — loses his sur- viving brother — his mother dies of grief — he com- pletes his literary studies. THE birth-places of statesmen, heroes, and poets, have often been subjects of histuil^^! kiVcStP" gation, and not unfrequently of warm dispute* Seven cities of Greece claimed the honour of giving birth to Homer. Thebirthofillustriousmencertainly imparts a consequence to the places of their nativity ; and oftentimes the only consequence they possess. An English cmVian will visit the birth-place of Alfred — the soldier that of Marlborough — the poet those of Shakespeare and Milton, Americans, al- though comparatively a new people^ can scarcely travel in any section of their extensive Republic, but they can point to the place where some of its great benefactors were born. The catalogue would swell the volume. Among the first Sta the world, might be mentioned the mem! 24 MEMOIRS OP Old Congress, — Among Heroes, the officers of the " Army of the Revolution." — Among Poets, & constellation of geniuses, to whom posterity will award the meed of praise. No sooner had ANDREW JACKSON began to achieve those deeds of valour which furnished a sure presage of future eminence, than Englishmen, and Scotchmen, claimed him as a native-born subject. They once claimed Gen. Washington. Irishmen omitted to assert their claim to his nativity ; but he was of Irish extraction, although born in America. His grandfather was one of the victims at the siege of Carrickfergus, in Ireland ; and all his an- cestors, being among the humbler classes of Irish- men, endured the sufferings which that ill-fated and iseH^r ^opkr J^ve long endured from some of the Irish nobility, born in the bosom of that coun- try ; and from English noblqmen sent the; . govern them. His father. Andrew Jackson, emigrated to Amer- ica with his wife and two sons in the year 1 765. Desirous that his rising family should escape from the oppression of the English government in Europe, he came to this country as an asylum^, from the rod of abused power. He landed at Charleston in the state of South Carolina, and soon after established himself at a settlement formerly called JVaxsaw, now the district of Marion. His youngest son and the subject of these Me- was born at that place upon the 15th March ANDREW JACKSOi\. Vo i 767. He began to anticipate a happy close to the evening of his days, in his own domestic circle, in a land of freedom. But before the British gov- ernment commenced the same systematic oppres- sion of their subjects in their American colonies, as they long had exercised over its subjects in Ireland, death removed him from the storm, which soon after began to hang over them. He left an unprotected wife and three young children to en- dure the buffetiings of it. He died at near the close of the year 1767. His surviving children, Hugh, Robert, and An- drew, became the objects of the tender solicitude of their mother. Having a small patrimony left them, their mother with unceasing assiduity.- en- deavoured to procure for them the rudiments of an English education. Situated in a country where she could claim connection with no human being but her three sons 5 the eldest but little advanced from infancy, and the youngest an infant, her situ- ation required the highest exercise of female forti- tude and vigilance. But having recently emigrated from a country where the few roll in splendour through life, and the many begin and end it amidst sufferings, she felt animated at the idea that she was in a country where the rod of the great, ov what is worse, the rod of the petty tyrant, could not reach her or her offspring. For a number of years, no event happened to disturb the tranquility of this venerabie matron or 3 2ti MEMOIRS OF her children. By the judicious management of a 3mall estate, she was enabled to aid her sons in the prosecution of their studies. She omitted no oppor- tunity to detail to them the tragical scenes through which their early ancestors had passed in Ireland, in the stubborn resistance they always maintained against oppression. The youthful reader of histo- ry, may be made to glow with indignation at the tales of oppression. But the most pathetic de- scription of the historian, is tameness itself when compared with the relations of those who have themselves passed through the scenes of sufferings inflicted by dying man upon dying men. The nar- rations of Mrs. Jackson, must have aroused the Jeelings^ of her sons to the highest pitch of enthu- siasm against the tyrants who had blasted the hopes, and destroyed the lives of their ancestors. She little thought, perhaps, while she was infusing into the tender bosoms of her sons the ardour of patri- otism, that she would live to see two of them fall victims in its holy cause. Hugh and Robert, not being designed for either of the learned professions, obtained no other edu- cation than what the common schools at that period afforded. Andrew, the youngest son, was, by his excellent mother, designed for the ministry. In the Waxsaw settlement, about forty miles from Camden, was established an academical institution, in which the learned fanguages, and the higher branches of education were taught. As the in- ANDREW JACKSON*. 2 i ?tructor of Andrew Jackson, if he be at this time in life, will rejoice in the celebrity of his pupil, it is but justice to remark that this academy, at the time he commenced his literary pursuits, afforded the best means of instruction in the section of the country in which he was born. The Preceptor of it was a Mr. Humphries, whose christian name is unknown to the writer. Under his tuition, the subject of these memoirs, having before enjoyed no other advantages than what the ordinary schools imparted, began the study of the classics. He here continued assiduously to pursue his studies, until the Vandal progress of the British armies, in the revolutionary war, brought them to that part of South Carolina in which the family of Jackson were situated. Mrs. Jackson once more beheld the arm of British power uplifted in wrath over her adopted country, as she had b'efore beheld it raised over the land of her nativity. The American forces were compel- led, in that section of the country, to retreat before a power which they could not then resist. Her eld- est son had before enrolled himself in the armies of 'the Republic, and lost his life in its cause at thejbat- tle of Stono. Andrew had arrived to the age of fourteen years ; and, w ith his surviving brother Rob- ert, was impelled, by the exalted sentiments of lib- erty and independence which he had learned from bis mother, to fly to the American standard. ^8 MEMOIRS OF The seanty details which are yet received of the revolutionary contest, deprives me of the pleasure of mentioning the regiment and the commander of it. in which Andrew Jackson commenced his mili- tary career at the early age of fourteen. Suffice it to say, that at that age, with his only brother, Rob- ert, he entered into the American service ; prepar- ed, if such were the decrees of fate, to follow their elder brother into eternity in resisting tyrannical power. Effectual resistance, at that period, was impossible ; and the slender forces of America, in S. Carolina, were compelled to retire before the formidable power of lord Cornwallis into the interi- or of JV. Carolina* This confident representative of British power, finding no force at that time to resist him, left the country — leaving behind him the wide-spread tracks of desolation in every part of it. The once tranquil and happy settlers of Wax saw returned to a place which was once a home. The deep marks of British rapacity were visible in every part of the settlement ; and the effects of Vandal warfare were every where to be seen. Lord Rawdon was in possession of Camden, and no' sooner learned that the dispersed inhabitants of Wax saw were again returned, than he availed him- self of the assistance of American tories to complete their extirmination. A British major, by the name of Coffin, was the commander of this expedition. The inhabitants, who might all be said to belong to ANDREW JACKSON. 29 the forlorn hope, determined to make at least a shew of resistance. They assembled at the Waxsaw meeting-house, to which was attached the academy of Mr. Humphries, in which Andrew Jackson had devoted himself to literature. Here they awaited the augmentation of their force by the arrival of their friends, and the expected approach of the ene- my. The hopes of this resolute and patriotic band of American heroes were elated at the distant ap- proach of a body of citizens. At this period, the American troops could hardly be said to have had an uniform ; but the well known insignia of the British troops enabled the people to designate them at sight. While the little phalanx of Waxsaw, expected to be joined by their friends, what was their astonish- ment when they found themselves surrounded by a ferocious clan of American tories, covered at a little distance by British dragoons ? The conquest was an easy one — resistance would have been des- peration. — Eleven of the Americans were captur- ed, and the rest, among whom were Andrew Jackson and his brother, escaped, and concealed themselves in the adjoining forests. Although this is no place for reflections, yet no opportunity should be unimproved to express the ineffable contempt and utter detestation in which the tories, in the revolutionary struggle, ought for ever to be holden. Had they merely joined the ' British standard through fear of its power, they might at least have been entitled texpect to effect by marching to their encampment ; and because if it was proper to contend with and weaken their forces still farther, this object would be more certainly attained, by commencing a return, which having to them the appearance of a retreat, would inspirit them to pursue me. Not prudent — because of the number of my wounded 5 of the reinforcements from below, which the enemy might be expected to receive ; of the starving condition of my horses, they having had neither corn nor cane for two days and nights ; of the scarcity of supplies for my men, the Indians who joined me at Talladega having, drawn none, and being wholly destitute ; and be- cause, if the enemy pursued me, as it was likely they would, the diversion in favour of Gen. Floyd would be the more complete and effectual. Influ- enced by these considerations, I commenced my re- turn march, at half after ten on the 23d, and was for- tunate enongh to reach Enotachopco before nighty having passed without interruption, a dangerous lib MEMOIRS OF defile occasioned by a hurricane. I again fortified my camp, and having another defile to pass in the morning, across a deep creek, and between two hills, which I had viewed with attention as I passed on, and where I expected I might be attacked, I deter- mined to pass it at another point, and gave directions to my guide and fatigue men accordingly. My ex- pectation of an attack in the morning was increased by the signs of the night, and with it my caution. Before I moved the wounded from the interiour of my camp, I had my front and rear guards formed, as well as my right and left columns, and moved off my centre in regular order, leading down a hand- some ridge to Enotachopco creek, at a point where i t was clear of reed, except immediately on its margin. I had previously issued a general order, pointing out the manner in which the men should be formed in the event of an attack on the front or rear, or on the flanks, and had particularly cautioned the offi- cers, to halt and form accordingly, the instant the word should be given. The front guard had crossed with part of the flank columns, the wounded were over, and the ar- tillery in the act of entering the creek, when an alarm gun was heard in the rear. I heard it without surprise, and even with pleasure, calculating with the utmost confidence on the firmness of my troops, from the manner in which I had seen them act i the 22d. I had placed Col. Carroll at the head of the centre column of the rear guard : its r : ANDREW JACKSQiN. i J * lumn was commanded by Col. Perkins, and its left by Col. Stump. Having chosen the ground, I ex- pected there to have entirely cut off the enemy, by wheeling the right and left columns on their pivot, recrossing the creek above and below, and falling in upon their flanks and rear. But to my astonish- ment and mortification, when the word was -gi- ven by Col. Carroll to halt and form, and a few guns had been fired, I beheld the right and left columns of the rear guard precipitately give way. This shameful retreat was disastrous in the ex- treme ; it drew along with it the greater part of the centre column, leaving not more than 25 men, who being formed by Col. Carroll, maintained their ground as long as it was possible to maintain it, and it brought consternation and confusion into the cen- tre of the army, a consternation which was not easily removed, and a confusion which could not be soon restored to order. There was then left to repulse the enemy, the few who remained of the rear guard, the artillery company, and Capt. Russell's company of spies. They however, realized, and exceeded my highest expectations. Lieut. Armstrong, who commanded the artillery company in the absence of Capt. Deaderick, (confined by sickness,") ordered them to form and advance to the top of the hill, whilst he and a few others dragged up the six poun- der. Never was more bravery displayed than on this occasion. Amidst the most galling fire from the enemy, more than ten times their number, the* 118 MEMOIRS OF ascended the hill, and maintained their position un- til their piece was hauled up, when, having levelled it, they poured upon the enemy a fire of grape, reloaded and fired again, charged and repulsed them. The most deliberate bravery was displayed by Constantine Perkins and Craven Jackson, of the artillery, acting as gunners. In the hurry of the moment, in separating the gun from the limbers, the rammer and picker of the cannon was left tied to the limber. No sooner was this discovered, than Jackson, amidst the galling fire of the enemy, pulled out the ramrod of his musket a>^d used it as a picker ; primed with a cartridge and fired the cannon. Perkins having pulled off his bayonet, , used his musket as a rammer, drove down the car- tridge 5 and Jackson using his former plan, again discharged her. The brave Lieut. Armstrong, just after the first fire of the cannon, with Capt. Hamilton, of E. Tennessee, Bradford and M'Ga- yock, all fell, the Lieut, exclaiming as he lay, ;i my brave fellows, some of you may fall, but you must save the cannon," About this time, a number crossed the creek and entered into the chase. The brave Capt. Gordon of the spies, who rushed from the front, endeavoured to turn the flank of the en- emy, in which he partially succeeded, and Col. Carroll, Col. Higgins, and Capt. Elliot and Pipkins, pursued the enemy for more than two miles, who fled in consternation, throwing away their pack?; ANDREW JACKSOft. 119 and leaving 26 of their warriors dead on the field. This last defeat was decisive, and we were no more disturbed by their yells, I should do injustice to my feelings if I omitted to mention that the venera- ble Judge Cocke, at the age of 65, entered into engagement, continued the pursuit of the enemy with youthful ardour, and saved the life of a fellow soldier by killing his savage antagonist. Our loss in this affair was — killed and wounded, among the former was the brave Capt. Hamilton from E. Tennessee, who had with his aged father and tw r o others of his company, after the period of his engagement had expired, volunteered his servi- ces for this excursion, and attached himself to the artillery company. No man ever fought more bravely or fell more gloriously ; and by his side fell with equal bravery and glory, Bird Evans of the same company. Capt. Quaries, who command- ed the centre column of the rear guard, preferring death to the abandonment of his post, having ta- ken a firm stand in which he was followed by 25 of his men, received a wound in his head of which he has since died. In these several engagements, our logs was 20 killed and 15 wounded, 4 of whom have since died. -The loss of the enemy cannot be accurate]} ascer- tained ; 189 of their warriors were found d buttb f a ]l considerably short of the number ' really killer!. Their wounded can only be 2 at. MEMOIRS OF Had it not been for the unfortunate retreat of the rear guard in the affair of the 24th inst, I think I could safely have said, that no army of militia ever acted with more cool and deliberate bravery ; un- disciplined and inexperienced as they were, their conduct in the several engagements of the 22d, could not have been surpassed by regulars. No men ever met the approach of an enemy with more intrepidi- ty, or repulsed them with more energy. On the 24th, after the retreat of the rear guard, they seem- ed to have lest all their collectedness, and were more difficult to be restored to order, than any troops I had ever seen. But this was no doubt, ow- ing in a great measure, or altogether, to that very retreat, and ought rather to be ascribed to the want of co duct in many of their officers, than any cow- ardice in the men, who, on every occasion, have manifested a willingness to perform their duty, so as they knew it. All the effects which were designed to be produ- ced by this excursion, it is believed have been produced. If an attack was meditated against Fort Armstrong, that has been prevented. If Gen. Floyd is operating on the east side of the Talapoo- ga, as I suppose him to be, a most fortunate di- version has been made in his favour. The number of the enemy has been diminished, and the confi- dence they may have derived from the delays I have been made to experience, has been destroyed. Discontent has been kept out of my army, while 4NDREW JACKSON 121 the troops who would have been exposed to it, have been beneficially employed. The enemy's coun- try has been* explored, and a road cut to the point where their force .will probably be concentrated, when they shall be driven from the country below. But in a report of this kind, and to you, who will immediately perceive them, it is not necessary to state the happy consequences which may be ex- pected to result from this excursion. Unless I am greatly mistaken, it will be found to have hastened the termination of the Creek war, more effectually than any measure I could have taken with the troops under my command. 1 am, Sir, with sentiments of high respect, Your Obedient Servant, ANDREW JACKSON, Maj. Gen. When it is considered what troops Gen. Jackson had to command, and what enemies he had to fight, the two victories at Emuckfau, on the 2 2d, and the signal one of Enotachopco, on the 24th, will bear a comparison with any in modern warfare. The liberal applause the general bestows upon the brave, and the excuse he finds for those whose u retreat ought rather to be ascribed to the want of conduct in many of their officers, than to any cowardice in the men," must endear him forever to the soldier* The "venerable Judge Cocke," (who survived,) and "the brave Lieut Jlumstrong," and Capts. Hamilton and Quarles, (who all fell,) are placed, by the ge»~ eral's report, upon the rolls of fame. 11 122 MEMOIRS OF CHAPTER IX. Gen. Jackson prepares for a new expedition — receives an account of the victory at Chatahouckee— adopts a new mode to obtain supplies — Army Contractor- — Energetic measures — Great victory at Tohopeka — Savage warfare — British and Spanish emissaries. THE solicitude evinced by Gen. Jackson, in his report incorporated in the last chapter, for the safety, security, and success of Gen. Floyd, could not have escaped the attention of the reader. It must have been greatly diminished by the signal victories he therein so perspicuously describes ; but this did not induce him to remit any of his cus- tomary vigilance, or to omit any measure necessary to secure the advantage he had gained. He had u scotched the snake — not killed him." Gen. Jackson had now with him, his beloved associates, Brig. Gen. Coffee, Col. Dyer, Col. Carroll, Maj. Reid, (his aid.) and many other ac- complished and patriotic officers. The disaffected officers had either retired to that obscurity which was their only safety, or remained envious specta- tors of that excellence which they could not reach, and detractors of those great men, whose gallant exploits they had not the courage to achieve. He had a band of new volunteers, who had suddenly become veterans, and familiarized with victory. But still his force was inadequate to the complete accomplishment of his primary object — the effectu- ANDREW JACKSON, 123 al subjugation of the Creeks. He knew that the government of the American Republic had invio- lably regarded all treaties made, and performed every stipulation entered into with them. He knew, and he lamented, the infatuation under which they acted, and regreted that a race of be- ings, possessing the most exalted courage, should become victims in subserving the cause of the British and Spanish monarchs. But his duty to his country was, with him, paramount to every other consideration ; and he was resolved, as long as the last glimmer of hope remained unextinguish- ed, not to despair of the commonwealth. After the victories of the 22d and 24th, he and his officers, were incessantly engaged in disciplin- ing the forces with them, and incorporating into the little army, such recruits as arrived. These duties were entirely different, from those belonging to officers in the regular army, at a well appointed cantonment. There, the commanding and subor- dinate officers have specific duties to perform : and the soldiers, so far from thinking of disobedience, or plotting mutinies, scarcely utter a complaint. Gen. Jackson had never yet commanded such a body of men, in such a situation. His subordinate officers had been his companions, and his volun- teers had been his fellow citizens. He had de- pended more upon the weight^of his character, and his devotion to the service, than upon military authority, to accomplish what he had done. He 124 MEMOIRS OF i i, in many instances, found that the most urgent entreaties, aod the most energetic remonstrances, were ineffectual, and was now resolved to exercise Ihe authority which was vested in him. While he was exerting every faculty which na- tive energ) and military authority, enabled him to call into operation, to prepare for more important measures, he was highly gratified at receiving the most favourable intelligence from the Georgia for- ces under Brig. Gen. Floyd. That officer was stationed, with his troops, at Camp Defiance, fifty miles west of Chatahouchee. Upon the 27th January, he was assailed very early, by a numerous horde of savages. The sentinels Were suddenly driven in, and a most desperate Attack was commenced upon the lines. Gen. Fioyd thus describes the engagement. " The steady firmness and incessant fire of Capt. Thomas' artillery, and Capt. Adams' riflemen, pre- served our front line : both of these suffered greatly. The enemy rushed within 30 yards of the artillery, and Capt. Broadnax, who commanded one of the picket guards, maintained his post with great brave- ry, until the enemy gained his rear, and then cut his way through them to the army. On this occasion, Timpoochie Barnuel, a half breed, at the head of the Uchies, distinguished himself, and contributed to the retreat of the picket guard : the other friendly In- dians took refuge within our lines and remained in- active, with the exception of a few who joined ou? ANDREW JACKSON. 125 ranks. So soon as it became light enough to dis- tinguish objects, I ordered Majors Watson's and Freeman's battalions, to wheel up at right angles, with Majors Booth's and Cleveland's battalions, (who formed the right wing,) to prepare for the charge. Capt. Duke Hamilton's cavalry, (who had reached me but the day before,) was ordered to form in the rear of the right wing, to act as cir- cumstances should dictate. The order for the charge was promptly obeyed, and the enemy fled in every direction before the bayonet. The signal was given for the charge of the cavalry, who pursued, and sabred 15 of the enemy ; who left 37 dead on the field. From the effusion of blood, and the num- ber of head-dresses and war-clubs found in various directions, their loss must have been considerable, independent of the wounded. I directed the friendly Indians, w T ith Merriweth- er's and Ford's rifle companies, accompanied by Capt. Hamilton's troop, to pursue them through Callibee Swamp, where they were trailed by their blood, but succeeded in overtaking but one of their wounded. Col. Newnan received three bails in the com- mencement of the action, which deprived me of the services of that gallant and useful officer. The as- sistant Adjt. Gen. Narden, was indefatigable in the discharge of his duty, and rendered important servi- ces : his horse was wounded under him. The whole ef the staffwas \> rompt, and di scharged their duty with 11* 126 MEMOIRS OF courage and fidelity : their vigilance, the intrepidi- ty of the officers, and the firmness of the men, meet my approbation, and deserve the praise of their country. 1 have to regret the death of many of my brave fellows, who have found honourable graves in the voluntary support of their country. My aid-de-camp, in executing my orders, had his horse killed under him. Gen. Lee and Maj. Pace, who acted as additional aids, rendered me essential services, with honour to themselves, and usefulness to the cause in which they have embarked. Four waggon, and several other horses were killed, and two of the artillery horses wounded. While I deplore the losses sustained .on this occasion, I have the consolation to know, that the men who I have the honour to command, have done their duty." The loss of the Americans in this battle, was 17 killed, and 132 wounded. Gen. Jackson found that one great object of his last brilliant expedition, was effected — the relief of the Georgia militia. It was now the first of February, 1814. Gen. Jackson's forces were at Fort Strother, where, al- though in no immediate danger of famine, there was by no means a supply for any length of time. Gen. Jackson, ever since he had commanded the army in the Creek country, had had his attention diverted from the great object of a general — the organization of his army — the introduction pf cor- rect discipline, and preparation for active service* ANDREW JACKSON, 1&7 Indeed, he had to perform the duty of Commis- sary, Quarter-master, and Commander. Wash- ington was often in this situation in the war of the Revolution. He could find an excuse for his coun- trymen, in the then destitute state of the country : but for the contractors for the southern army in 1814, there was no excuse. In a country abound- ing in beeves, swine, and bread stuffs, an army had often been driven to mutiny and desertion through the apprehension of want. There is, probably, not an officer in the American service, but who will con- demn the mode of supplying an army by contrac- tors. They make the best terms they can with the government for themselves ; the hardest pos- sible terms for the seller of provisions, and often furnish the war-worn veteran with rations deficient in quantity, and miserable in quality. They think of nothing but gaining a fortune, while the gallant soldiers who are suffering by their frauds, and fam- ishing by their avarice, are gaining victories for their country. Gen. Jackson, who may emphatically be called the Soldier's Patron, had suffered too much, with his brave soldiers, for longer endurance. He sup- plied his army by his own agents, leaving the con- tractors to pay the expence. When no longer any cause existed for complaints in his camp, he silenc- ed them. He caused a mutineer to be tried by a court martial ; and when condemned to die, he approved of the sentence, and he suffered death. He ordered every officer to be arrested within fci* 128 MEM0IR3 OF command, who should be found exciting mutiny or disobedience. He knew that a crisis had arrived when a great blow must be struck, or the expedi- tion abandoned. The Creeks had assembled in very great force at the bend of the Tallapoosa, at a place called by the savages, * Tohopeka — by the Americans, The Horse Shoe. At this place, the most desperate resistance, was expected ; and every measure, within the limited means of Gen. Jackson, was re- sorted to, to meet it. The 39th Regiment U. S. infantry, under the command of "the intrepid and skilful Col. Williams^ had been ordered to join the army u:\der Gen. Jackson. It did not exceed 600 men. By the middle of March, his whole force amounted to be- tween 3, and 4000. He then commenced his march. Upon the 21st, he established a fort at the mouth of Cedar Creek, and named it Fort Williams. Leading a sufficient force to protect it, he renewed his march upon the 24th. Upon the 27th, a day which will be remembered in the traditional annals of the brave, the infatuated, the blood-thirsty Creeks, until they become extinct, Gen. Jackson and his army reached Tohopeka. The events of that day, are thus briefly detailed by the commander. Battle Ground, bend of Talapoosa, 28thMarch* 1814. Maj. Gen. Pinckney : — Sir— I feel particularly happy in being able to communicate to y.^ou, the fortunate eventuation of 1NDREW JACKSON. 129 my expedition to the Talapoosa. I reached the head, near the Emuckfau, called by the whites the Horse Shoe, about ten o'clock, on the forenoon of yesterday, where I found the strength of the neigh- bouring towns collected. Expecting our approach, they had gathered in from Oakfuskie, Oakehoga, New Yorcau, Hillibees, the Fish Pond, and Eufau- lee towns, to the number, it is said, of 1000. It is difficult to conceive a situation more eligible for defence than the one they had chosen, or one ren- dered more secure by the skill with which they had erected their breast-work. It was from 5 to 8 feet high, and extended across the point in such a direction, as that a force approaching it would be exposed to a double fire, while they lay in perfect security behind. A cannon planted atone extre- mity could have raked it to no advantage. Determining to exterminate them, I detached Gen. Coffee with the mounted men, and nearly the whole of the Indian force, early on the morning of yesterday, to cross the river about two miles below their encampment, and to surround the bend in such a manner, as that none of them should escape by attempting to cross the river. With the infantry, I proceeded slowly and in order, along the point of land which led to the front of their breast- work ; having planted my cannon, one 6 and one 3 pounder, on an eminence at the distance of 150 to 200 yards from it, I opened a very brisk fire, playing upon fche enemv with the muskets and rifles whenever 130 MEMOIRS OP they shewed themselves beyond it. This was kept up with short interruptions for about 2 hours, when a part of the Indian force, and Capt. Russell's and Lieut. Bean's companies of spies, who had accom- panied Gen. Coffee, crossed over in canoes to the extremity of the bend, and set fire to a few of the buildings which were there situated ; they then advanced With great gallantry towards the breast- work, and commenced a spirited fire upon the en- emy behind it. Finding that his force, notwithstanding the brave- ry they displayed, was wholly insufficient to dis- lodge them, and that Gen. Coffee had entirely secured the opposite bank of the river, I now deter- mined to take it by storm. The men by whom this w T as to be effected, had been waiting with impatience to receive the order, and hailed it with acclamation. The spirit which animated them, was a sure augury of the success which was to follow. The history of warfare, I think furnishes few instances of a more brilliant attack. The regulars, led on by their intrepid and skilful commander, CoU Williams, and by the gallant Maj. Montgomery, soon gained pos- session of the works, in the midst of a most tre- mendous fire from behind them ; and the militia of the venerable Gen. Doherty's brigade, accompa- nied them in the charge with a vivacity and firmness which would have done honour to regulars. The enemy were completely routed. Five hundred and fifty-seven were left dead on the peninsula, ANDREW JACKSON, 131 and a great number were killed by the horsemen in attempting to cross the river : it is believed that not more than 20 have escaped. The fighting continued with some severity about 5 hours, but we continued to destroy many of them who had concealed themselves under the banks of the river, until we were prevented by the night. This morning we killed 16 who had been conceal- ed. We took about 250 prisoners, all women and children, except two or three. Our loss is 160 wounded, and 25 killed. Maj. M'Intosh, (the Cow- etau,) who joined my army with apart of his tribe, greatly distinguished himself. When I get an hour's leisure, I will send you a more detailed account. According to my original purpose, I commenced my return march to Fort Williams to-day, and shall, if I find sufficient supplies there, hasten to the Hickory Ground. The power of the Creeks is, I think, forever broken. I send you a hasty sketch, taken by the eye, of the situation on which the enemy were encamped, and of the manner in which 1 approached them. I have the honour to be, Lc. ANDREW JACKSON, Maj. Gen. Maj. Gen. Pinckaey. The loss of the Americans, added to the whole loss of the friendly Indians, was 54 killed, and 156 wounded. In communicating the result of this victory, with- out a parallel, to the War Department, Gen. Pinck- J 32 MEMOIRS OF ney elegantly and impressively observes, — " While the sigh of humanity will escape, for this profuse effusion of human blood, which results from the savage principle of our enemy, neither to give nor accept quarter ; and while every American will deeply lament the loss of our meritorious fellow soldiers who have fallen in this contest, we have ample cause of gratitude to the giver of all victory, for thus continuing his protection to our women and children, who would otherwise be exposed to the indiscriminate havock of the tomahawk, and all the horrors of savage warfare." The aged soldier, who has been familiarized through life with civilized warfare, can form but an imperfect idea of war, as carried on by savages. Those who have passed their lives in the tranquil scenes of civil life, are still more incompetent to form a conception of its horrours. We can read its history and weep •, but were we to witness its tra- gical scenes, even tears wouid be stopped, by the ghastly and appalling forms, in which death is pre- sented to the view of its victims. The writer has seen nothing of savage warfare, and but little of savage life in a state ui 'peace;;* but he can yet al- most realize its horrors from impressions, never to be eradicated, made upcjrt his mind in the earliest stages of life. His. ve;igi?ated grandfather, Israel Putn * m, " seamed xvith many a scarf* by the ki and tomahawks o{ savages, as he was treading the tast steps that earned him to his tomb, related to ANDREW JACKSON. 13o his listening grand-children, the tortures he had borne from savages, and his " hair-breadth ^scapes" from savage death. His accomplished Aid-de- camp, Gen. Humphrey, has left them upon the page of Biography.* The severity of Gen. Jackson with the Creeks, has been a subject of severe animadversion with many who sympathize with savages, but who can readily forget the indiscriminate slaughter at. Ten- saw* Let such remember that at Fort Mimms, in that settlement, the unoffending citizen was con- sumed by tire — his beseeching wife and helpless children were, by the same tomahawk, in the same moment, inhumanly murdered. And to make them withdraw their ill-placed sympathy, let them re- member that the fate which there swallowed up the whole of the citizens, and the whole of their defenders, was declared to be the destiny of every American, within the reach of savage vengeance. Whatever injustice the Aborigines of America may have endured from Europeans in the early set- tlements of North America, they have no cause of complaint against the present generation of Anglo- Americans, who aie citizens of the United States, nor against the government of the American Re- public. Mildness has marked the policy of indi- viduals in their intercourse with the natives, and lenity and justice has characterized every measure of the American administrations in regard to them, * Vide Humphrey's Life of Putnam, pages 67,68, 69, 72. 12 134 MEMOIRS OF from the commencement of the government under the sainted Washington, to this period. While the state has protected them in the enjoyment of their temporal rights, the church has, with unceas- ing exertions, endeavoured to convert them to Christianity. But every measure to introduce among them the arts of civilized life and the benign influence of Christianity, u to soothe the savage breast ft has been thwarted by the poisonous influence of British and Spanish emissaries. Upon them, let a double por- tion of indignation be poured, as the guilty causes of the miseries inflicted by savages upon Ameri- cans, "and of the almost total extinction of the In- dians by the arm of power. Indubitable testimony will support the assertion, that every Indian war in North America, from the Treaty of Peace in 1783, to this period, has been occasioned by for- eign emissaries. Although the British govern- ment was compelled to acknowledge the Indepen- dence of the American Republic, it has always endeavoured to check its rising greatness. They still hope to subjugate it to their dominion, by the power of their navy upon the seaboard, and of their savage allies upon the frontiers. It would be a handsome accession to the power of the " le- gitimate sovereigns 5 ' of Europe, to behold George III. (or IV.) wielding the sceptre of power over North, and Ferdinand VII. over South America. ANDREW JACKSON. 1 3£ CHAPTER X, Conclusion of Creek War — Return of Gen. Jackson and Volunteers — their reception, and separation — Gen. Jackson is appoint* d Brig. Gen, in U. S. army — also a Commissioner to treat with Creek Indians — concludes a treaty — Foreign emissaries — Indian Eloquence — Speech of Wit her ford— -of Big \Varrior — of Tecumseh, and his death. HAVING accomplished the object of the ex* pedition to the Tallapoosa, by the victory at Toko* peka, Gen, Jackson returned with his army to Fort; Williams, about the 1st of April. Incessant fa* tigue, and arduous duty, had retarded the recovery of his health, and reduced him almost to a skele- ton ; but the animation he felt at having effected, in a few months, what, from every former prospect, would have been supposed to need the exertion of years, made him forget his debility ; and his mind arose in majesty, as his body was emaciated by toil* Proud of the title, " Commander of Tennessee Vol- unteers," he rejoiced that they had retrieved the reputation they had recently tarnished, by mutiny and disaffection. His object now was to form a junction with the forces of the state of Georgia, and either complete the extermination of the Creeks, or compel them to bury the tomahawk, and sue for peace. The Hil- labees, a clan of them, for reasons before mentioned, were the last to supplicate for mercy. The attack (36 MEMOIRS OF made upon them on the 18th November, 1813, by Gen. White, when they were urgent to make peace with Gen. Jackson, rendered them desperate. The remnants of all the tribes had assemled at Hothlezoalee, in the Hickory Ground. Gen. Jack- son, with his forces, went in pursuit of them. But despair had now succeeded to fury, and the savages dispersed. The general prosecuted his march to the Hickory, Ground, and, on or about the 1 5th April, established a fort upon the Coosa, near its confluence with the Tallapoosa, which was named Fort Jackson. This completed a line of posts through Tennessee, Georgia, and the Alabama Ter- ritory. The Georgia forces had formed a junction with the countering general ; and, upon the 20th April, Maj. Gen. Pinckney commander in chief of Mili- tary Districts No. 6 and 7, arrived at Fort Jackson* and assumed the command of the whole forces in the Creek country. Gen. Pinckney invited Gen. Jackson to his head quarters, where a splendid en- tertainment had been prepared. This emaciated and war-worn veteran, with some of his principal officers, partook of it with the Commander in Chief. To reciprocate the civility, the Conqueror of the Creeks, incited the Commander to dine with him at his marquee the next day. The simple, diet that had sustained him and his gallant associates for months, was the bill of fare. It called to mind gloo- my and proud recollections — the dish of rice, and ANDREW JACKSON. 137 draught of whisky, had supported them in times of peril — they were now enjoyed in safety. Never, since the discovery of America, did an American officer leave the command of an army, to his superiour officer, under circumstances more auspicious, than did Maj. Gen. Jackson, of Ten- nessee Volunteers, to Maj. Gen. Pinckney of the U. S. army. He assumed the command of the troops, only to disband them. Their work was done, and well done. Gen. Jackson, for a number of weeks previous, had moved with his army, with the cele- rity of lightning, and like that, had prostrated eve- ry thing that opposed them. He might have said, with Caezar, " Veni, vidi, vici" — I came — I saw r — I conquered ! The panic-struck savages, who had been led by the wild incantations of their prophets, and the more guilty encouragement of foreign emissaries, to spread devastation, havock, carnage, and death, among the unoffending American settlers, humbly prostrated themselves before their conquerors, and begged for that sparing mercy, which it had been enjoined upon them never to extend. Fearing to raise a hand against a white man, these infatuated daemons of the forest, preyed upon each other ; and seemed to delight in bearing and inflict- ing tortures. The Creeks massacred every one of their tribe who were known to have attacked Fort Mimms. Upon the 21st, the next day after Gen. Pinckney assumed the command 3 he ordered the Tennessee 138 MEMOIRS OF- troops to be marched home, and discharged 5 re- taining, however, sufficient to garrison the establish- ed posts. Gen. Jackson immediately took mea- sures to comply with the order. The following is Gen. Jackson's last communica- tion, as an officer in the military forces of Ten- nessee. Fort Williams, April 25th, at night. Sir — Gen. Pinckney joined me at Fort Jackson on the 20th. The enemy continuing to come in from every quarter, and it being now evident that [he war was over, I received an order at 3 o'clock, P. M. on the 21st, to march my troops back to Fort Williams, and after having dispersed any bodies of the enemy who may have assembled on the Cahawba, or within striking distance, and provided for the maintenance of posts between Tennessee and Fort Jackson, to discharge the remaioder. Within two hours after receiving this order, I was on the line of march : and reached this place last evening, a distance of about sixty miles. To Brig. Gen. Doherty, I shall assign the duty of keeping up the posts, which form the line Oi com- munication between Tennessee and the confluence of the Coosa and Tallapoosa, making the necessary arrangements to enable him to do so. About 400 of the E. Tennessee militia, will be left at this place, 250 at Fort Strother, and 75 at Fort Armstrong and New Deposit. Old Deposit will be maintained by Capt. Hammond's company of rangers. ANDREW JACKSON. 139 To-morrow I detail 500 of the militia under the command of Brig. Gen. Johnson, to the Cahawba, with instructions to unite with me at Fort Deposit, after having dispersed any bodies of the enemy they may find there assembled. The commissioners who have been appointed to make a treaty with the Creeks, need have nothing to do but assign them their proper limits. Those of the friendly party, who have associated with me, will be easily satisfied ; and those of the hostile party, they consider it a favour that their lives have been spared them, and will look upon any space that may be allowed them, for their future settlement, as a bounteous donation. I have taken the liberty to point out what I think ought to be the future line of separation, with which I will hereafter make you acquainted. If they should be established, none of the Creeks will be left on the west of the Coosa. Accompanying this, I send you a report made by the Adjutant-General, of the killed and wounded, at the battle of Tohopeka, which was omitted to be sent by the former express. I have the honour to be, &c. ANDREW JACKSON. His Excellency Gov. W. Blount. At the expiration of a few days, he commenced a return march to his home, after an absence of eight months. If the sense of obligation bears 140 MEMOIRS OF any proportion to the benefits received, it may well be concluded that the people of Tennessee and Mississippi, must have been deeply impressed with the obligations of gratitude, to Gen. Jackson and his gallant Volunteers. For twenty years, the fron- tier settlers had lived in a state of insecurity ; and since the commencement of the second war be- tween the American Republic and the kingdom of Great Britain, in the most alarming apprehensions. Their danger was now removed, and their safety Was secured. The spontaneous bursts of admira- tion and applause that were every where uttered, was more grateful to the feelings of Gen. Jackson, than all the studied encomiums that could be be- stowed. Upon reaching Camp Blount, at Fayetteville, (Tenn.) the bond of union, which had been ce- mented by common danger, and common toils* between the general and the volunteers, was dis- solved. Having learned and discharged the duty of' veteran soldiers, they now reverted back to industrious citizens ; ready, at no distant period, to follow their beloved chief, to conquer a civilized, as they already had done, a barbarous foe. While tears of pungent grief were shed at the recollection of their brave associates, who were left to moulder in the graves of the wilderness, those of exquisite joy flowed at the safety of their fathers, and the secu- rity of their homes. Gen. Jackson, having very much exceeded th<* ANDREW JACKSON. 141 time for which he volunteered his service, and having accomplished vastly more than the most sanguine expectations could have anticipated, was about to retire to the repose of private life, which his debilitated state of health imperiously demand- ed. But the portentous clouds of war which were constantly augmenting upon the southern borders of the Republic, rendered his services, if possible, more necessary than they had already been. About the 1st June, 1814, he was appointed a Brigadier General in the army of the United States. Before he was called upon to commence his mili- tary career in his new capacity, he was appointed a commissioner, to secure by negociation, what he had already acquired by arms. To make a treaty, however, with Indians, can hardly be called negociation, as it is considered among civilized powers. The law of nations, which requires " good faith" between the contracting parties, is a code not recognized by American sav- ages. It is rather a contract of bargain and sale, with a penalty annexed for breach of covenants. Col. Hawkins, who was appointed Indian Agent b\ Gen. Washington, and who has been in the agency ever since, was associated with Gen. Jackson m this mission. By the American forces, a complete conquest had been made of the whole Creek country ; and this conquest had been occasioned by flagrant breaches of treaty, and outrageous violations o{ 142 MEMOIRS OF humanity by the Creeks. Had the American gov* ernment felt the cupidity, or exercised the power which the larger kingdoms of Europe manifest toward the smaller' ones, the Creeks must either have fled from their country, or been reduced to vassalage, and their country itself would have been annexed to the Republic. But its existence com- menced upon the broad principles of national and individual justice, and in the progress of its gov- ernment, it has never deviated from them. The object of Gen. Jackson and the other com- missioners, was not so much to obtain i\ew territory, as to secure the acknowledged territory of the Republic, from the future depredations of Indian hostility. Upon the 10th August, 1814, a Treaty was executed, which is before the public. It cut off the savages from all communication with the perpetual disturbers of our tranquillity, and secured to the government such privileges in their country, as will hereafter place the frontiers out of danger from the Creeks. It will be seen in the sequel, what measures were adopted by the government and Gen. Jack- son, to secure our country against other powerful tribes, who were incited by our arch and implaca- ble enemies, to raise the tomahawk against our countrymen, as they had already induced the un- fortunate Creeks to do. Having often been obliged, from the nature of the subject, to allude to the unjustifiable and ANDREW JACKSON. 143 reprehensible conduct, of British and Spanish emissaries, I am confident the reader will be gratified, in seeing the evidence furnished by the savages themselves. In presenting this evi- dence, I furnish at the same time specimens of Indian Eloquence, which have never been equalled, unless by the speech of Logan, as found in Jeffer- son's Notes on Virginia. The first I offer, is the speech of the ferocious Witherford, previously mentioned. His surrender to Gen. Jackson, re- minds the historian of Coriolanus and Avfidius — of ThemistGcles and a Persian king. Magnanimity in each, overcame vengeance. WITHERFORD's SPEECH TO GENERAL JACKSON. " I am in your power — do with me as you please. I am a soldier. I have done the white people all the harm I could ; I have faught them, and faught them bravely : If I had an army, I would yet fight, and contend to the last : but 1 have none ; my peo- ple are all gone. I can now do no more than weep over the misfortunes of my nation. Once I cou.d animate my warriors to battle; but I cannot ani- mate the dead. My warriors can no ionger hear my voice : their bones are at Talladega, Tailus- hatches, Emuckfau, and Tohopeka. I have not sur- rendered myself thoughtlessly. Whilst there were chances of success, I never left my post, nor sup- plicated peace. Eut my people are gone, and I now ask it for my nation, and for myself. On the 144 MEMOIRS OF miseries and misfortunes brought upon my country, t look back with deepest sorrow, and wish to avert still greater calamities. If I had been left to con- tend with the Georgia army, I would have raised my corn on one bank of the river, and fought them on the other ; but your people have destroyed my nation. You are a brav e man — I rely upon your generosity. You will exact no terms of a conquer- ed people, but such as thty shouid accede to : whatever they may be, it would now be madness and folly to oppose. If they are opposed, you shall find me amongst the sternest enforcers of obedience. Those who would still hold out, can be influenced only by a mean spirit of revenge : and to this they must not, and shall not sacrifice the last remnant of their country. You have told us where we might go, and be safe. This is a good talk, and my nation ought to listen to it. They shall listen to it." The second evidence, is the speech of " The Big Warrior ," before Gen. Jackson, Col. Hawkins, &c. It is with all the pleasure of delight, that I incorpo- rate this eloquent appeal to the magnanimity of our government, into this work. While it eulogizes the memory of our immortal political sa\iour, G eorge Washington, it also places Mr. Madison, in the most exalted station — the protector of the weak. It also repels the many insinuations which have been made against the long tried and faithful In- dian agent, Col. Hawkins. It is but an ill recjuifc- ANDREW JAGRSON. 14b al for the long seclusion in which the Agent has lived ; and the pacific and salutary policy which he has pursued in the Creek agency, to have it hinted, a that his agency had lasted too long to hope that he would steadily pursue that course which the safe- ty and interest of the country required.^ But such is the fate of public functionaries in our Republic. James Monroe, and Andrew Jackson, than whom, more devoted patriots were never enrolled upon the records of worth, have shared in public oblo- quy, as well as in public applause. Even this is not without its benefits. Jealousy is the shieid of freedom, and results from the solicitude Americans feel for their sacred rights and liberties. These censures serve the same purpose in our Republic, as the dust that was, by order, cast by lictors upon the heads of the returning conquerors of the Ro- man Republic, when they were passing under tri- umphal arches. BIG WXRRIOR's SPEECH TO THE AMERICAN COMMISSIONERS. " THE President, our father, advises us to hon- esty and fairness, and promises that justice shail be done ; I hope and trust it will be ! I made this war, which has proved so fatal to my country, that the treaty entered into, a long time ago, with father Washington, might not be broken. To his friend- ly arm I hold fast. I will never break that chain of friendship we made together, and which bound us to stand to the United States. He was a father 18 146 MEMOIRS OF to the Muscoga people ; and not only to them, but to all the people beneath the sun. His talk I now hold in my hand. There sits the agent * he sent among us. Never has he broken the treaty. He has lived with us a long time. He has seen our children born, who now have children. By his direction, cloth was wove, and clothes were made, and spread through our country; but the Red Sticks came, and destroyed all — we have none now. Hard is our situation, and you ought to consider it. I state what all the nation knows : nothing will I keep secret. There is the Little Warrior, whom Col. Haw- kins knows. While we were giving satisfaction for the murders that had been committed, he proved a mischief-maker; he went to the British on the lakes ; he came back, and brought a package to the fron- tiers, which increased the murders here. This conduct has already made the war party to suffer greatly : but, although almost destroyed, they will not yet open their eyes, but are still led away by the British at Pensacola. Not so with us ; we were rational, and had oar senses — we yet are so. In the war of the revolution, our father beyond the waters, encouraged us to join him, and we did so. We had no sense then. The promises he made were never kept. We were young and foolish, and fought with him. The British can no more per- suade us to do wrong : they have deceived us once. , an deceive us no more. You are two g * Col. Hawkins, ANDREW JACKSON. 147 i people. If you go to war, we will have no concent in it ; for we are not able to fight. We wish to be at peace with every nation. If they offer me arms, I will say to them, You put me in danger, to war against a people born in our own land. They shall never force us into danger. You shall never see that our chiefs are boys in council, who will be forced to do any thing. I talk thus, knowing that father Washington advised us never to interfere in wars. He told us that those in peace were the happiest people. He told us that if an enemy at- tacked him, he had warriors enough, and did not wish his red children to help him. If the British advise us to any thing, I will tell you — not hide it from you— If they say we must fight, I will tell them, No !" I now present the reader with a speech of one of the greatest warriors of any age, of any nation. ^ or of any colour— Tecumseh. It was this Sachem * and Prophet, who had been educated at an English seminary in Canada, who first infused into the Creeks the murderous principles he had learned from English Christians. He returned to his own tribe, and prepared them for the crusade they were to make with their English " fathers'' against Ameri- cans. Infatuated chief!! thy blood calls aloud from the ground for revenge against thy perfidious mis- ers. The cowardice of Proctor was as base as perfidy. The simple eloquence of this child of 148 MEMOIRS OF the forest, is the bitterest satire, and the mosi vin- dictive judgment against the British nation. The Indians of the East, as well as of the West, form a " paramount inquest," whose. sentence will reverse the judgment of the House of Lords in favour of Lord Hastings, and raise indignation at the eu* logies bestowed upon Sir George Prevost. SPEECH OF TECUMSEH, In the name of the Indian Chiefs and Warriors, t* Maj+ Gen. Proctor, as the representative of their Great Father, the King* Father — listen to your children ! You have them now all before you. The war before * this, our British father crave the hatchet to his red chil- o dren, when our old chiefs were alive. They are now dead. In that war, our father was thrown on his back by the Americans, and our father took them by the hand without our knowledge ;f and we are afraid that our father will do so again at this time* Summer before last, when I came forward with my red brethren, and was ready to take up the hatchet in favour of our British father, we were told not to be in a hurry — that he had not yet de- termined to fight the Americans. Listen^! — When war was declared, our father stood up and gave us the tomahawk, and told us that he was now ready to strike the Americans ; * The revolutionary war. t The British made peace without any stipulation for tfcdt Indian allies. ANDREW JACKSON. that he wanted our assistance ; and that he cer- tainly would get us our lands back, which the Ameri- cans had taken from us. Listen ! — You told us at that time, to bring for- ward our families to this place, and we did so ; and you promised to take care of them, and that they should want for nothing, while the men would go and fight the enemy ; that we need not trouble ourselves about the enemy's garrisons ; that we knew nothing about them ; and that our father would attend to that part of the business. You also told your red children, that you would take good care of your garrison here, which made our hearts glad. Listen /—When we were last to the rapids, it is true we gave you little assistance. It is hard to fight people who live like groundhogs.* Listen Father ! — Our fleet has gone out — we know they have fought — we have heard the great guns, but know nothing of what has happened to our father with one arm. t Our ships have gone one way, and we are very much astonished, to see our father tying up every thing and preparing to run away the other, without letting his red children know what his intentions are. You always told us to remain here and take care of our lands — it made our hearts glad to hear that was your wish. * During the siege of Eort Meigs, the troops covered them- selves from the enemy's fire, by throv/isg up traverses and ditches of earth. t Commodore Barclay. 13* *0G MEMOIRS OF Our great father, the King, is the head, and you re- present him. You always told us, you would never draw your foot off British ground ; but now, father, we see you are drawing back, and v we are sorry to see our father doing so, without seeing the enemy. We must compare our father's conduct to a fat ani- mal, that carries its tail upon its back, but when affrighted, it drops it between its legs, and runs off. Listen Father ! — The Americans have not yet defeated us by land ; neither are we sure that they have done so by water : we therefore wish to re- main here, and fight our enemy, should they make their appearance. If they defeat us, we will then retreat with our father. At the battle of the Rapids, last war, the Ameri- cans certainly defeated us ; and when we retreated to our father's * fort at that place, the gates were shut against us. We were afraid that it would now f be the case, but instead of that, we see our British father preparing to march out of his garrison. Father ! — You have got the arms and ammunition which the great father sent fbr his red children. If you have any idea of going away, give them to us, and you may go, and welcome, for us. Our lives are in the hands of the Great Spirit — we are determined to defend our lands, and if it is his wilP ? we wish to leave our bones upon them. Amherstburgh, 18th Sept. 1813. : 'Fort Miami, near Wajne's battle-ground ANDREW JACKSON. 151 I present the reader with Maj. Thomas Rowland's (of the 27th U.S. Infantry) account of the death of this great chief—" Tecumseh is certainly killed — 1 saw him with my own eyes — it was the first time I had seen this celebrated chief. There was something so majestic, so dignified, and yet so mild in his coun- tenance, as he lay stretched on his back, on the ground where a few minuets before he had rallied his men to the fight, that while gazing on him with ad- miration and pity, I forgot he was a savage. He had deceived a wound in the arm, and had it bound up before he received the mortal wound. He had such a countenance as I shall never forget." Major Rowland might have exclaimed, over the corpse of Tecumseh, as Henry V. did over that of Percey — " Lie there great heart — the earth that bears thee dead, fi Bears not alive so stout. ***** *" 152 MEMOIRS OF CHAPTER XI. Spanish aggressions and perfidy — Gen. Jackson's mea- sures to detect Manrequez, the Governour of Flori- da — his letter to him — Danger of the 7th Military District — Gen. Jackson's appeal to the government — Mr. Monroe's measures of defence — Attack upon Fort Bowyer — gallant defence of Major Lawrtaice — his official report of it. THE writer has attempted to shew the reader, the prominent features of Gen, Jackson's life, from his birth to the conclusion of the Creek war. It is but a miniature, and if the figure is not finely touch- ed, the delineations are confidently pronounced, correct. To crowd a biographical sketch with minute details of events, in which the subject of it has acted a conspicuous part, may swell a volume with a wilderness of " words, 7vords, words," and hide the hero of it, in the rubbish that entangles him. I certainly have a wish, (it may be an un- availing one,) to keep Andrew Jackson in sight ^ through this little volume ; and although the deep- ly interesting scenes, in which he was the principal actor, must necessarily be adverted to, it is hoped the attention of the reader will not be diverted from the subject of these memoirs, by blending with his life, those descriptions which more proper- ly belong to the voluminous historian, than to the brief biographer. Gen. Jackson, having conquered the most war- like tribe of savages within, and perhaps, without ANDREW JACKSON. 156 the Republic, by the sword, and having secured to his government the benefit of the conquest by treaty, he was led, not into regular negociation, but into singular intercourse with a power that calls itself civilized! It is painful to see a nation, which once held ah elevated rank amo^g European powers, sunk to the lowest state of degradation. Spain, in the reign of Phillip, menaced, by its armada, the same British power, which has recently dragged its im- becile, but tyrannical monarch from the humblest exile, and placed him upon the Spanish throne,^ Struggling to regain the power of his predecessors, and trembling under the rod T>f his imperious mis- tress, he lends all his little aid in Europe and America, to subserve the interest of the British government. Knowing that the " holy alliance" entered into in 1814, by the " Allied Sovereigns,' - guarantees to each other their ancient colories, Ferdinand VII. covertly gave every aid and facility to the British forces, in their last war against the American Republic, once British colonies. This. Gen. Jackson full well knew during the prosecu- tion, and at the close of the Creek war. He knew that the gpvernour of the Spanish province of Florida, although Spain was in a state of professed neutrality, either through fear of Britain, or hatred to America, had given every assistance to the In- dians in their sanguinary war against our frontiers. 1.54 MEMOIRS OF The peace he had conquered from- the Creeks he was aware would not be a permanent one, nor the treaty he had made regarded, so long as their hostile chiefs and warriors, were fostered, protect- ed, and encouraged to further hostilities, by the governour of Florida, acting under his " adored master," Ferdinand VII. He was determined, if possible, to secure to his country the benefit of the victories which he had acquired, by the loss of, some of his valiant countrymen, and by the death of hundreds of Creeks, who fell victims to religious fanaticism, and British and Spanish machinations. Gen. Jackson is too cautious as a statesman, and too generous as a soldier, to trust to vague reports, and unsupported assertions, as grounds of im- portant measures. While making a treaty with the Creeks, he dispatched some of his confidential officers to Pensacola, to observe the course pursued by Gonzalez Manrequez, the Spanish governour. From the Creeks also, he was receiving almost daily information of the perfidious conduct of this obsequious minister of the faithless Ferdinand. Upon the return of his officers, that which was be- fore believed upon the strongest presumptive evi- dence, was now reduced to absolute certainty. Gen. Jackson, at this time, (Sept. 1814,) had received no instructions from the War Department, relative to the course to be pursued with the Span- ish authorities in Florida. He sent a direct me- nage to Gov. Maorequez, requesting him to point ANDREW JACKSON. 155 out the course he was about to pursue. The cor- respondence that followed between him and Gen. Jackson, has long been before the public, and is too lengthy to be here inserted. The governour was less equivocal, and more explicit, than he had previously been. He began to feel a strong assu- rance that the British government, which had restored his master to his throne, would support him in all his measures against the Republic. He knew that the legitimate sovereigns of Europe were safely enthroned, and that pride as well as interest, would induce them to secure to Ferdinand VII. his South American colonies, and to endeavour to re- gain for George III. the colonies he had lost in the North. His language was confident, not to say imperious. He repelled the charges against him, by criminating the American government. The correspondence was closed by the following letter to him, from Gen. Jackson. " Were I clothed'' says the general, "with diplo- matic powers, for the purpose of discussing the topics embraced in the wide range of injuries of which you complain, ai.d which have long since been ad- justed, I could easily demonstrate that the United States have been always faithful to their treaties $ steadfast in their friendships : nor have ever claim- ed any thing that was not warranted by justice. They have endured many insults from the govern- -oufs-and other officers of Spain, which ; if sanction- ed by their sovereign? amounted to war. 156 MEMOIRS OF without any previous declaration on the subject. They have excited the savages to war, and afforded the a the means of waging it. The property of our citizens has been captured at sea, and if com- pensation has not been refused, it has at least been withheld. But as no such powers have been dele- gated to me, I shall not assume them, but leave them to the representatives of our respective go- vernments. I have the honour of being entrusted with the command of this district. Charged with its pro- tection, and the safety of its citizens, I feel mj ability to discharge the task, and trust your excellen- cy will always find me ready and willing to go forward, in the performance of that duty, whenever circumstances shall render it necessary. I agree with you, perfectly, that candour and polite lan- guage should, at all times, characterize the com- munications between the officers of friendly sover- eignties ; and I assert, without the fear of contra- diction, that my former !e:(;ers were couched in terms the most respectful and unexceptionable. I only requested, and did not demand, as you asserted, the ring leaders of the Creek confederacy, who had taken refuge in your town, and who had violated all laws, moral, civil, and divine. This I had a right to do, from the treaty, which I sent you,., and which I now again enclose, with a request that you will change your translation ; believing, as I do, that your former one was wrong, and has de- ceived you. ANDREW JACKSON, 157 "What kind of an answer you returned, a reference to your letter will explain. The whole of it breath- ed nothing but hostility, grounded upon assumed facts, and false charges, and entirely evading the inquiries that had been made. I can but express my astonishment at your pro- test against the cession on the Alabama, lying with- in the acknowledged jurisdiction of the United States, and which has been ratified, in due form;? by the principal chiefs and warriors of the nation. But my astonishment subsides, when, on comparing it, I find it upon a par with the rest of your letter and conduct ; taken together, they afford a suffi- cient justification for any consequences that may ensue. My government will protect every inch of her territory, her citzens, and her property, from insult and depredation, regardless of the political revolutions of Europe : and although she has been at all times sedulous to preserve a good understand- ing with all the world, yet she has sacred rights, that cannot be trampled upon with impunity. ' Spain had better look to her own intestine commo- tions, before she walks forth in that majesty of strength and power, which you threaten to draw : ~dow r n upon the United States. Your excellency has been candid enough to admit your having sup- plied the Indians with arms. In' addition to this, I have learned that a British flag has been seen flying on one of your forts. All this is done whilst you are pretending to be neutral. 14 lo% JVIKAIOIRS OF You cannot be surprised, then, but on the contrary will provide a fort in your town, for my soldiers and Indians, should I take it in my head to pay you a visit. In future, I beg you to withhold your insulting charges against my government, for one more in- clined to listen to slander than I am ; nor consider me any more as a diplomatic character, unless so proclaimed to you from the mouths of my cannon." It is with the highest pleasure I incorporate the foregoing letter into* these memoirs ; and the reader will feel an exultation at knowing, that we have not only one, but many generals in the army of the Republic, who unite the Statesman and the Soldier. Although Gen. Jackson, at the time he wrote it, was not clothed with diplomatic powers, he shews, in a few paragraphs, that he perfect-y understands the points in controversy between the imbecile, yet haughty government of Spain, and the American Republic. Had he been a ncgocia- tor ten years ago, it would probably not nozv be said that America has been thirteen years in trying * to settle our differences with Spain, and thai' she from thence infer that we shall continue to be very moderate, in bringing the controversy to an amicable adjustment. The divine dictate that requires men to " render good for evil™ has not yet been added to. the code of the Law of Nations ; and if our Republic is disposed to act upon that prin- i ©iplewith the allied sovereigns of Europe, every one ANDREW JACKSON. 1 &3 ef whom are anxious to destroy it, we may as well surrender our independence, at once, and revert back to a tame, and submissive colonial state. Gen. Jackson was now commander in chief of the 7th military district, including the most impor- tant part of the southern section of the union. It was now altogether the most endangered part of it. The splendid victories at Chippewa, Bridgzcatcr. Fort Erie, and Plattsburgh, had allayed all appre- hension from British armies in the north. The de- fence of New London and Stonington. New York and Baltimore, had robbed British 4; naval demon- strations" of their terrours, upon the eastern sea- board. The British admirals and British generals, were concentrating their forces, with a determina- tion to wipe off the disgrace, which had with jus- tice been attached to them — not so much from the defeats they had suffered, as from the Vandalism they had displayed in the Chesapeake Bay, upon the Niagara frontier, and at the city of Washing- fc ton. The utmost confidence was expressed by the British in America, of the success of this great and united effort of the armies and navies of Britain ; and a British commissioner at Ghent, who at this time was negociating a peace with American com- missioners, tauntingly remarked, that before they had time to conclude a peace, New Orleans and the states upon the Mississippi, would be in posses- sion ©f Sir Edward Pakenham ! i6$ MEMOIRS ®V It is no more than candid to admit, that vei^ serious apprehensions were entertained by Ameri- cans themselves, in regard to the safety of the south- ern section of the union, or that part of it situated upon the Gulf of Mexico, and near the mouth of the Mississippi. A very great proportion of the. troops of the Republic and of the munitions of war, were in the northern, eastern, and middle states, at an immense distance from New Orleans. The whole sea-board, from Castine to that place, was commanded by a superiour naval force of the ene- my, who could by that command, in a very short time, approach any " assailable point" upon the ocean. Sir Geo. Prevost's army of 14,000, were in Lower Canada, burning to revenge the defeat they met with at Plattsburg. Large reinforcements were known to have arrived from England in the West Indies, under command of some of the most renowned generals in Wellington's army, and every indication evinced the determination of the whole land and naval forces of the enemy, upon tlxe^l American station, to make a descent near the mouth of the Mississippi, Many British officers had already arrived at Pensacola, about 70 miles east of Mobile bay, on which Fort Bowyer is situated. Here they wero received with great cordiality by the governour, and suffered to embody and train savages. Gen. Jack* son, about the first of September, addressed the War Department in the most pressing terrjos* In ANDREW JACKSON. 161 one of his letters, he says — " How long will the United States pocket the reproach and open in- sults of Spain ? It is alone by a manly and dignifi- ed course, that we can secure respect from other nations, and peace to our own.. Temporizing policy is not only a disgrace, but a curse to any nation. It is a fact, that a British captain of ma- rines is, and has been, for some time, engaged in drilling and organizing the fugitive Creeks, under the eye of the governour ; endeavouring, by his in- fluence and presents, to draw to his standard, as well the peaceable, as the hostile Indians. If per- mission had been given me to march against this phice, (Pensacola,) twenty days ago, I would ere , this, have planted there the American Eagle ; now we must trust alone to our valour, and the jus- tice of our cause. But my present resources are so limited — a sickly climate, as well as an enemy to contend with, and without the means of transp r- tation, to change the position of my army, that, ft resting on the bravery of my little phalanx, I can only hope for success." The Secretary at War, Mr. Monroe, incessant 1 ) exerted himself to second the measures of Ge •. Jackson. Having acquired Louisiana, and the ex-» elusive command of the Mississippi by negotiation, he was now called upon to defend it as the head of the War Department. As there was, within the 7ta military district, but a very small amount of regular troops, the Secretary made a requisition 14* 162 MEfiioms or upon the executives of the states of Louisiana, Mi$* sissippi, and Tennessee, to have their full quota of militia in readiness for immediate service, at the command of Gen. Jackson. Volunteers were agaia invited by Gen. Jackson to resort to his standard, under which they had always conquered. The whole civilized region of the Mississippi, was " wide awake," The unbounded popularity of Gen. Jack- ,son induced the militia not only with promtness, but with animation, to repair to the rendezvous \ and the " Tennessee Volunteers," under their gallant, accomplished, and beloved leader, Gen. Coffee, were again in motion. They had almost invariably formed the van of Gen. Jackson's army ; and of their immediate commander, it may be said> " he dared to lead, where any dared to follow." Gen. Jackson, before the middle of September^ had established his head quarters at Mobile, waiting the arrival of the militia and volunteers, some of whom had to travel more than 450 miles. Upon the 14th, he received a message from Maj. Wil- liam Lazvrence, commander of Fort Bowyer at the mouth of Mobile bay, requesting immediate assist- ance in the defence of that important post, as the enemy had landed in the vicinity of that place, with a force probably ten times the amount of his own. Maj. Lawrence had but 1 53 men lit for duty. He took immediate measures W succour this ex- posed garrison-, but before reinforcements could reach that place, it was simultaneously attacked ANDREW JACKSON, 16c* upon the 1 5th, by the British and Indian forces, by land, and by a large naval force in the bay. The defence of this place is described in the finished style of Gen, Jackson, and Maj. Lawrence. Gen. JACKSON, to Hon. JAMES MONROE, *.. II. Q. 7th Military District, \ Mobile, Sept. 17th, 1814. S Sir — With lively emotions of satisfaction, I com- municate that success has crowned the gallant ef- forts of our brave soldiers, in resisting and repulsing a combined British naval and land force, which on the 1 5th instant, attacked Fort Bowyer, on the Point of Mobile. I enclose a copy of the official report of Maj. Wm. Lawrence, of the 2d infantry, who command- ed. In addition to the particulars communicated |jn his letter, I have learned that the ship which was destroyed, was the Hermes, of from 24 to 28 guns, captain, the Hon. Wm. H, Percy, senior offi- llcer in the Gulf of Mexico ; and the brig so con- siderably damaged, is the Sophie, 1 8 guns, Capt. Wm. Lockyer. The other ship was the Carron, of from 24 to 28 guns, Capt. Spencer, son of Earl Spencer: the other brig's name unknown. On board of the Carron, 85 men were killed and wounded; a^nong whom was Col. Nicoll, of the Royal Marines, who lost an eye by a splinter. The land force consisted of 110 marines, and 200 Creek Indians, under the command of Capt, Wood- 164 MEMOIRS OP bine, of marines, and about 20 artillerists, with one four and an half inch howitzer, from which they discharged shells and nine pound shot. They re- embarked the piece, and retreated by land towards Pensacola, whence they came. By the morning report of the 16th, there were present in the fort, lit for duty, officers and men, 153. The result of this engagement has stamped a character on the war in this quarter, highly favour- able to the American arms ; it is an event from which may he, drawn the most favourable augury. An achievement so glorious in itself, and so im- portant in its consequences, should be appreciated by the government ; and those concerned are en- titled to, and will, doubtless, receive the most gratifying evidence of the approbation of their countrymen. In the words of Maj. Lawrence, " where all be-* haved well, it is unnecessary to discriminate." But all being meritorious, I beg leave to annex the names of the officers, who were engaged and present 5 and t hope they will, individually, be deemed worthy of distinction. Maj. Wm. Lawrence, 2d infantry, commanding 5 Capt. Walsh, of the artillery ; Capts. Chamber- lain, Brownlow, and Bradley, of the 2d infantry 5 Capts. Sands, deputy-commissary of Ordnance; Lieuts. Villard, Sturges, Conway, H. Sanders, T. R. Sanders, Brooks, Davis, and C. Sanders, all of fhe 2d infantry. ANDRRW JA€KSON. L&J I am confident that your own feelings will lead you to participate in my wishes on this subject. Permit me to suggest the propriety and justice of allowing to this gallant band, the value of the ves- sel destroyed by them. I remain, &c. ANDREW JACKSON, Brig. Gen. Com. The Hon. Secretary of War. The following is " the official report of Maj* William Lawrence, 1 ' alluded to by Gen. Jacksor^ in his letter to the Secretary of War. Maj. LAWRENCE So G*jr, JACKSON. FortBowyer, Sept. 15th, 1814, * \% o'clock at night. y Sir — After writing the enclosed, I was prevented by the approach of the enemy, from sending it by an express. At meridian they were under full sail, with an easy and favourable breeze, standing di- rectly for the fort, and at 4 P. M. we opened our battery, which was returned from two ships, and. two brigs, as they approached. The action be- came general at about 20 minutes past 4, and was continued without intermission on either side until 7, when one ship and two brigs were compelled to retire. The leading ship, supposed to be the Com- modore, mounting twenty-two 32-pound carron- ades, having anchored nearest our battery, was so much disabled, her cable being cut by our shot, lhat she drifted on §hore 3 within 600 yards of thq M>Q MEMOIRS ©£ battery, and the other vessels having got out of our reach, we kept such a tremendous fire upon her, that she was set on fire, and abandoned by the few of the crew who survived. At 10 P. M. we had the pleasure of witnessing the explosion of her magazine. The loss of lives on hoard must have been immense, as we are certain no boats left her except three, which had previously gone to her as- sistance, and one of these I believe was sunk; in fact -one of her boats was burned along side of her. The brig that followed her, I am certain was much damaged both in hull and rigging. The other two did not approach near enough to be much injured, but I am confident they did not escape, as a well-directed fire was kept on them during the whole time, During the action, a battery of a 12 pounder and a howitzer, was opened on our rear, but without doing any execution, and was silenced by a few shot. Our loss is four privates killed, and five privates wounded. Towards the close of the action the flag-staff was shot away ; but the flag was immediately hoist- ed on a sponge staff over the parapet. While the flag was down, the enemy kept up their most in- cessant and tremendous fire ; the men wer§ with- drawn from the curtains and north-east bastion, as the enemy's own shot completely protected our rear, except the position they had chosen for their battery. ANDREW JACKSOX. 167 Where all behaved well, it is unnecessary io dis- criminate. Suffice it to say, every officer and man did his duty; the whole behaved with that coolness and intrepidity which is characteristic of the true American, and which could scarcely have been ex- pected from men, most of whom tod never seen a;i enemy, and were now for the first time, expos- ed for nearly three hours, to a force of nearly or quite, four guns to one. We tired during the action between 4 and 500 guns, most of them double shotted, and after the first half hour, but few missed effect. September 16il), 11 o'clock, A M. Upon an examination of our battery this morn* ing, we find upwards of 300 shot and shot holes, in the inside of the north and east curtains, and north- east bastions, of all calibres, from musket bail to 32 pound shot. In the north-east bastion, there were three guns dismounted ; one of which, a four pounder, was broken off near the trunnions by a 32 pound shot, and another much battered. I regret to say, that both the 24-pounders are cracked in such a manner as to render them unfit for service. I am informed by two deserters from the land force, who have just arrived here, and whom I send for your disposal, that a reinforcement is expected, when they will doubtless endeavour to wipe off the stain of v esterday. If you will send the Amelia down, we may pro- bably save most or a'l of the ship's gftns, as her wnvck is lying in six or seven feet water, and defence of her own, and the liberties of the world — when the bravest of her sons were fighting and bleeding in so sacred a cause — when she was spending millions of her treasure, in endeavouring to pull down one of the most formidable and dan- gerous tyrants, that ever disgraced the form ci man— when groaning Europe was almost in her last gasp — when Britons alone showed an undaunted front — basely did those assassins endeavour to stab her from the rear ; she has turned on them, reno- vated from the bloody, but successful struggle. Europe is happy and free, and she now hastens, justly, to revenge the unprovoked insult. Show them that you are not collectively unjust ; leave that contemptible few to shift for themselves ; 182 memoirs or I those slaves of the tyrant send an embassy io Elba. and implore his aid ; but let every honest, upright American spurn them with united contempt. After the experience of twenty-one year?, can you longer Support those brawlers for liberty, who call it free- dom, when themselves are free ? Be no longer their dupes — accept of my offers — every thing 1 have promised in this paper, I guarantee to you. on the sacred honour of a British officer. Given under my hand, at my head-quarters,. Pensacola, this 29th day of August, 1814. EDWARD NICOLL. It would be difficult to determine whether weak- ness, ignorance, arrogance, or falsehood predomin- ates in this British statepaper; and whether it was the production of a cabinet council at London, or of the individual labour of the redoubted Col. Nicoll. It would be " stale, flat, and unprofitable," to analyze or criticise it. It evinces the weakness of the author, his ignorance of the American character, the arro- gance of a coward, and the baseness of a scoundrel. The' conduct of Nicoll at Pensacola, is a sufficient commentary upon his proclamation. Having du- ped the govefoour of Florida, and exposed his capital to destruction, he basely deserted him in his utmost need, and shewed, that with an ancient British Knight, he thought " the better part of valour is — discretion.'? Maj. Lawrence at Fort Bowycr, taught him, lor the rest part of his Ufa., to ANDREW JACKSO.W i U o look with a single eye.* No proclamation could be better calculated to call the gallant sons of Ken- tucky, Tennessee, Louisiana, and Mississippi to the standard of the American Hero, than this. They knew well how to distinguish between his patriot- ism and courage, and " the sacred honour of a Brit- ish officer." It will be remembered that another British officer, Gen. Brisbane, invited the citizens of New-York and Vermont, to flee to the standard of Sir Geo. Preyost at Plattsburg. They preferred that of Gen. Macomb ) and there taught the vaunt- ing conquerors of Napoleon the same lesson at the North, which Gen. Jackson afterwards repeated to tfiera at the South. * See Gen. Jackson's account of the defence of Fort Bowyer. $$4? BfEMQfftS OT CHAPTER XIIL Gen. Jackson's arrival at New Orleans — perilous aitti- ation of that place — reliance upon distant forces — his address' to the people of Louisiana — timidity of the legislature — evidence of disaffection, and traitor- ous conduct — Declaration of Martial Law — Measures of defence-— A/rival of reinforcements-— Landing of the enemy — Battle of the 23d. December— Official report of if, THE solicitude which Gen. Jackson felt for the safety of Mobile bay and Fort Bowyer, was now almost forgotten in the overwhelming anxiety he endured for the most important place in his district, and in some respects, in the Union — -JSfew Orleans* For a considerable period there had been no gen- eral oiBcer in the 7th military district but himself, who was attached to the army of the United States, although with him there had long been one general officer who would adorn any service. At length Brig. Gen. Winchester, of U. S. army, arrived, and to him Gen. Jackson assigned the command of the eastern section of his district, and immediately re- paired to New-Orleans. He arrived at this place upon the 2d December. L814. A mere casuist may wonder why the pre- sence of a single individual at an exposed place, is an augury of its safety ; but it is in vain for casu- ists, philosophers, or stoics, to laugh at a sentiment that is common to our nature. The presence der the command of Gen. Jackson, and by their consummate skill in gunnery, rendered most essen- tial service in the land batteries. I cannot omit a brief extract from Capt. Patterson's letter to the navy department, dated 27th Jan. 1815. — " I have received from all the officers whom I have the hon- our to command, every aid and support which could possibly be rendered. They have been exposed to extraordinary hardships, both by day and night, to all the changes of this unstable clime, in this inclement season of the year ; performing the most arduous duties on shore, out of the line of their profession, independent of their ordinary duties ; and all has been done and executed, with a cheer- fulness arid alacrity that reflects upon them the highest credit ; and that the unwearied exertions of the small naval force on this station, from the first appearance of the enemy, has contributed, in a great degree, to his expulsion, is freely acknow- ledged by the gallant general, commanding the land forces." The officers mentioned in this letter, are Capt. Henley, Lieuts. Alexis, Thompson, Norris^ and Cunningham; Mr. Purser Shields, Dr. Morrell, ■ sailing-master Dealy, surgeon Heerman, navy-agent j Smith, Maj. Cormick, commanding the marine corps, Mr. Shephard, aid-de-camp, Lieut. Nevitt, volunteer; acting Lieuts. Speddin and M'Keever. He further says — "my petty officers, seamen, and marines, performed their duties to my entire satis- faction." ANDREW JACKSOX. 207 It has already been mentioned that the gun boats, commanded by Lieut. Jones, were captured upon the 14th, and the commander severely wounded. His force was, Gun Boats, Nos. 5, 23, 156, 162, and 163 — the whole mounting 23 guns, and having 183 men on board. The British force that attacked this little gallant flotilla, consisted of 45 boats — 42 guns, and 1200 men, commanded by Capt.Lock- yer, whose loss in killed and wounded exceeded 300 men ; and he received three severe wounds himself. Upon Lieut. Jones, Capt. Patterson be- stows the highest applause ; and most deservedly too ; for considering the species of force he had under his command, and the immense superiority of the enemy, his gallantry is scarcely exceeded by any officer in our navy. It ought to be mentioned, whenever an opportu- nity occurs, as a fact which entitles the commanders of the land and naval forces of the Republic, to in- finite credit, that in every instance, excepting one? where they could act in conjunction in conquering the enemy, the utmost harmony prevailed. Gen. Harrison and Capt. Perry — Gen. Macomb and Capt. Macdonough — Gen. Jackson and Capt. Pat- terson, went hand in hand to victory. Although in the last instance, cae captain was compelled to leave his chosen element, with his gallant crews he joined the army, and aided in the final victory. The various passes at the mouth of the Missis- sippi were guarded iu tha best possible manner, by 208 MEMOIRS OP different forts ; and considering the short time al- lowed to construct them, and the few men only, who could be spared to garrison them, their de- fences entitle the garrisons to the highest applause. Maj. Overton, at Fort St, Phillips, determining never to surrender, actually nailed the American g to his standard, and resolved that it should triumphantly wave over that of Britain, as long as a living man remained in the fort to defend it. The troops at the mouths of the river, were as muell inspired with fortitude by the addresses and inples of Gen. Jackson, as those under his imme- e command, Having these forts, as well as the rent of the Mississippi to oppose, the British admiral was prevented from bringing any of his larger vessels, to co-op'erate with the land forces, in their various attacks upon the American lines. Had he been enabled to effect this, it is difficult to conceive how the city could have been saved. Upon the 24th, Gen. Jackson took his final po- sition. It extended in a direct line from the east bank of the Mississippi, into the edge of the Cy- press Swamp, a distance exceeding a mile. For the whole distance, the troops almost incessantly .laboured, and with a vigour worthy of the cause ihat called forth their laborious exertions, in throw- ing up a strong breast-work, under the protection of which they were to be intrenched. From the bank of the river to the edge of the Cypress Swamp, a distance of very near a mile, the country was ANDREW JACKSON, 208 a perfect plain. The small force under Gen. Jack- son, were in full view of the vastly superiour force in the British camp. Although they had received a check in the brilliant affair of the 23d, it would seem to be the result of infatuation itself, that they remained unmoved spectators of the measures of defence, the American commander was taking, which, if prosecuted to completion, would render them hopeless of success. It is hazardous judging from appearances, without a knowledge of motives ; but the conduct of the British army, at this time, would seem to justify the application to them, of a position maintained for ages — " Quern Dens perdere vult, prius dement ■«/" — (whom God wills to destroy, he first makes mad.) Adjoining the river, and in advance of the main work, a redoubt was formed to protect the right wing of the army, upon which were mounted a number of pieces of heavy artillery. Through the whole line were mounted, at proper distances, can- non from six to thirty-two-pounders. The breast- work was extended from 450 to 500 yards into the swamp, to prevent the enemy from turning the left wing of the army. This part of the intrenchment. was constructed with extreme difficulty, and with excessive fatigue ; being erected in a morass, almost impassable from the depth of the mud and water. It was wisely supposed that the British commander would conclude that the American intrenchment reached only to the edge of the swamp ; and thai 18* 210 memoirs or he would endeavour to force a passage through \t 7 and gain the rear of the American army. At the immediate edge of the swamp, an angular indent was made in the intrenchment, upon which heavy pieces of artillery were placed, so as to rake the enemy in the swamp, from one side of it, and in the open field, from the other. Every hour's labour increased the strength of the intrenchment, and every event that transpired, augmented the confi- dence of the troops. Notwithstanding the rapidly increasing security of his small, and to a very con- siderable amount, unarmed troops, Gen. Jackson endeavoured to provide against every event, that could endanger their safety, or that of the city. Admitting the possibility that the British army, from their great superiority in numbers, and from the numerous pieces of heavy ordnance they were constantly transporting in barges, from their ship- ping to their encampment, might force his lines 7 he dispatched the whole of his unarmed men two miles in his rear, to erect another breast-work, as a rallying point, at no great distance from the city. In this way, he furnished constant employ for all his men, prevented their despondency, and aroused their courage. Gen. Jackson was aware that the enemy's main urmy had not yet. (Dec. 24,) landed, and wholly uncertain where they would make a descent, he took the same measures to fortify the country on ihe west, or risfht bank of the river, as he had ANDREW JACKSON. 2 1 1 upon the east, or left tank. An intrenchment was there thrown up from the bank of the river, ex- tending west to a swamp, which approaches nearer to the river than that upon the east side. Gov. Claiborne and the Louisiana militia, being more perfectly acquainted with the country, were sta- tioned on the right bank of the river. The gallant Capt. Patterson and his crew, had erected a batte- ry near the bank of the river, and to the main in- trenchment. This intrenchment was about three quarters of amile below that on the left bank; and be- ing supported by Patterson's battery, and his crew, whose skill in gunnery was evinced in the battle of the 23d, it was supposed as capable of sustaining and repelling an assault, as that on the left. The command of the right bank of the river, was en- trusted to Gen. Morgan, and a force placed under his command sufficient to render it as secure as the left. The description of the situation of the Ameri- can forces after the 23d, and the measures then resorted to for future safety, may be deemed too minute ; but it will shortly be shewn that more than two thirds of the loss sustained by the Repub- lican army, in all the severe engagements before New Orleans, was suffered in that engagement, in the open field. Had Gen. Jackson, like a rash com- mander, led his few undisciplined, and badly armed forces, to field fight, against the immensely superi- our force of Sir Edward Pakenham, furnished with 212 MEMOIRS OF every material and munition of war, it is almost a certainty, that he and his army, would have been prostrated upon the same plain where that gallant general, and so many of his veteran troops, were mingled with the dust. The great and good Gen. Jackson, knew that the men he commanded, were not mercenary troops, hired by a sanguinary mon- arch, to fight and to die at the pleasure of an ambi- tious commander. His army, though small, con- tained the best blood in the adjoining states. Fathers were there, exposing their lives for their families, and sons were there, fighting for their fathers. To return them home to a country de- fended by their valour, and to restore them to blessings secured by their toils, was far more grate- ful to his heart, than laurels obtained by their blood, to decorate his brows. From the 24th to the 28th, the two armies re- mained in the position each had taken. Excepting the destruction of the schooner Caroline, and occasional skirmishing, nothing was heard but :i dreadful notes of preparation." Having blown up this vessel, which committed such ravages among their troops upon the 23d, and having been reinforced, Sir Edward Pakenham, in person, at- tacked the American lines upon the 28th. The commander thus describes this engagement, in hi- report to the Secretary of War. ASDREW JACKSON. 213 Gen. JACKSON to Hon. JAMES MONROE. Head Quarters, 7th military district. ) Camp below New Orleans, 29th Dec. 1814. ) Sir — The enemy succeeded on the 27th, in blow- ing up the Caroline, (she being becalmed) by means x>f hot shot from a land battery which he had erect- ed in the night. Emboldened by this event, he inarched his whole force the next day, up the level, in the hope of driving us from our position, and with this view$ opened upon us, at the distance of about half a mile, his bombs and rockets. He was repulsed, however, with considerable loss— not Jess, it is believed, than 120 in killed. Qur*s was incon- siderable — not exceeding half a dozen in killed, and a dozen wounded. Since then, he "has not ventured to repeat his at- tempt, though lying close together. There has been frequent skirmiittng between our picquets. 1 lament that I have not the means of carrying on more offensive operations. The Kentucky troops have not arrived, and my effective force, at this point, does not exceed 3000. Their 9 $ must be at least double — both prisoners and deserters agree- ing in the statement, that 7000 landed from their boats. ANDREW JACKSON. In this brief account, it is mentioned that rockets and bombs were sent from the British army into t he- American lines. Bombs have long been know}* 214 MEMOIRS OF to our countrymen ; and although they sometimes occasion accidents, they never excite terrour. Rockets are of recent invention ; and the glory of having invented them is forever secured by royal favour, to an English statesman, by the name of Cong rev em They are called " Congreve rockets ;" and as long as Englishmen are permitted to spread havock and devastation through the world, the name of the humane inventor, will sound and shine through it. Monsieur Guilloiin is entitled to the same kind of glory, for having invented an imple- ment of death, which bears his name, and, to which he fell a victim himself, Mr. Congreve may die a natural death. Gen. Jackson-s intrenchment had already acquired too much strength, and his " ram- part of high minded and brave men," too much con- fidence to Lc affected with any thing but solid iron or lead. Sir Edward found in this, ms first essay, in the eastern world, that he had to contend with other soldiers than those of despots, who detest the power they fight for. He had to contend with Republican Freemen, each of whom had sacred rights to de- fend ; and who were ready to sacrifice their lives,, in defence of their beloved Republic. From the 28th to the 1st January, the enemy were incessantly engaged in strengthening their force by transporting heavy pieces of artillery from their shipping to their lines. The Americans were no less industriously engaged in preparing to de- ANDREW J ACKSOX. '2 1 d fend their's against the most furious onset that could be made. Upon the 1st January, the enemy pushed forward the whole of their heavy artillery, and at the same time, with bombs and rockets, commenced an attack upon the whole line, from the Mississippi to the Cy- press Swamp. They were immediately answered by the heavy messengers of death that were planted upon the extensive intrencKment, and by the rifles and muskets that were wielded by the troops who were secured behind it. The battle raged until the ap- proach of darkness induced the British assailants, to retire to their lines for safety. The enemy were repulsed with great loss ; but having carried their dead and wounded from the field, the number could not be ascertained. The loss of the Americans was— killed 1 1— wounded 23 — Total 34. Convinced that an attack in line, could not be made with any hop^of success, they next attempt- ed to turn the left wing of the army, by means of a battery they had erected in the night season, and in a foggy morning, in the edge of the Swamp. Confident of accomplishing this object — as the sun appeared through the fog, to their utter astonishment and consternation, they found the American intrench- ment completed 300 yards beyond their battery in the Swamp, and the gallant Gen, Coffee and his Tennessee Volunteers, ready to repel them. Their battery was destroyed — many lives were lost, and ipPassailarits precipitately retreated to their camp. 21 G MEMOIRS OF By these repeated attempts, and as often unsuc- cessful ones, the British commander was experi- mentally convinced, that some mode yet unessayed, must be adopted to gain a victory which his coun- trymen expected, and even Americans feared, he would obtain. No British commander in chief, since the capture of Lord Cornwallis and his army, by Washington, which terminated the war of the Revolution, had a duty of more peril and import- ance to perform, than had Sir Edward Pakenham, before New Orleans. Had he gained a victory over Gen. Jackson, as Wellington did over Napo* eon, he would as well have been entitled to a dukedom. He resolved not to despair, but to make another desperate effort, to acquire equal glory in the western, as Arthur Wellesley has in the eastern world. ANDREW JACKSON. CHAPTER XV &eu. Jackson's, and Sir Edward Pakenhaavs armies from the 1st, to Gtli January— Gen. Morgan's lines — Battle of the 8th January-^-Gen. Jackson's report f it— Gen, Morgan's retreat — Gen. Jackson's ad- dress to the armies — he regain- 'he right bank of the Mississippi— Bombardment, and attack upon Fort St. Phillips — Maj. Overton's report to Gen. Jackson. THE rival armies — the one under the standard of the Eagle, the other under that of the Lion, for a short period gazed at each other in silent majesty. The armies of the Prince Regent, having met with nothing hut disasters, during the whole campaign of 1814, had concentrated their forces with the navy, before New Orleans, with a determination to wipe off the disgrace they had incurred, by 3 series of almost uninterrupted defeats. The histo- ry of some of their achievements thus far, has ne- cessarily been blended with the Memoirs of Gen. Jackson. From no army sent to America, since the commencement of the war of the revolution, to this period, had sanguinary Englishmen expect- ed so much, as from this. One of the first officers under Wellington, Sir Edward Pakenham, was selected as its commander. .Major-generals Keane, Gibbs, and Lambert, were generals of divisions* Most of the troops were those who had followed m, in their victorious career through the Py- nees, into the heart of France, and who had assist'- 10 i J18 MEMOIRS OF cdin gaining victories over the first Marshals in Eu- rope. In these considerations^ may be found the reasons for the desperation, not to say infatuation, of the British officers, after they landed in Louisi- ana. They seemed to have adopted the sentiment of Napoleon, in the days of his glory, that "troops who had always conquered, will continue to conquer." Gen. Jackson, undismayed, and apparently un- concerned, instead of concealing himself in Iijj head-quarters in the rear of his intrenchmerit, was constantly with his officers and troops, encour- aging them by his example, animating them by his presence, and arousing their patriotism by the most impassioned eloquence. Upon the 4th, ihc Kentucky militia arrived, under Gen. Thomas raid Gen. Adair. They amounted to about twen- ty-three hundred ; but they brought very little with them, excepting hearts glowing with patriotic ardour* But little disciplined, and almost without arms, as the general remarked to the Secretary of War — " My forces, as to number had been encreas- ed — my 3trettgth,hai& recehed but very little addi- tion, " The city of New Orleans had been almost completely stripped of arms, to furnish the Louisi- ana militia, and the UiiH j s' armswhich wen known to be in the Mississippi, bysome unaccounta- ble neglect, had not yet arrived. The unarmed troops, however, were immediately placed in situa- tions to be the most serviceable in strengtl the main intrenchment, and forwarding the one t% miles in f he rear. ANDREW JACKSON. 219 The reader is referred to the description of the American intrenchments on each side of the Mis- sissippi, in the preceding chapter. Gen. Jackson. had so divided his forces, as to render the one as se- cure as the other. The British commander, resol- ved, as appeared from an order found in the pocket of a slain British officer, and by his subsequent measures, to attack both lines simultaneously. This was anticipated by Gen. Jackson, and mea- sures were taken accordingly. Gen. Morgan, on the right bank of the river, was aided by the consum- mate skill and courage of Capt. Patterson, whose battery was so situated as to protect his lines, and annoy the enemy in the most effectual manner. A detachment of choice Kentucky troops was also passed over the river, to give him additional StreBgtJi. Gem. Jackson's forces were thus sta- tioned — The regular troops in the redoubt, and on ihe right next to the river — Gen. Carroll's Tennes- see militia, and Gen. Adair's Kentucky militia, in the centre — and Gen. Coffee's brigade upon the ieft, which penetrated some distance into the Cy- press Swamp. The British army had been reinforced bv tlie landing of Maj. Gen. Lambert's division. It has been ascertained to be an undoubted fact, that from the time the British commenced the landing cf troops below New Orleans, the full amount of 1 4.000 , had been placed under the command of Edward Pakenham. It is impossible to deter- -fr] ^U KKSTCHRS Oi mine how many had been lost in the several en gagements, from the 23d December, to the 8th January, or how many, upon that day, were up6n the sick list. It would not, however, be deemed improbable, io conclude that from 10 to 12,000, >vere engaged, about double the effective force of Gen. Jackson. Early upon the morning of the 8th January, 1815, a day which will forever be memorable in Ameri- can and British annals, a tremendous i; shower of bombs and Congreve rockets," from the British army, announced the battle begun. The result will be found in the following reports, of the Ameri- can Conqueror. G.Eir. JACKSON to Hon. JAMES MONROE. Camp 4 miles below JVei* Orleans. > 9th January, 1815. J Sir — During the days of the 6th and 7th, the ener pay had been actively employed in making prepara- tions for an attack on my lines. With infinite la- bour, they had succeeded on the night of the 7th, in getting theirboats across from the lake to the river, by widening and deepening the canal on which they had effected their disembarkation. It had not been in my power to impede these operations by a general attack : added to other reasons, the nature of the troops under my command, mostly militia, ren- dered it too hazardous to attempt extensive a |it?c movements in an open country, against a % ANDREW JACKSON, 221 i rous and well disciplined army. Although my ces, as io number, had been increased by the ar- rival of the Kentucky division, my Strength had re- ceived very little addition ; a small portion only of that detachment being provided with arms. Com- pelled thus to wait the attack of the enemy, I took every measure to repel it, when it should be made. ai*d to defeat the object he had in view. Gen. Morgan, with the New Orleans contingent, the Louisiana militia, and a strong detachment of the Kentucky troops, occupied an intrenched camp on the opposite side of the river, protected by strong batteries on the bank, erected and superintended by Com. Patterson. In my encampment, every thing was ready for action, when, early on the morning of the 8th, the enemy, after throwing a heavy shower of bombs and Congreve rockets, advanced their columns on m\ right and left, to storm my intrenchments. 1 can- not speak sufficiently in praise of the firmness and deliberation, with which my whole line received their approach — more could not have been expect- ed from veterans inured to war. For an hour, the fire of the small arms was as incessant and severe as i be imagined. The artillery, too, directed by offi- cers who displayed equal skill and courage, did great execution. Yet the columns of the enemy contin- ued to advance, with a firmness which reflects upon jRra the greatest credit. Twice, the column which approached me on my left, was repulsed by 19* — - MEJklOifcS G£ the troops of Gen. Carroll, those of GeiwCoffo and a division of the Kentucky militia, and twice they formed again and renewed the assault. At length however, cut to pieces, they fled in confu- sion from the field, leaving -it covered with their dead and wounded. The loss which the enemy sustained on this occasion, cannot he estimated at less than 1500 in killed, wounded, and prisoners. Upwards of three hundred have already been de- livered over for burial ; and my men are still en- gaged in picking them up within my lines, and car- rying them to the point where the enemy are to receive them. This is in addition to the dead and wounded, whom the enemy have been enabled to carry from the field, during, and since the action, and to those who have since died of the wounds they received. We have taken about 500 prisoners. upwards of 300 of whom are wounded, and a great part of them mortally. My loss has not exceeded, and I believe has not amounted to, ten killed, and as many wounded. The entire destruction of the enemy's army was now inevitable, had it not been for an ur.fortuiia.te occurrence, which at this moment took place on the other side of the river. Simultane- ously v» ith his advance upon my lines, he had thrown over in his boats, a considerable force to the other ude of the river. These having landed, were har- dy enough to advance against the works of Gen. Morgan ; and what is strange and difficult to ac^ count for. at the verv moment w r hen their entire ANDREW JAd'fcSOX. discomfiture was looked for with a confidence ap- proaching to certainty, the Kentucky reinforce- ments, ingloriously fled, drawing after them, by their example, the remainder of the forces ; and thus yielding to tli€ enemy, that most fortunate po- sition. The batteries which had rendered me, for many days, the most important service, though brave- ly defended, were of course now abandoned ; not however, until the guns had been spiked. This unfortunate route, had totally changed the aspect of affairs. The enemy now occupied a position from which they might annoy us without hazard, and by means of which, they might have been enabled to defeat, in a great measure, the effects of our success on this side the river. It became therefore, an object ofthe first consequence to dislodge him as soon as possible. For this object, all the means in my power, which I could with any safety use, w r ere immediately put in pre- paration. Perhaps, however, it was somewhat owing to another cause, that I succeeded, beyond my expectations. In negociating the terms of a tem- porary suspension of hostilities, to enable the enemy to bury their dead, and provide for their wounded, I had required certain propositions to be acceded to as a basis ; among which, this was one — that al- though hostilities - should cease on this side th& river until 12 o'clock of this day, yet it was not to be understood, that they should cease on the other side ; but that no reinforcements should be IEMOIRS OF sent either arm}-, until the expiration of that day. His Excellency Maj. Gen. Lambert. begged time to consider of those propositions until •0 o'clock of to-day. and in the mean timQ re-cros- sed his troops. I need not teii you with how much eagerness I immediately regained possession of the position he had thus hastily quitted'. The enemy having concentrated his forces, mnv again attempt to drive me from my position, by storm. Whenever he does, 1 have no doubt my men will acf with their usual firmness, and sustain a character, now become dear to them, I have the honour, &c. ANDREW JACKSON. It will be noticed in this acount, that Gen. Jack* -on, while he bestows the most unqualified approba- iion upon his own brave troops, does not omit to declare, that the (i columns of the enemy continued to advance, with a firmness which reflects upon ttiern the highest credit." A brave man is always generous to a brave foe ; and although a fallen one, withholds from him no credit that is justly Ills due. The general estimates the loss of the enemy, at scarcely half what it really was ; for although the Inspector-general, Haynes, makes it 2, GOO, subse- quent acknowledgments, from British prisoners, makes it exceed 3000. The agitation felt by the general, at the loss of the important post on the ri^ht ba*,k of ihe river. ANDREW JACKSON. 22£ under Gen. Morgan, is clearly discoverable in the language he uses ; and it has been said that he was too severe in saying, " The Kentucky rein- forcements ingloriausly fled." He immediately delivered to them, the following elegant address, in which he gives them the fullest credit, for courage, except in this instance. " While, by the blessing of heaven, one of the most brilliant victories was obtained by the troops under my immediate command, no words can ex- press the mortification I felt, at witnessing the scene exhibited on the opposite bank. I will ipare your feelings and my own, nor enter into de- tail on the subject. To all who reflect, it must be a source of eternal regret, that a few moments' exertion of that courage you certainly possess, wag alone wanting, to have rendered your success more complete, than that of your fellow-citizens in this camp. To what cause was the abandonment of your lines owing? To fear? No! You are the countrymen, the friends, the brothers of those who have secured to themselves, by their courage, the gratitude of their country ; who have been prodi- gal of blood in its defence, and who are strangers to any other fear than disgrace — to disaffection to our glorious cause. No, my countrymen, your gen- eral does justice to the pure sentiments by which ^you are inspired. How then could brave men, firm in the cause in which they were enrolled, neg- lect their first duty, and abandon the post commit- jj26 memoirs of ted to their care ? The want of discipline, the want of order, a total disregard to obedience, and a spirit of insubordination, not less destructive than cowardice itself, are the causes which led to this disaster, and they must be eradicated, or I must cease to command. I desire to be distinctly un- derstood, that every breach of orders, a] J want of discipline, every inattention of duty, will be seri- ously and promptly punished ; (hat the attentive officers, and good soldiers, may not be mentioned in the disgrace and danger, which the negligence of a few may produce. Soldiers! you wantonly the will, in order to emulate the glory of you fellow-citizens on this bank of the river — You have the same motives for action — the same inter- est — the same country to protect : and you Lave an additional interest, from past events, to wipe oil reproach, and show that you will not be infei irt the day of trial, to any of your countrymen. But, remember, without obedience, without or- der, without discipline, all your efforts arc vain The brave man, inattentive to his duty, is worth little more to his country, than the coward who deserts her in the hour of danger. Private opinions, as to the competency of offi- cers, must not be indulged, and stiil less expressed. 1 1 is impossible that the measures of those who command, should satisfy all who are bound to^ s obey ; and one of the most dangerous faults in a soldier, is disposition to criticise and blame ANDREW JACKSON. 227 •the orders and characters of his superiours. Sol- diers ! I know that many of you have done your duty ; and I trust, in future, that 1 shall have no reason to make any exception. Officers! I have the fullest confidence that you will enforce obedi- ence to your commands ; but ahovc all, that by subordination in your different grades, you will set an example to your men ; and that hereafter, the army of the right will yield to none, in the es- sential qualities which characterize good soldiers — that they will earn their share of those honours and rewards, which their country will prepare for its adherers." Gen. Jackson, took immediate measures to re- gain, by force, the important post on the right bank of the Mississippi ; but ever anxious to spare the effusion of human blood, he obtained it by negotia- tion, as mentioned in his letter to the Secretary of iWar. The relinquishment of this post, seems io be the result of that infatuation which evinced | itself in every measure of the British cpnamantfer^ [after they landed in Louisiana. Had they a! ii;i- i doned the east side of the river, and concentrated i their forces upon the west, with the immense quari- \ tity of heavy artillery in their possession, they would I have had the exclusive command of the c ' try |io New Orleans ; and what could then have :he city, must be left to conjecture. Hen,, be olicitude of Gen. Jackson, to regain i. • tie je '00. his oxcessive mortification at its temporary loss. 228 MEMOIRS \)Y Notwithstanding the unparalleled \ icioryxnVtaincd it appears from the following letter, that the gener al acted as if the enemy were preparing " to mafia a still mightier effort to aitain hisjirst object.^ Gen. JACKSON to Hox. JAMES MONROE. Head-Quarters, Camp 4 miles below } jXcw Orleans Jan. J3lh, 1815. $ Sir — At such a crisis, I conceive it my duty, te keep you constantly advised of my situation. On the 10th instant, I forwarded you an account of the bold attempt made by the enemy, on the morning of the 8th, to take possession of my works by storm, and of the severe repulse which he met with. That report having been sent by the mail which crosses the lake, may possibly have miscar- ried : for which reason, I think it the more neces- sary, briefly to repeat the substance of it, Early on the morning of the 8th, the enemy hav- ingbeen actively employed the two preceding days, in making preparations for a storm, advanced hi two strong columns on my right and left. The) were received, however, with a firmness which h seems they little expected, and which defeated al their hopes. My men> undisturbed by their ap j proacn, which indeed they long anxiously wisheel for, opened upon them afire, so deliberate and cerf tain, as rendered their scaling ladders and fascines as well as their more direct implements of warfare I perfectly useless. For upwards of an hour itwal ANDREW JACKSON. 2 C 2$ continued with a briskness of which there have been but few instances, perhaps, in any country. Injustice to the enemy, it must be said, they with- stood it as long as could be expected, from the most determined bravery. At length, however, when all prospect of success became hopeless, they fled in confusion from the field, leaving it covered with their dead and wounded. Their loss T»as immense. I had at first computed it at 1500 ; but it is since ascertained to have been much greater. Upon information, which is believed to be correct. Col. Haynes, the Inspector-general, reports it to be in total 2600. His report I inclose you. Mj loss was inconsiderable, being only 7 * killed, and 6 wounded. Such a disproportion in loss, when we consider the number and the kind of troops en- gaged, must, I know, excite astonishment, and may not every where be fully credited ; yet lam per- fectly satisfied that the account is not exaggerated on the one part, nor underrated on the other. . The enemy having hastily quitted a post, which they had gained possession of, on the other side of the river, and we, having immediately returned to it, both armies at present, occupy their former po- sitions. Whether, after the severe losses he has sustained, he is preparing to return to his shipping, or to make still mightier efforts to attain his first object, I do not pretend to determine. It becomes *This was in the action on the line — afterwards a skirmishing ^as kept up, in which a few more of our men were lost. 2.0 230 MEMOIRS OF me to act as though the latter were his intention. One thing, however, seems certain, that if he still calculates on effecting what he has hitherto been unable to accomplish, he must expect considerable reinforcements ; as the force with which he land- ed must be undoubtedly diminished, by at least 3000 • Besides the loss which he sustained, on the night of the 23d u!t. which is estimated at 400, he cannot have suffered less between that period, and the morning of the 8th iitst. than 3000 — having, within that time, been repulsed in two general attempts to drive us from our position, and there having been continual cannonading and skirmishing, during the whole of it. Yet he is still able to shew a very formidable force. There is no doubt that the commanding general, Sir Edward Pakenham, was killed, in the action of the 8th, and that Major-generals Keane, and Gibbs, were badly wounded. Whenever a more leisure moment shall occur, I will take the liberty to make and forward you a more circumstantial account, of the several ac- tions, and particularly that of the 8th, in doing which, my chief motive will be to render justice to those brave men I have the honour to command, and who have so remarkably distinguished them- selves. I have the honour, &c. ANDREW JACKSON. ANDREW JACKSON. 231 The rival armies upon the 9th, were restored to their former positions ; and hoth were ignorant of the intentions of each other. Sir Edward Paken- ham being slain, and Generals Keane and Gibbs, being, the one mortally, and the other severely wounded, were compelled, the one to languish and die, the other to languish and barely survive. The command devolved upon Maj, Gen. Lambert. The deep penetration of Gen. Jackson, might well lead him to suppose that Gen. Lambert, and Col. Thornton, (who had once conquered on the right bank of the river) would unite their " mightier efforts," to conquer on the east. Ever vigilant, aiid never remiss, he relaxed not in the least from his former energy. The plains of Capua, after a victory, and the luxurious indul- gence of the fruits of conquest upon them, proved to be the destruction of Hannibal and his army. Gen. Jackson was resolved, that the banks of the Mississippi should not prove so to him, and his patri- otic companions. White every exertion was made to prepare for another attack, the distant thunder of cannon, an- nounced to the armies, the operations of the pow- erful British naval force at the mouth of the Mis- sissippi. From the official report of Maj. Overton ? to Gen. Jackson, it maybe concluded that Admiral Cochrane, and Sir Edward Pakenham, had agreed to commence final operations at the same time — *he one to capture New Orleans, the other to destroy 232 MEMOIRS OF the American forts at the mouth of the riven Upon the memorable 8th January, a squadron of the Brit- ish naval force appeared before Fort St. Phillips. Gen. Jackson, thus writes to the Secretary at War — "I have the honour to inclose you Maj. Overton's report, of the attack of Fort St. Phillips, and of the manner in which it was defended. The conduct of that officer, and of those who acted under him, merits, I think, great praise. They nailed their own coloured the standard, and placed those of the enemy underneath them, determined never to surrender the fort." The fol- lowing is the report alluded to by the general. Maj. W. H. OVERTON to Gen. JACKSON. Fort St. Phillips, January 19, 1815. Sir — On the first of the present month, I receiv- ed the information, that the enemy intended pas- sing this fort, to co-operate with their land forces, in the subjugation of Louisiana, and the destruction! ef New Orleans. To effect this with more facility , they were first, with their heavy bomb-vessels, to bombard this place into compliance. On the grounds of this information, I turned my attention to the security of my command. I erected small magazines in different parts of the garrison, that if one blew up, I could resort to another ; built covers for my men, to secure them from the explo- sion of the shells, and removed the combustible matter without the work. Early in the day of the 8th inst. I was advised of their approach, an£ ANDREW JACKSON. 233 on the 9th, at a quarter past 10, A. M. hove in sight, two bomb vessels, one sloop, one brig, and one schooner; they anchored two and one quarter miles below— at half past eleven, and at half past twelve, they advanced two barges, apparently for the pur- pose of sounding within one and a half miles of the fort. At this moment, I ordered my water battery, under the command of Lieut. Cunning- ham of the navy, to open upon them: its well di- rected shot, caused a precipitate retreat. At half past three o'clock, P. M. the enemy's bomb-vessels opened their fire, from four sea-mortars, two of thirteen inches, two of ten, and to my great morti- fication, 1 found they were without the effective range of my shot, as many subsequent experiments proved. They continued their fire, with little inter- mission, during the 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th. 1 5th, 1 6th, and 1 7th. 1 occasionally opened my bat- teries on them with great vivacity, particularly when they showed a disposition to change their position. On the 17th, in the evening, our heavy mortar was said to be in readiness. I ordered that excel- lent officer, Capt. Wolstcncrofr, of the artillerists, who previously had charge of it, to open a fire, which was done with great effect, as the enemy from that moment became disordered, and at day-light- en the 18th, commenced their retreat, after having, thrown upwards of a thousand heavy shells, besides phells from howitzers, round shot and grape, which he discharged from boats, under cover of the night. 20* ■234 MEMOIRS OF Our loss in this affair, has been uncommonly .mall, owing entirely to the great pains that were iake» by the different officers, to keep their men untfer cover ; as the enemy left scarcely ten feet of this garrison untouched. The officers and soldiers through this whole af- fair, although nine days and nights under arms, in the different batteries, the consequent fatigue and loss of sleep, have manifested the greatest firmness, and the most zealous warmth to beat the enemy. To distinguish individuals, would be a delicate task, as merit was conspicuous every where. Lieut. Cunningham of the navy, who commanded my water battery, with his brave crew, evinced the most determined bravery, and uncommon activity throughout; in fact, Sir, the only thing to be regret- ted, is, that the enemy was too timid to give .us an opportunity of destroying him. I herewith inclose you, a list of the killed and wounded. I am Sir, very respectfully, W. H. OVERTON. The loss of the Americans, from the official re- port, was killed 2— wounded 7 — Total 9. — Noth- ing but the immense importance of the post he com- manded, can justify Maj. Overton in nailing his colours to his standard. Even th^ praise of Gen. Jackson, cannot wholly exculpate a commander for an act, which might have led to the sacrifice of his tohole garrison, by a force, to contend with which; would have been desperation. ANDREW JACKSON. 235 CHAPTER XVI. Situation of the armies after the battle of the 8th Jan- uary — Melancholy and distressing scene — Opera- tions at the mouth of the Mississippi — Departure of the enemy — Gen Jackson's address to the Ameri- can troops — Disparity in the loss of the two armies. ALTHOUGH the American army under Gen. Jackson, and the British army under Gen. Lambert, remained in full view of each other, from the 9th, to the 18th, no hostile military operations took place between them, during that time. The first were preparing for a renewed attack, enjoying the re- pose their valour had rendered secure, and which, many days of excessively hard labour, and a num- ber of severe fighting, rendered peculiarly neces- sary. The last were employed in discharging the most melancholy duties of the carrtp. The sol- diers were engaged in depositing in the bosom of the earth, their slain comrades, who had for many days previous, fought by their sides upon its sur- face, and assuaging the distresses of the vvound- ed, who yet survived. Humanity must weep over such a scene ; and in the death and anguish of the gallant, and comparatively innocent soldiers v of England, for a season forget the wicked cause in which they fell — the cause of tyranny against freedom. Even the patriotic soldiers of our belov- ed Republic, in beholding the banks of the majestic Mississippi, converted into an outspread sepulchre '236 MEMOIRS OF for veteran foemen, who had one common origm with themselves, must have dropped a manly tear. But how soon will reflection compel them to pour forth the most indignant imprecations against the British government, whose systematic injustice first occasioned the war, and against the British officers, whose Vandalism and barbarity, even chari- ty itself can never forgive. It must crimson with a blush every Englishman, who reads the history of the nineteenth century, when he finds it re- corded, that an officer, the pride of England, con- fident of capturing one of the finest cities in Ameri- ca, gave as a countersign, upon the day his army was to enter it — " Booty and Beauty !!" The hard earnings of patient industry, were to be ra- vished from the defenceless citizens, and their wives and daughters to be subjected to the diabolical lust of a full-gorged soldiery. The innocent and ac- complished females, of New Orleans, who had spent days of labour, and nights of watchfulness, in alle- viating the toils of their valiant countrymen, while stationed under the banners of the Republic, were to suffer more than ten thousand deaths could in- flict, before the very eyes of those who had blessed them for their bounty, but who could no longer extend to them protection. Well may the English reader exclaim with an ancier.t poet — " Qui? tern- peret a lachrymis, talia fandof* (who can refrain from tears in relating such deeds ;) and well may ANDREW JACKSON, 237 the patriotic sous of Columbia, when thinking of t their implacable enemy, resolve to be, " Fire to fire, flint to flint, and to outface u The brow of bragging horrour." It would seem that Gen. Lambert, had deter- mined to maintain his position upon the Mississippi, until he learned the result of the naval operations at its mouth. Upon the l?th, Capt. Wolstoncroft, of the artillerists, having taken a position which brought the British shipping within the range of his mortar, immediately threw them into disorder, and compelled them to retire. Upon the 18th, Gen. Lambert, having had time to receive this discour- aging intelligence, decamped in the night season, as appears from the following official communica- tion. Gen. JACKSON, to Hon. JAMES MONROE, Camp below New Orleans, 19th Jan. 1815. Last night at 12 o'clock, the enemy precipitate- ly decamped and returned to their boats, leaving behind him, under medical attendance, eighty of his wounded, including two officers, 14 pieces of hi* heavy artillery, and a quantity of shot, having de- stroyed much of his powder. Such was the situa- tion of the ground he abandoned, and of that through which he retired, protected by canals, re- doubts, intrenchments and swamps on his right, and the river on his left, that I could not without encountering a risk, which true policy did not seem 238 MEMOIRS OF to require, or to authorise, attempt to annoy him . much on his retreat. We took only eight prison- ers. Whether, it is the purpose of the enemy io aban- don the expedition altogether, or renew his efforts at some other point, I do not pretend to determine with positiveness. In my own mind, however, there is but little doubt, that his last exertions have been made in this quarter ; at any rate for the pre- sent season, and by the next, I hope we shall be ful- ly prepared for him. In this belief, 1 am strength- ened, not only by the prodigious loss he has sus- tained at the position he had just quitted, but by the failure of his fleet to pass Fort St. Phillips. His loss on the ground, since the debarkation of his troops, as stated by the last prisoners and desert- ers, and as confirmed by many additional circum- stances, must have exceeded four thousand ; and was greater in the action of the 8th, than was esti- mated, from the most correct data, then in his pos- session, by the inspector-general, whose report has been forwarded to you. We succeeded, on the 8th, in getting from the enemy about 1000 stand of arms of various descriptions. Since the action of the 8th, the enemy have been allowed very little respite- — my artillery from both sides of the river, being constantly employed, till the night, and indeed until the hour of their retreat, in annoying them. No doubt they thought it quite time to quit a position in which so little rest could fee found. ANDREW JACKSON. 23$ I am advised by Maj. Overton, who commands at Fort St. Phillips, in a letter of the 1 8th, that the enemy having bombarded his fort for 8 or 9 days, from 13 inch mortars, without effect, had, on the morning of that day, retired. I have little doubt that he would have been able to have sunk their vessels, had they attempted to run by. Giving the proper weight to all these considera- tions, I believe, you will not think me too sanguine in the belief, that Louisiana is now clear of its enemy. I hope, however, I need not assure you, that wherever I command, such a belief shall never occasion any relaxation in the. measures for resist- ance. I am but too sensible, that the moment when the enemy is opposing us, is not the most proper to provide for them. I have the honour to be, &c. ANDREW JACKSON. P. S. On the 18th, our prisoners on shore were delivered us, an exchange having been previously agreed to. Those who are on board the fleet, will be delivered at Petit Coquille — after which, I shall Mill have in my hands an excess of several hundred. 20th — Mr. Shields, purser in the navy, has to- day taken 54 prisoners ; among them are four offi- cers. A. J. Thus ended the expedition of the British army, against the city of New Orleans — thus ended the demonstration of the British naval force, against S40 memoirs or the forts at the mouth of the Mississippi. The de- tail of events which took place in this interesting and important section of the Republic, have neces- sarily been blended with the Memoirs of Gen, Jackson. Indeed, they are identified with each other — he was the first motion of every movement. The deeply interesting scenes through which Gen. Jackson, his army, and the citizens of New Orleans were called to pass from the 16th Decem- ber, 1814, to the 18th January, 1815, would furnish subjects for a volume far more extended than the whole of this little work. In a few pages I have endeavoured to present the reader with the prominent facts connected with these great events. That they were derived from sources indisputably accurate, I have the most confident assurance. A brief recapitulation would be attempted, were it not in my power to furnish the reader with the ele- gant and impressive address of Gen. Jackson to his troops upon the 21st January, which follows. ADDRESS, Directed by Maj. Gen. Jackson, to be read at the head of each of the corps composing the line below iSevv Orleans, Jan. 21, 1815. Citizens, and fellow soldiers ! The enemy has retreated, and your general has now leisure to pro- claim to the world what he has noticed with admi- ration and pride — your undaunted courage, your patriotism^ and patience, under hardships and fa- AMHtEW JACKSON* 241 tigues. Natives of different states, acting together for the first time in this camp ; differing in habits and in language, instead of viewing in these cir- cumstances, the germ of distrust and division, you have made them the source of an honourable em- ulation, and from the seeds of discord itself, have reaped the fruits of an honourable union. This day completes the fourth week, since fifteen hun- dred of you attacked treble your number of men, who had boasted of their discipline and their ser- vices under a celebrated leader, in a long and eventful war — attacked them in their camp, the moment they had profaned the soil of freedom, with their hostile tread, and inflicted a blow which was a prelude to the final result of their attempt to con- quer, or their poor contrivances to dh ide us. A few hours was sufficient to unite the gallant band, though at the moment they received the welcome order to march, they were separated many leagues, in different directions from the city. The gay ra- pidity of the march, and the cheerful countenances of th§ officers and men, would have induced a belief . that some festive entertainment, not the strife of battle, was the scene to which they hastened with so much eagerness and hilarity. In the conflict that ensued, the same spirit was supported, and my communications, to the executive of the U. States hav testified the sense I entertained of the merits of the corps and officers that were engaged. Resting on the field of battle, they retired in perfect order * 21 242 MEMOIRS OF on the next morning to these lines, destined to be- come the scene of future victories, which they were to share with the rest of you, my brave compan- ions in arms. Scarcely were your lines a protec- tion against musket shot, when on the 28th, a dis- position was made to attack them with all the pomp and parade of military tactics, as improved by those veterans of the Spanish war. Their batteries of heavy cannon kept up an incessant fire ; their rockets illuminated the air ; and under their cover, two strong columns threat- ened our flanks. The foe insolently thought that this spectacle was too imposing to be resisted, and in the intoxication of his pride, he already saw our lines abandoned without a contest — how were those menacing appearances met ? By shouts of defiance, by a manly countenance, not to be shaken by the roar of his cannon, or by the glare of his firework rockets ; by an artillery served with superiour skill, and with deadly effect. Never, my brave friends, can your general forget the testimonials of attachment to our glorious cause, of indignant hatred to our foe, of affectionate confi- dence in your chief, that resounded from every rank, as he passed along your line. This anima- ting scene damped the courage of the enemy ; he dropped his scaling ladders and fascines, and the threatened attack dwindled into a demonstration^ which served only to shew the emptiness of his pa- rade, and to inspire you with a just confidence in vour-elves. ANDREW JACKSON. 243 The new year was ushered in with the most tre- mendous fire his whole artillery could produce : a few hours only, however, were accessary for the brave and skilful men who directed our own, to dismount his cannon, destroy his batteries, and ef- fectually silence his fire. Hitherto, my brave friends, in the contest on our lines, your courage had been passive only ; you stood with calmness, a fire that would have tried the firmness of a veteran, and you anticipated a nearer contest with an eager- ness which was soon to be gratified. On the 8th of Jan. the final effort was made. At the dawn of day the batteries opened, and the co- lumns advanced. Knowing that the volunteers from Tennessee, and the militia from Kentucky, were stationed on your left, it was there they di- rected their chief attack. Reasoning always from false principles, they ex- pected little opposition from men, whose officers even were not in uniform, who were ignorant of the rules of dress, and who had never been caned into discipline. Fatal mistake ! a fire incessantly kept up, directed with calmness and with unerring aim, strewed the field with the bravest officers and men, of the column which slowly advanced, according to the most approved rules of European tactics, and was cut down by the untutored courage of American militia. Unable to sustain this galling and unceasing fire, some hundreds nearest the in- trenchment called for quarter, which was granted— 244 MEMOIRS OF the rest retreating, were rallied at some distance, but only to make them a surer mark for the grape and canister shot of our artillery, which, without exaggeration, mowed down whole ranks at every discharge : and at length they precipitately retired from the field. Our right had only a short contest to sustain with a few rash men, who fatally for themselves, forced their entrance into the unfinished redoubt on the river. They were quickly dispossessed, and this glorious day terminated with the loss to the enemy, of their commander in chief and one major-general killed, another major-general wound- ed the most experienced and bravest of their officers, and more than three thousand men killed, wound- ed and missing, while our ranks, my friends, were thinned only by the loss of seven of our brave com- panions killed, and six disabled by wounds — won- derful interposition of heaven! unexampled event in the> history of war ! Let us be grateful to the God of battles, who has directed the arrows of indignation against our inva- dersj while he covered with his protecting shield the brave defenders of their country. After this unsuccessful and disastrous attempt^ their spirits were broken, their force was destroy- ed, and their whole attention was employed in pro- viding the means of escape. This they have effect- ed ; ieaving their heavy artillery in our power, and many of their wounded to our clemency* The Atft)REW JACKSON. C 2A5 consequences of this short, but decisive campaign, are incalculably important. The pride of our ar- rogant enemy humbled, his forces broken, his lead- ers killed, his insolent hopes of our disunion frus- trated — his expectation of rioting in our spoils and wasting our country, changed into ignominious de- feat, shameful flight, and a reluctant acknowledg- ment of the humanity and kindness of those whom he had doomed to all the horrours and humiliation of a conquered state. On the other side, unanimity established, disaf- fection crushed, confidence restored, your country saved from conquest, your property from pillage, your wives and daughters from insult and viola- tion — the union preserved from dismember me nt, and perhaps, a period put by this decisive stroke, to a bloody and savage war. These, my brave friends, are the consequences of the efforts you have made, and the success with which they have been crown- ed by heaven. These important results have been effected by the united courage and perseverance of the army ; but which the different corps, as well as the indi- viduals that compose it, have vied with each other in their exertions to produce. The gratitude, the admiration of their country, offers a fairer reward, than that which any praises of the general can be- stow, and the best is that of which they can never be deprived, the consciousness of having done their du- ty, and of meriting the applause the) whi receive. 5 " Sri* 24G MEMOIRS OF The history of modern warfare furnishes innume- rable instances of enthusiastic and ardent appeals to the pride and courage of soldiers, before battles were fought, and most extravagant exaggerations of their achievements, after they were won* In the addresses of Gen. Jackson to his troops, before he entered the sanguinary field, nothing is to be dis- covered but the cool, dignified, and majestic lan- guage of a great commander, prepared for victory. When he had vanquished his foe, the highest en- comium he could bestow upon his officers and sol- diers was, that they had answered his expectations. In no instance, but one, in the numerous battles he had fought, and conquered, had he occasion to ex- press regret, at the conduct of any portion of his troops ; and in that very instance, he gained one of the greatest victories recorded in modern his- tory — that of the 8th January, 1815. His agita- tion at loosing the right bank of the Mississippi, for only a few, hours, compelled him to say to a section of his little army, that he was disappointed. With Gen. Jackson, victory was never the result of accident or fortune, it was the necessary effect produced by a known cause. Although invariably rictorious, it would be a miserable eulogy, to pro- nounce him a fortunate commander. He left noth- ing to be decided by the capricious " fortune of war," which as often gives glory to a blundering braggadocio, as to an accomplished general. He acted as though he was the guardian, as well as the ANDREW JACKSON. 2 47 commander of his soldiers, and as if he was ac- countable for every limb and life lost by execu- ting his commands. The manner in which he de- fended New Orleans, evinced the solicitude he felt for the lives of his soldiers; and although he was conscious that it would assuage the sorrow of the surviving friends of slain heroes, to declare that they died covered with glory, yet, in restoring them to the bosoms of their connections, with the laurels of victory upon their living brows, and the ardour of patriotism in their beating hearts, he felt as if he was rendering to his countrymen and to his country, the best account of his battles and his victories. The astonishing disparity in the losses of the American and British armies, would stagger the belief of the reader, were it not presented to him from most indubitable evidence. From offi- cial reports, now in the War Office, it appears that the whole loss of the Americans, before New Or- leans, and at the mouth of the Mississippi, was as follows : — Killed. Wounded. Missing. Total, Dec. 23d, 24 115 74 213 Dec. 28th, 7 8 00 15 Jan'y. 1st, 11 23 00 34 Jan'y. 8th, 13* 30 19 62 From 9th to 1 7th, ) at Ft.St.Phillips, 5 ? '~ " *But seven were killed in the engagement, -00- 333 MEMOIRS OF Thus it appears that but 57 were killed — of the 183 wounded, ii is not known that any one died ; aid of the 93 missing, it is not known that but one deserted, and he was hung before the British camp, by order of the commander, immediately after the final vict^Bj^ over him. * Notwithstanding the se- verity of the season — He excessive labour and fatigue of the troops, — and the want of camp equip* page, but few died ; so that it may be said of Gen. Jackson, as it was said of an ancient warrior — " He reus twice a conquer rr, for he brought home full num- bers.' n The loss of the British, from their own acknow- ledgment, and from the most correct accounts, must have been from 4500, to 5000. The mention of New Orleans, while it calls up the most grateful aid animated recollection of Americans, reminds Englishmen, of o .e of the most disastrous defeats recorded in the history of their country. ♦This man was the only deserter from Gen. Jackson's army. He told Sir Edward, where the weakest part of the Am riran lines were, having nothing but Tennessee and Kentucky militta^ to defend it. The principal c lumn of ihe enemyt attacked that point. After the defeat, they railed at the deserter, and hung him. ANDREW JACKSOX. 24$ CHAPTER XVII. (Sen. Jackson appoints a day of Thanksgiving and Praise, for the Victories obtained, and for the preser- vation of the city, upon the 23d January — Doct. Dubourg's address— the general's answer — continues iiis exertions to render the country more secure — Surrender of Fort Bowyer — Peace proclaimed — Discharge of troops — Gen. Jackson's address to them — Remark THE attention of the reader is now to be called from scenes of carnage, wounds, death, defeat and victory, to one, the most deeply interesting that can possibly be presented to the view of man. He is to be suddenly transported from those appalling scenes, which, if tears are permitted to soil the purity of heaven, must make the angels weep, to one which must make them rejoice. Gen. Jackson, his gallant officers, and his troops, although loaded with earthly honours, and greeted with the acclamations of a grateful and protected people, did not omit to render that homage which is due to that Almighty Being, who ;i reigns in 'the armies of heaven above, as well as in the earth dc- neath." A day of thanksgiving and solemn pra - *c was appointed by the general. It was upon the of January. The solemn rites were performed in the Cathedral in New Orleans. To behold a war- worn veteran, like Gen. Jackson, surrounded bj his war-worn officers, and troops, prostrated upon 250 MEMOIRS OF the altar of adoration, and offering to the God of Battles, that glory which the world had bestowed upon them, must have moved the heart of apathy itself. It is totally impossible for one who w r as not a witness of the scene, to have a conception of its solemn grandeur. The solemn peals of the organ, in unison with vocal praises, sent up to heaven the grateful acknowledgments of a preserved people. " Grim visag'd war had smoothed its wrinkled front" — tears of exquisite joy rolled down the cheeks of soldiers and citizens, and the hearts of all were swollen with gratitude to the King of kings, anc Lord of lords. The Republic was safe ; a vaunt- ing foe was overthrown, and although the memorial of the few who had fallen in the sanguinary field — "' in sad rtmcmbrante rosc^ it was a subject of im expressible consolation, that almost all the soldi en who had formed the impregnable rampart upon th< plains of the Mississippi, were now assembled in th< city, which owed its preservation to their valour^ and to the blessing of heaven. Upon this occasion, the Rev. Doct. Dubourgj .the administrator apostolic of the diocese of Lou isiaaa, delivered to the general an address, replete with the pious effusions of the Christian, and th elegancies of the scholar. Although it has Ion: been before the public, I cannot omit to enrich, this volume, by inserting a part of it, togethe] with the impressive answer of Gen. Jackson While they will be read with rapture by the Chris ANDREW JACKSON, 251 tian, they cannot fail to excite the admiration of the patriot. The venerable minister of the gospel thus ad- dressed the Hero of New Orleans, and the gallant officers and soldiers who had followed him to vic- tory, and now joined him in adoration :-^- ;; Gene- ral — While the state of Louisiana, in the joyful transports of her gratitude, hails you as her deliv- erer, and the assertor. of her menaced liberties — while grateful America, so lately wrapped up in anxious suspense, on the fate of this important city, is re-echoing from shore to shore, your splen- did achievements, and preparing to inscribe your name on her immortal rolis, among those of her Washingtons — while history, poetry, and the mon- umental arts, will vie, in consigning to the admira- tion of the latest posterity, a triumph, perhaps, unparalleled in their records — while thus raised, By universal acclamation, to the very pinnacle of fame, how easy had it been for you. General, to forget the Prime Mover of your wonderful suc- cesses, and to assume to yourself a praise, which must essentially return to that exalted source, whence every merit is derived. But, better ac- quainted with the nature of true glory, and justly placing the summit of your ambition, in approving yourself the worthy instrument of heaven's merci- ful designs, the first impulse of your religious heart, was to acknowledge the interposition of Provi- dence — vour first step, a solemn display of your 252 MEMOIRS OF humble sense of His favours. Still agitated at the remembrance of those dreadful agonies, from which we have been so miraculously rescued, it is our pride to acknowledge, that the Almighty has truly had the principal hand in our deliverance, and to follow you, general, in attributing to His in- finite goodness, the homage of our unfeigned grati- tude. Let the infatuated votary of a blind chance, deride our credulous simplicity ; let the cold heart- ed atheist look for the explanation of important events, to the mere concatenation of human causes : to us, the whole universe is loud in proclaiming a Supreme Ruler, who, as he holds the hearts of man in his hand, holds also the thread of all con- tingent occurrences. To Him, therefore, our most fervent thanks are due, for our late unexpected rescue. It is Him we intend to praise, when considering you, general, as the man of his right hand, whom he has taken pains to fit out for the important commission of our de- fence. We extol that fecundity of genius, by which, under the most discouraging distress, you created unforeseen resources, raised, as it were, from the ground, hosts of intrepid warriors, and provided every vulnerable point with ample means of de- fence. To Him we trace that instinctive superiority of your mind, which at once rallied around you universal confidence ; impressed one irresistible movement to all the jarring elements of which this political machine is composed ; aroused their slum- ANDREW JACKSON. lb\ Bering spirits, and diffused through every rank, the noble ardour which glowed in your bosom. To Him, in fine, we address our acknowledgments for that consummate prudence, which defeated all the combinations of a sagacious enemy, entangled him in the very snares which he had spread for us, and succeeded in effecting his utter destruction, without exposing the lives of our citizens. Immortal thanks be to his Supreme Majesty, for sending us such an instrument of His bountiful designs ! A gift of that value, is the best token of the continuance of His protection — the most solid encouragement, to sue for new favours. The first, which it emboldens us humbly to supplicate, as nearest our throbbing hearts, is, that you may long enjoy the honour of your grateful country ; of which you will permit us to present you a pledge, in this Wreath of Laurel, the prize of victory, the symbol of immor- tality. The next, is a speedy and honourable ter- mination of the bloody contest, in which we are engaged. No one has so efficaciously laboured as you, general, for the acceleration of that blissful period : may we soon reap that sweetest fruit of your splendid and uninterrupted victories." The general thus replied to this solemn and im- pressive address. His allusion to the " cypress leaf," a symbol of grief and woe, is inimitably fine. Cypress groves were constantly in View of the rival armies, during their sanguinary conflicts, and they will hereafter remind Englishmen of the 22 254 MEMOIRS OF carnage committed amongst his infatuated country-* men, invading our soil, by the gallant armies of the Republic in defending it. " Reverend Sir — I receive, with gratitude and ■ pleasure, the symbol crown, which piety has prepa- red. I receive it, in the name of the brave men who so effectually seconded my exertions — they well deserve the laurels which their country will bestow. For myself, to have been instrumental in the deliverance of such a country, is the greatest bles- sing that heaven could confer. That it has been effected with so little loss — that so few tears should cloud the smiles of our triumph, and not a cypress leaf be interwoven in the wreath which you pre- sent, is a source of the most exquisite pleasure. I thank you, reverend Sir, most sincerely, for the prayers, which you offer up for my happiness. May those your patriotism dictates for our beloved country, be first heard : and may mine, for your individual prosperity, as well as that of the con. gregation committed to your care, be favourably received — the prosperity, wealth, and happiness of this city, will then be commensurate with the courage and other qualities of its inhabitants." Gen. Jackson, although he felt as if Louisiana and its capital were safe, did not remit any of his ex- ertions to render the country still more secure. With the assistance of his beloved associates^ Generals Coffee, Carroll, Adair, &c. and the troops ANDREW JACKSON. 255 under their immediate command, he continued to augment the strength of his lines on each bank of the Mississippi. From his uniform language and conduct at this period, it would appear that he sup* [ posed the negociations at Ghent, would not ter- minate amicably. In one of his letters to Mr. Monroe, the Secretary of War, he says — " In my own mind, there is but little doubt, that his [the British commander's,] last exertions have been made in this quarter, at any rate for the present sea- son; and by the next, I hope we shall be fully prepa- red for him." In another one he says — " Wherever I command, such a belief, [that the enemy would retire,] shall never occasion any relaxation in the measures of resistance. I am but too sensible that the moment when the enemy is opposing us, is not the most proper to provide for him." By the 24th of January, every hostile, foot was driven from the soil of Louisiana, and Geri. Lam bert and his army, were compelled to seek for safe- ty in the fleet of Admiral Cochrane, and even that . was compelled to keep at a respectful distance from the shores o{ the Republic. Before the 8th February, the British forces had positive and certain intelligence, that a treaty of peace between America and Great Britain, had been signed by the commissioners of the two gov- ernments at Ghent. They were aware, however, that it was not binding until ratifications were ex changed. Anxious to wipe off the indelible d*s- 356 MEMOIRS 01' grace they had incurred at New Orleans, upon the 8th of January, they assailed Fort Bowyer, at the mouth of the Mobile, upon the 8th February, with their whole land and naval forces. The gallant Lawrence was still there ; but resistance would have been the sacrifice of his u little phalanx." He surrendered the fort; but one condition was, that the Americans should march out of it 4i with ; colours flying, and drums beating — the officers ret aim- ing their swords," The " commanders in chief of his Britannic ma* jesty^s land and naval forces upon the American station," are welcome to all the little glory they claim, for taking this little fort, only to surrender it up again. Upon the 13th February, Gen. Jackson was ad- vised of the ratification of the Treaty of Peace, by an express from the War Department. The following address to his troops, upon ordering thera to be marched home, will always be read with de- light. " The major-general is at length enabled to per- form the pleasing task, of restoring to Tennessee, Kentucky, Louisiana, and the territory of the Mis- sissippi, the brave troops who have acted such a distinguished part, in the war which has just termin- ated. In restoring these brave men to their homes, much exertion is expected of, and great responsi- bility imposed on, the commanding officers of the different corps. It is required of Maj. Gens. Car- ANDREW JACKSON. 257 v roll, and Thomas, and Brig, Gen. Coffee, to march their commands, without unnecessary delay, to their respective states. The troops from the Mis- sissippi Territory and state of Louisiana, both mili- tia and volunteers, will be immediately mustered out of service, paid, and discharged. i The major-general has the satisfaction of announc- ing the approbation of the President of the United States, to the conduct of the troops under his com- mand, expressed in flattering terms, through the hon- ourable the Secretary of War. In parting with these brave men, whose destinies have been so long united with his own, and in whose labours and glories it is his happiness and his boast to have par- ticipated, the commanding general can neither suppress his feelings, nor give utterance to them as he ought. In what terms can he bestow suitable praise on merit so extraordinary, so unparalleled ? Let him, in one burst of joy, gratitude, and exulta- tion exclaim — these are the saviours of their coun- try — these the patriot soldiers, who triumphed over the invincibles of Wellington, and conquer- ed the conquerors of Europe ! With what patience did you submit to privations — with what fortitude did you endure fatigue— what valour did you display in the day of battle ! you have secured to America a proud name among the nations of the earth — a glory which will never perish. Possessing those dispositions, which equal- ly adorn the citizen, and the soldier, the expecta- 22* 258 MEMOIRS Oil 1 tions of your country will be met in peace, as her wishes have been gratified in war. Go, then, my brave companions, to your homes ; to those tender connexions, and blissful scenes, which render life so dear — full of honour, and crowned with laurels which will never fade. When participating, in the bosoms of your families, the enjoyment of peace- ful life, with what happiness will you not look back to the toils you have borne — to the dangers you have encountered ? How will all your past expo- sures be converted into sources of inexpressible delight ? Who, that never experienced your suffer- ings, will be able to appreciate your joys ? The man who slumbered ingloriously at home, during your painful marches, your nights of watchfulness? and your days of toil, will envy you the happiness which these recollections will afford — still more will he envy the gratitude of that country, which you have so eminently contributed to save. Con- tinue, fellow-soldiers, on your passage to your sev- eral destinations, to preserve that subordination, that dignified and manly deportment, which have so ennobled your character. While* -the commanding general is thus giving indulgence to his feelings, towards those brave companions, who accompanied him through diffi- culties and danger, he cannot permit the names of Blount, and Shelby, and Holme* > to pass unnoticed. With what generous ardour and patriotism, have these distinguished governours contributed all thek ANDREW JACKSON. 259 exertions, and the success which has resulted, will be to them a reward more grateful, than any which the pomp of title, or the splendour of wealth, can bestow. What happiness it is to the commanding general, that, while danger was before him, he was, on no occasion, compelled to use towards his compan- ions in arms, either severity or rebuke. If, after the enemy had retired, improper passions began their empire in a few unworthy bosoms, and rendered a resort to energetic measures necessary for their suppression, he has not confounded the innocent with the guilty — the seduced with the seducers. Towards you, fellow-soldiers, thof most cheering recollections exist, blended, alas ! with regret, that disease and war should have ravished from us, so many worthy companions. But the memory of the cause in which they perished, and of the virtues which animated them, while living, must occupy the place where sorrow would claim to dwell. Farewell, fellow-soldiers. The expression of your general's thanks is feeble, but the gratitude of a country of freemen is yours — yours the applause of an admiring world." In this address to the troops, the solicitude of Gen. Jackson, for the reputation of the army, is clearly evinced. Aware that the exultation they felt from the victories they had obtained, and the animation that aroused them to enthusiasm, at the " wreath of laurel" bestowed upon them by 260 MEMOIRS OF their countrymen, might occasion abberrations from the regular walk of sober citizens, he exhorted them not to tarnish in peace, the glory they had acquired in war. The troops thus dismissed by their comman- der, had to march from five to eight hundred miles, before they reached their homes. The citizens, inhabiting the country through which they passed, so far from treating them with distant coldness, and extorting from them the pittance they had obtained for defending the Republic, (conduct not unknown to some parts of America.) received them with un- bounded hospitality, and congratulated them as the gallant defenders of American Independence, AXDKEW JACKSOK. CHAPTER XVIII. Recapitulation of facts relative to Proclamation of Mar- tial Law, writ of habeas corpus, Louaillier, and Judge Hall — Arrest of Gen. Jackson — hh defence, con- viction, and fine — Trial by jury — Popular teelin^ — Moderation of Gen. Jackson— he advises to a sacred regard for civil power. IT will be recollected by the reader, that upon the 16th December, Gen. Jackson proclaimed mar- tial law in New Orleans, and in the environs of it. The reasons of that measure, have already been briefly given, and the imperious necessity of adopt- ing it, demonstrated. Next to the efficient mea- sures of defence below the city, the people are indebted to the temporary execution of this system of government, for their salvation from the horrours of British invasion. That the military power, must be secondary to the civil, is an axiom in our Republic generally assented to> That they are both, on great emer- gencies, to support the honour, dignity, and inde- pendence of the States, is a sentiment no less gen- erally prevalent. It is a principle, that may be said to be coeval with the formation of civil government, that laws are silent in the midst of arms, or as the Romans had it, " leges silent inter armaS* These principles are each to have an influence upon the mind, in forming an opinion of the propriety of Gen. Jackson's conduct, in regard 262 MEMOIRS OF to the suppression of the civil authority at New Orleans, and the legislature of Louisiana, at that time in session there. Nothing but the agitation produced at the ap- proach of imminent danger, upon fearful minds, can furnish the least palliation for the extraordinary course pursued by the city police of New Orleans, and the legislature of Louisiana, during the most portentous period of their history, ?. e. from the 16th Dec. 1314, to the middle of Feb. 1815. These confident assertions would not be made, were they not susceptible of the clearest proof. The existence of that state of things which led to the declaration of martial law, by Gen. Jackson, has been partly unfolded by presenting the reader in a preceding chapter, with what was deemed appro- priate extracts, from the correspondence of Gov, Claiborne w r ith him. This evidence must be com- pletely satisfactory, as it was derived from a dis- tinguished civil officer, who must, with distressing reluctance, have detailed to the world, the melan- choly confession of facts so derogatory to the dignity and to the patriotism of the legislature, over whom he presided, and of the city where they were in session. It will never, however, be for- gotten, that the police of New Orleans, at this peril- ous period, was not in accordance with the wishes of a great proportion of its patriotic citizens ;" nor did the timorous and vascillating policy of the legisla- ture^ coincide with the ardent desires, of a great ANDREW JACKSON. number of its members. A number of them follow- ed the governour from the house of legislation, to the camp of Gen. Jackson, and shewed that they felt more solicitous to preserve their state from the contaminating footsteps of a barbarous enemy, than to remain in conclave, debating upon questions of punctiliious etiquette, between the civil and military powers. It has already been stated, that a majority of the senate and house of representatives, in the state legislature of Louisiana, were opposed to the re- quisitions which Gov. Claiborne had made upon the Louisiana militia. The patriotism of the mi- litia, however, was not to be damped by a legisla- tive veto, and they followed their patriotic governour to the field ; and while they were repelling the tremendous assault of the enemy, upon the 28th Dec. with their brave countrymen from Tennessee, Kentucky, and Mississippi, the legislature were actually engaged in debating the question, whether they should not surrender the capital aud the state, to the British army — and make the best terms they could with Sir Edward Pakenham ! ! Gen. Jackson ordered Gov. Claiborne, to repair to the city with a requisite number of troops, to preserve it from the danger of their own legislature, while he would defend it from the enemy hanging upon its borders. This order was promptly executed, and the legisla- ture, by their own governour, was prevented from sacrificing the city as a victim to their own frars. 264 MEMOIRS OF To see a state legislature gravely taking measures tonegociate with the enemy of the whole Republic, evinced almosta complete deterioration of intellect. The commander of the forces, so far as his power extends, is the only representative of the national power — he only must be the judge of what will con- duce to the safety of the country, he commands ; and he only is accountable for the measures that may be adopted. If New Orleans had been sacrificed by the commander, in a manner as dastardly as was Detroit, the same disgrace would now have been at- tached to the name of Jackson, as there is to that of Hull ; but by defending it against the power of the enemy ; the intrigues of some of its citizens, and the feverish agitation of the legislature, he has placed himself beyond the reach of rivalship, upon the rolls of fame. Without pursuing this subject farther, the rea- der is now called to leave the legislature of Louisia- na, in 1814 — 15, where facts have left it, and follow Gen. Jackson from the solemn scene of thanks- giving to heaven, and the acclamations of a preserv- ed people for victories obtained, to answer for his military conduct before a judicial tribunal. To a believer in the doctrine of decrees, it wculd seem to have been fore-ordained, that Andrew Jackson should be the instrument of procuring the greatest temporal blessings for his country ; and that the in- gratitude of republics should have made him, in $ome respects, a signal instance, to show that they are still ungrateful. INI&tEW JACKSON. iGo Gen. Jackson found himself under the imperious necessity of continuing the execution of martial law, until the enemy had totally abandoned his hos- tile views against New Orleans and Mobile ; or un- til the rumours of peace were confirmed by official communications from the War Department. Upon the first circulation of these rumours, the troops evinced the utmost impatience, and a spirit of in- subordination pervaded the army before New Or- leans. From his knowledge of the innumerable stratagems of the enemy, to gain, by the policy of war, what they dispaired of acquiring by the force of arms, Gen. Jackson was apprehensive that they had devised this report, to lull the soldiers and citi- zens into a fatal security, and to take the first fa- vourable opportunity that offered, to invade the country, and subject it to British dominion. A member of the legislature, by the name of Louaillier, had published in a New Orleans' Ga- zette, an article calculated to excite rebellion in the American army, and to encourage the enemy to renew their attack. Gen. Jackson immediately ordered him to be arrested and confined. Mr. Dominic A. Hall, judge of the district, immediately issued a writ of habeas corpus, directed to Gen. Jackson, commanding him to show reasons for the detention of this legislator. The general, knowing that his appearance before his troops, in a time of danger, was of more consequence to his country, than his appearance before a judge, who was en- c 23 266 MEMOIRS OP deavouring, by the exercise of judicial power, to pro- tect a domestic enemy, immediately ordered Judge Hall to be arrested and sent out of the city. The trial was postponed until the country was secured. In a very few days after this commencement of war between the military power of the American Republic, and the judicial authority at New Orleans, peace was officially announced to Gen. Jackson, from th « War Department, " between His Britannic Majesty and the United States, and between their res- pective countries, territories, cities, towns, and peo- ple, of every degree, without exception of places or persons." The joy that filled every heart at the return of peace, was mingled with gratitude to Gen. Jackson, his long tried, brave, and patriotic officers, and gallant soldiers, for their protection in time of war. But amidst this exhilarating scene, the sullen murmurs of disappointed faction, were heard in discordant notes ; and the very men who were indebted to Gen. Jackson and his army, for the preservation of their lives, fortunes and fami- lies, seemed to be actuated by the bitterest malice against him. It was upon the 11th March, that Judge Hall, was removed from New Orleans — upon the 13th, the ratification of the treaty of Ghent, was officially announced there — upon the 19th, military opera- tions were brought to a close between the two armies — and upon the 3 1st, Gen. Jackson was arrested and brought before the same Judge Hall, ANDREW JACKSON. 267 to answer for his contempt of the court, for not answering, instanter, to the habeas corpus, a*id for imprisoning the Judge who issued it !! From the nature of the subject, and the mode of proceeding, this may be pronounced by the legal profession, to be causa primce impressionism Called thus suddenly from the encampment of an army, before a court of law. Gen, Jackson di- vested himself of the stern character of the soldier, and resumed the more gentle one of the advocate — not to defend a client, as he often had done, against groundless charges ; but to save himself from the vengeance of infuriated malice. The defence he made, has been before the public, ever sincr; he made it. It is a source of regret, that the insertion of it entire, cannot be made. It comprises not only the facts upon which it was grounded, but a profound disquisition upon the civil and military power, in a time of imminent danger. The follow- ing selections from it will show the reasons, in addi- tion to those already given, why he proclaimed and enforced marshal law — imprisoned a legislative scribbler — neglected to regard a writ of habeas cor- pus, and compelled the judge who issued it, to leave the city of New Orleans. In this defence, the gen- eral says — " A disciplined, and powerful army was on ouu coast, commanded by officers of tried valour, and consummate skill ; their fleet had already destroyed the feeble defence, on which, alone, wecouW rdv to prevent their landing on our shores. 268 MEMOIRS OF Their point of attack was uncertain— a hundred inlets were to be guarded, by a force not sufficient in number for one 5 we had no lines of defence ; treason lurked amongst us, and only waited the mo- ment of expected defeat, to show itself openly. Our men were few, and of those few, not all were armed ; our utter ruin if we failed, at hand, and inevitable : everything depended on the prompt and energetic use of the means we possesed, in calling the whole force of the community into ac- tion ; it was a contest for the very existence of the state, and every nerve was to be strained in its defence. The physical force of every indivi- dual, his rnorp,! faculties, his property, and the ener- gy^ his example, were to be called into action, and instant action. No delay — no hesitation — no inquiry about rights, or all was lost ; and every thing dear to man, his property, life, the honour of his family, his country, its constitution and laws, were swept away by the avowed principles, the open practice of the enemy, with whom we had to contend. Fortifications were to be erected, supplies procured, arms sought for, requisitions made, the emissaries of the enemy watched, lurking treason overawed, insubordination punished, and the contagion of cowardly example to be stopped. In this crisis, and under a firm persuasi m that none of those objects could be effected by the exercise of the ordinary powers confided to him — under a solemn conviction that the country com- ANDREW JACKSON. 269 mitted to his care, could be saved by that measure only, from utter ruin — under a religious belief, that he was performing the most important and sacred duty, the respondent proclaimed martial law. He intended, by that measure, to supersede such civil powers, as in their operation, interfered with those he was obliged to exercise. He thought, in such a moment, constitutional forms must be suspended, for the permanent preservation of con- stitutional rights, and that there could be no ques- tion, whether it were best to depart, for a moment, from the enjoyment of our dearest privileges, or have them wrested from us forever. He knew, that if the civil magistrate were permitted to exer- cise his usual functions, none of the measures neces- sary to avert the awful fate that threatened us, could be expected. Personal liberty cannot exist at a time when every man is required to become a soldier. Private property cannot be secured, when its use is indispensable to the public safety. Unlimited liberty of speech is incompatible with the discipline of a camp : and that of the press, more dangerous still, when made the vehicle of conveying intelligence to the enemy, or exciting mutiny among the troops. To have suffered the uncontrolled enjoyment of any of those rights, du- ring the time of the late invasion, would have been to abandon the defence of the country. The civil magistrate is the guardian of those rights - e but no further. 55 23* 270 MEMOIRS OF In perusing the preceding extract, the reader must feel a pride in reflecting, that Gen. Jackson, and many other officers in the army of the Re- public, have acquired the science of Statesmen, as well as the fame of Soldiers. The general, in his masterly defence, minutely and forcibly assigns the reasons for the course he pursued in regard to Louaillier, the writ of habeas corpus, and Judge Hall ; and proceeds — " To have silently looked on such an offence, without making any attempt to punish it, would have been a formal surrender of all discipline, all order, all personal dignity, and public safety. This could not be done ; and the respondent immediate- ly ordered the arrest of the offender. A writ of habeas corpus was directed to issue for his enlarge- ment. The very case which had been foreseen ; the very contingency on which martial law was intended to operate, had now occurred. The oivil magistrate seemed to think it his duty, to en- force the enjoyment of civil rights, although the % consequences which have been described, would probably have resulted. An unbending sense of what he seemed to think his station required, indu- ced him to order the liberation of the prisoner. This, under the respondent's sense of duty, produ- ced a conflict, which it was his wish to avoid* No other course remained, than to enforce the principles which he had laid down as his guide, and to suspend the exercise of the judicial powerr ANDREW JACKSON* 27$ whenever it interfered with the necessary means of defence. The only way effectually to do this, was to place the judge in a situation, in which his interference could not counteract the measures of defence, or give countenance to the mutinous disposition that had shown itself in so alarming a degree. Merely to have disregarded the writ, would have increased the evil, and to have obeyed it, was wholly repugnant to the respo -de t's ideas of the public safety, and to his own sense of duty. The judge was therefore confined, and removed be- yond the lines of defence. 7 ' After denying the jurisdiction of the court, and claiming, as a constitutional right, a trial by jury$ he thus concludes a defence, which the jurist may read with advantage, and the patriot with ad- miration. " This was the conduct of the respondent, and these the motives which prompted it. They have been fairly and openly exposed, to this tribunal, and to the world, and would not have been ac- companied by any exceptions or waiver of jurisdic- tion, if it had been deemed expedient to give him that species of trial, to which he thinks himself entitled by the constitution of his country. The powers which the exigency of the times forced him to assume, have been exercised ex- clusively for the public good 5 and, by the bles- sing of God, they have been attended with un- paralleled success. They have saved the country ; $72 MEMOIRS OP and whatever may be the opinion of that country, or the decrees of its courts, in relation to the means he has used, he can never regret that he employed them." The trial by jury, however much it maybe sneer- ed at, by the possessors and advocates of undefined power, has secured to Englishmen the few rights remaining to them. To Americans, it is secured by our inimitable Constitution ; but in the instance before the reader, it was refused to Gen. Jackson, by calling in th<; aid of the common law of England, to insure the conviction of the respondent for con- tempt of court ! ! Dominic A. Hall was the judge whose dignity was alledged to be affected by con- tempt of court — Dominic A. Hall was the man who was said to have sustained an individual injury by the operation of martial law— Dominic A. Hall was the judge who would have jurisdiction of the case — who deprived Gen. Jackson of a trial by jury, and who amerced him in a fine of a thousand dollars ! Ha^f of this sum must have been expended in delays, costs of prosecution, and in the expenses of making defence, and the whole* fifteen hundred dol- lars, was drawn out of the pocket of the man whose indefatigable exertions, consummate wisdom, and gallant courage, had secured to the judge the privi- lege of convicting him. The records of Judge Jeffery himself, scarcely furnishes a parallel with this proceeding. An English jury, saved Ptnn and Meade— afterwards ANDREW JACKSON. 273 the Dean of St. Asaph, and in the present reign, Tooke, Hardy, and Thelwell, from the grasp of a vin- dictive ministry, and subservient judiciary ; and had Gen. Jackson been arraigned before an impartial and an independent Jury of Americans, allowed to consider his whole case, with what readiness would they have pronounced a verdict of" not guilty," and changed the indignant murmurs of the audience at his conviction, into joyous acclamations at his acquittal. Gen. Jackson immediately satisfied the judg- ment, and retired from the court to his carriage. The throng that surrounded the hall of justice, could not repress their feelings. The horses were un- harnessed — the carriage elevated upon their shoul- ders, and the Hero of New Orleans, was, in this manner, borne through the streets to his lodgings. by its protected and secured citizens. Flattering as was this demonstration of respect and admira- tion for him, the general was apprehensive that it was evincive of some disrespect for civil power, and addressed them, in the most pathetic manner. This address is before the writer ; but its length forbids its insertion. He acknowledged the civili- ty of the people, not with the studied formality of fashionable etiquette, but with the impassioned elo- quence of the heart. He exhorted the people whom he loved, and who almost adored him, not to suffer the ebullitions of passion, to make then forget ihe respect due to civil authority. They offered to S74 MEMOIRS OF pay the amount of the fine inflicted upon him, but he declined receiving it ; and retired to his lodgings with the unassumed dignity of conscious integrity. It is with pride, mingled with veneration, that the writer is enabled thus to furnish the reader with conclusive evidence, of the dignified moderation of a conqueror, who conqered, not to aggrandize him- self, but to render secure that independence ac- quired by his countrymen. Although by military power, he had saved an important section of the Re- public, and secured the enjoyment of civil power ^ he was conscious that the first was. and must be, in a free government, superiour to the last ; and if, by a civil or judicial functionary, he had sustained what his countrymen deemed an injury, he was con- scious that it was far preferable to suffer himself, and to have errors of judgment overlooked, than to have the civil institutions of his country disre- garded. ANDREW JACKSON. 275 CHAPTER XIX. Gen. Jackson retires from New Orleans — arrives at Nashville, his place of residence — Reflection — He receives a message to repair to the seat of government,, to assist in arranging the Peace Establishment of the U. S. army — Difficulty of that duty— Votes <»f thanks &c. to Gen. Jackson — He repairs to the seat o» gov- ernment — Civilities received upon his passage, and on his arrival — Returns to his head-quarters at Nash- ville, and in 1816, repairs to New Orleans, and ar- ranges the army. GEN. JACKSON, having preserved the military district assigned to his command, from invasion — - having defended it against a force which the enemy supposed irresistible, and his countrymen alarm- ingly formidable — having restored his gallant army- to the fire-sides rendered safe by their valour — having submitted to the adjudication of a civil tribunal, and complied with its decision, he had an opportunity to enjoy that repose to which he had long been a stranger, and which was now rendered secure from the disturbance of savage and civilized foes. He beheld an immense por- tion of the Republic, which was recently in danger of subjugation, by a power whose ambition is as boundless as its cupidity, enjoying in security, the blessings of the American Constitution. It is utterly impossible to describe by language, the emotions of the heart upon this occasion — de- scription lags far behind reality, and its power is 276 MEMOIRS OF impotency itself. Surrounded by a recently alarm ed, and now a secured people, whose hearts were swollen with gratitude, and whose eyes were swimming in tears of joy, he stood amidst the citizens of New Orleans, like a father in the midst of a family, who owed their temporal feli- city to his assiduous labours, The females of the Gity, who owed their lives, and what was dearer, their honour, to his courage, in impressive silence, evinced their gratitude to their " Patron and Friend/' ".A glance sends volumes to the heart, u While words impassioned die. 1 " Gen. Jackson had a family eight hundred miles distant, from which he had long been separated, aod to which he was impelled, by the most affec- tionate attachment, to return. He left New Or- leans, with the blessings of its citizens for his wisdom and courage in defending them, and with their prayers for his happiness. In the long dis- tance of country through which he passed to his residue e at Nashville, he was every where receiv- ed by the people, with the most enthusiastic de- monstrations of respect ; and greeted as the great instrument in the ha ids of heaven, of preserving their country from British outrage, and British do- minion. It was the only reward they couM bestow, ami the most grateful one he could receive. In every heart, a monument was erected to his glory jpon the foundation of gratitude, which will never ANDREW JACKSQK'. c 2l% be shaken ; but which will be transmitted from the bosom of the sire to the son, through all the distant ages of posterity. He arrived at Nashville upon the 1 5th May, 1815. Twenty-seven years before, he arrived here at the age of twenty-four years, an insulated being, rely- ing solely upon his own exertions and the smiles of heaven, for his establishment in life. He ra- pidly advanced in fame, as the country with rapidi- ty, advanced to civilization — he literally "grew with the growth, and strengthened with the strength*' of the people of Tennessee. He had gone hand in hand with his fellow citizens, in protecting the territory and the state, from the barbarous carnage of savpges, and securing the rude cottage of the early settler from conflagration, and his family from massacre. He had seen an expanded wil- derness, where the majestic silence of nature w as broken only by the howling of beasts, the yells of savages, and the tumbling of waters, converted into a region of civilization, where the arts, so conducive to the happiness of man, and the sci- ences, which enlarges his veiws, were practised and taught. He had seen, in the space of a quarter of a century, a new people arise in a new country, to an elevation equal to that of many portions of the globe, which have enjoyed the inestimable blessings of civilization for many centuries. He had seen a constitution established to secure the rights of the people — courts instituted to admini?- 24 2.73 MEMOIRS OF ter justice, and three universities founded to diffuse the lights of science. He had sustained many im- portant offices in the state, and had represented it in both branches of the national government, and had laboured to render the civil, religious, and po- litical rights of the people secure. To protect these enjoyments, he had, at the call of his fellow- citizens, led them into the heart of a country of savages, and conquered them into peace. He .also had led them into the face of the most for- midable and best disciplined army, that ever as- sailed the American Republic, and compelled those of them who were not left to moulder in the soil they invaded, to flee from destruction. At Nash- ville, he found himself surrounded by his grateful fellow-citizens, in the enjoyment of peace and hap- piness ; and by his accomplished officers and gallant soldiers who had, by their courage, rendered them se- cure. Terrestrial regions could not afford a scene more impressively interesting. In Gen. Jackson 5 the people recognized a Statesman, whose laborious an i scientific exertions had conduced greatly to the security of their political rights ; and a Soldier* whose valour had defended them from violation. In the people who now surrounded him, the general recognized virtuous and industrious citizens, and faithful and gallant soldiers. Gen. Jackson had received a message, some time previous to his arrival at Nashville, to repair to the seat of government, to render that assistapce ANDREW JACKS0N. 27jJ which his knowledge and experience enabled him to afford, in organizing a peace establishment in the army of the Republic, Indispensable duties, in the district under his command, rendered a compliance impossible. The task which devolved upon the War, and the other Departments of the government, in disband- ing an army, which, in the last campaign of the war, had every where covered itself with glory, was im- portant arid delicate in the extreme* To the pri- vate soldier, whose toils had been severe, whose privations had been hard, and whose reward at the conclusion of the war was ample, to be restored to private life, was a gratification. But to officers, from the highest to the lowest grade, who entered the^ service, more for the acquisition of fame than fortune — who had left promising prospects in pri- vate life, to defend their endangered country — -for such men to be dismissed from the service, with which they had become familiar, and be compelled to return again to the dull pursuits of civil life, which has but few charms for the soldier, was a difficult, although a necessary duty. The American Republic is not a military govern- ment — and an overgrown standing army in a time of peace, cannot be maintained. From the immense extent of the country — from the number of its forts on the sea-board, and frorir tier, a small standing force is necessary, and a small ene only, in a time of peace, will be endured by -80 MEMOIRS OF the people. Conversant with the history of an- cient and modern military governments, the Ameri- can people are jealous of military power. A ne- cessary military force will always be supported— a supernumerary army, will always be considered and opposed, as dangerous. At the conclusion of the second war between the American Republic, and the kingdom of Great Britain, the government de- cided that ten thousand troops, properly proportion- ed, as to officers and soldiers, should constitute the peace establishment — probably the smallest stand- ing army, considering the extent, population, and importance of the country, in any nation in the world. Many ofiicers, who would have adorned any army, must have been dismissed by the reduc- tion of the American army, from the war to the peace establishment. The whole of the Republic was divided into izoo divisions, ordepartments — the South, and the North, Maj. Gen. Jackson was appointed commander in chief of the Division of the South. His appoint- ment to this important command, met with the ap- probation of the country. His ability to com- mand, had been proved by obtaining a series of vic- tories, over the most warlike tribe of savages, and the best disciplined armies in the world, under the most disadvantageous circumstances. Gen. Jackson, established his head-quarters at Nashville, where he was constantly receiving the rnost unequivocal evidence of the gratitude of his ANDREW JACKSON. U&l countrymen. Minute details are incompatible with the limits of this work ; otherwise the reader might be furnished with the proceedings of various legis- latures, in passing votes of thanks, expressed in the strongest terms of approbation. A vote of thanks, although unaccompanied with any pecuniary favour, is, to a disinterested patriot, the highest rew r ard he can receive. The legislature of Tennessee, were amongst the first to manifest their respect for the character and achievements of Gen. Jackson. They passed a vote of thanks, and presented him with a gold medal. They could not forget his gallant associates, Gen. Coffee, and Carroll, to whom they presented elegant swords. A British parliament, when it bestows the title of %.duke, also drains the treasury, to purchase a duke- dom for the ennobled subject, and compels the hum- ble subjects to refund it, by imposing exorbitant taxes. The American government, although just to its distinguished citizens and soldiers, cannot be generous at the expence of the zvholc of them. Gen. Washington, in the first war between the Republic and Britain, thought nothing of pecunia- ry reward, nor did Gen. Jackson in the second; but the one could not have been, and the other cannot be, indifferent to the grateful applause of indepen- dent and protected Americans. Although Gen. Jackson, in early life, felt little solicitude for the accumulation or preservation of wealth, he nevertheless, after he commenced busi- 24* IttEMOtaS OF ness at Nashville, acquired by industry, and Saved by frugality, a fine real estate, delightfully situated upon the bank of the Cumberland riven To thi? he might have retired, had he left the service, and have enjoyed an elegant independence. He might have surveyed his tenements and fertile fields, and have exclaimed, with exquisite delight, " these were acquired by my labour — these were defend- ed by my valour, and here I can enjoy domestic fe- licity in safety." But although the Republic was at peace with all the world, it could not dispense with the military services of this great Command- er. He was retailed in the service, not like a pensioned duke, with a numerous pensioned reti- nue, to excite the unmeaning admiration of a de- graded peasantry, but to perfect a military system for his country. The division assigned to his com- mand, is larger than half of Europe, and requires the most consummate skill in the commander, to place it in a situation to repel future invasions. Late in the autumn of 1815, Gen. Jackson re- paired, for the first time since the declaration of war, to the seat of government. Upon his passage thither, he received that marked attention, which a grateful and an admiring people bestow, upon a distinguished benefactor. Although in time of war, he avoided all parade and ceremonies inconsistent with the imperious demands of duty, yet he could not, at this period, avoid a compliance with the wishes of his countrymen, to mingle with their gal^ ANDREW JACKSON. 888 lant defenders ; nor could he avoid areciprocatioa of their civility and hospitality. At Lynchburgh, in Virginia, a public dinner was given him, at which the philosopher of Monticello, Thomas Jefferson, was present. The veneration that was excited by the presence of the American Statesman, could hardly restrain the enthusiasm produced by the presence of the American Hero. Although far removed from the deeply interesting scenes of Gen. Jackson's military operations, the people of this place and its vicinity, duly appre- ciated his exalted merit. Toasts have been said to discover the undisguised sentiments of the people 5 and it is presumed the toast given upon this occasion, in reference to Gen. Jackson, by Mr. Jefferson, will be cordially assented to, by every American — " Honour and gratitude to the man, who has filled the measure of his country's honour." Upon this occasion, the general, knowing that the country he had defended was acquired by nego- tiation, by the same man who had so essentially aided him in protecting it, gave for a toast — " James Monroe." Upon his arrival at Washington, he was received with that dignified affability, and cordial affection, for which the President and the heads of the seve- ral departments, are distinguished. No ostenta- tious parade, better calculated to repress than to elicit the feelings of the heart, was displayed upon the occasion. The civil fathers of the Republic 28 i MEMOIRS OP saw before them, a soldier, who had supported in the field; the measures they had devised in the cabinet. Respecting and respected, they mutually congratulated each other, upon the successful ter- mination of their arduous labours. In surveying the city, the effects of 'Vandal warfare, were visible in the barbarous ravages of a British army. He saw the ruins of the Capitol and the President's house, and knew that it was in open violation of the principles of civilized warfare, that it was pro- duced. He must have rejoiced that a Pakenham was prevented from leaving such tracks of desola- tion in New Orleans, as a Ross had in Washington. At all the public parties which the general at- tended at Washington, at Georgetown, and at other places in the vicinity, he shewed, that although in time of war, a soldier must be as a lion to his ene- mies, he could, in time of peace, be a lamb to his friends — that he could " smooth the wrinkled front" of the soldier, and enjoy the " lulling tune of the lute." At the table, he could enjoy the luxuries it afforded, with the elegance of the gentleman — at a levee, or a drawing-room, could reciprocate the civilities he received, and in the ball-room, could, if he chosed, display the refined accomplishments of the courtier. Mrs. Jackson accompanied her husband to Washington ; and every where received that distinguished respect, which her own merit, as well as admiration for the general, induced every pne to bestow. ANDREW JACKSON. 28& But amidst the fascinating blandishments of re- lined society, and the alluring charms of elegant amusements, he never forgat his duty to his coun- try. More than one half of one of the largest na- tions in the world, in point of territory, had been- assigned to his command. Although the olive branch of peace, waved over his country, where the clarion of war had, for a long time, assailed the ears of his countrymen, he never remitted his exertions to secure, in time of peace, by efficient regulations and necessary establishments, the rights and blessings that had been defended by the sword. It is inconsistent with the design of these me- moirs, to give a minute detail of all the inter- esting scenes through which Gen. Jackson passed, in his extensive private intercourse with the most exalted, as well as the middling classes of society. A Boswell, might swell the life of a Johnson to three octavos,, by telling the world how the " giant of literature" dressed upon particular days — upon what days he drank wine With his friends — cream with his coffee, and enriched his hunns with butter. Gen. Jackson's life is interspersed with incidents more interesting to his countrymen, than such events 5 and it is presumed they will be more interested in the detail of them. In the spring of 1816, Gen. Jackson repaired to the great scene of his military operations, New Orleans. It is utterly impossible to give the readet any conception of the rapture of the people, in 286 MEMOIRS OF again seeing in the bosom of the city, the niaiV who had saved it from carnage and destruction — its sons from murder, and its daughters from wanton violation. After the scenes of cordial congratula- tion were passed, he immediately reviewed the troops — examined minutely into the police of the camp, and finding the troops unhealthy, resolved to have them removed to the Alabama Territory, which was soon after effected. Although the health and ccmfort of troops, i^ a primary object with a commander, yet in ad- dition to this consideration, Gen. Jackson, con~ sidered, from former experience, that the most en- dangered part of the " Division of the South," was that which bordered upon the Spanish provinces of Florida, in which the Alabama and Siminole Indians were embosomed. He was aware that the stationing of American troops upon their bor- ders, would tend to restrain their barbarity ; and that they could more promptly be punished when committed. Subsequent events, shewed the wj£* dom of this measure. ANDREW JACKSONc 28? CHAPTER XX, Gen. Jackson riegociates a treaty for extinguishment of Indian titles to land — Issues an order relative to this subject — Receives a silver vase from the Ladies of South Carolina, &c. — Returns to Nashville — Issues an important general order — Prepares to defend his Division — Commencement of Siminole war — Gen Gaines attacks the Siminoles — Gen Jackson addres- ses the " Tennessee Volunteers" — repairs to Geor- gia — and enters with his army into Florida — Justifi- cation of that measure — he captures St. Marks. GEN. JACKSON, having discharged the impor- tant duty of regulating and stationing the army, in the southern section, of the Division of the South, he entered into negociation with the Chickasaw, Choctaw, Cherokee, and Creek Indians. The object of the negociation, was to obtain from them,, the absolute relinquishment of all the claim they pretended to have to lands, within the limits of the United States, and which had previously been ' ceded by them. This measure evinced, in a sig- nal manner, the moderation of the American go- vernment toward the natives. Although the ter- ritory had before been obtained, first by conquest, after a sanguinary war, occasioned by the savages themselves, and afterwards by treaty with them, by which they acknowledged their gratitude to the government for permitting them to retain any territory, yet, to pacify them completely, for the diminution of their limits, and to extinguish their 288 MEMOIRS OF title, Gen. Jackson, engaged, in behalf of his go\ ernment, to pay the Creeks $ 10,000 a year, for ten years ; and the Cherokees, $ 10,000 a year for eight years. Having accomplished this important measure. Gen. Jackson repaired to Hu^tsville, in the State of Mississippi, and upon the 8th of October, pub- lished an order, which was sanctioned by the gov- ernment, by which all citizens of the United States, were enjoined to abstain from all encroachments upon Indian lands, and ordered such as had, to be removed in a limited number of days. Although this might operate hard upon individuals who had acted under misapprehension, yet it was doing that justice and equity to savages, which the Ameri- can government has always extended to them ; and it rendered still more secure the frontiers of Mississippi, Tennesse, and Georgia. During this season, Gen. Jackson received a manifestation of respect from the " Ladies of South Carolina," his native state,, which must have been peculiarly grateful to his feelings. They presented him, through Col. Haynes, and Maj. Gadsden, with a splendid silver vase elevated upon a pedestal. The figures attached to it, are emblematical of the country's glory, and of the glory of " the man of new Orleans." Upon one side of it, is a striking representation of the great battle, and an inscrip- tion, " eighth January, 1815" — upon the other "PRESENTED BY THE LADIES OF SOUTH CAROLINA, T*> ANDREW JACKSON* i*S3 #ajor-6eneral andrew JACKSON," The gift was ^worthy of the receiver — worthy of the givers— wor- thy of the descendants of the patriotic matrons of South Carolina, who, in the gloomy period of the revolution, added lustre to their characters, by ex- ercising a benevolence, as boundless as the wants of their assailed countrymen. The toils, the grief, and the death, of the venerable mother of Andrew Jackson, cannot be forgotten.* At about the same time, the general received another present, although less splendid, equally appropriate. A boot manufacturer of Pittsburgh, presented him with an elegant and superb pair of military boots. He received them witk"great affa- bility, and reciprocated the civility with his usual cordiality. The presentation of a pair of woolen stockings, to the Emperor Alexander, when at London, suitable for the frigid climate in which he reigns, was received with all the condescension which the head of the allied sovereigns could be- stow upon a peasant. In October, 1816, Gen. Jackson returned to his head-quarters at Nashville, Tenn. It has long- been his happiness, when returning to the place of his residence, from the discharge of civil and mili- tary duties abroad, to have, in his absence, raised an additional claim to the gratitude and admiration of his fellow citizens. The treaty he had recentlj * Vide Chap. i. Page 3 L %5 290 MEMOIRS OF made with the Indians, was most peculiarly advan- tageous to the people of Tennessee, as it diminish- ed, and almost allayed the apprehensions of the people, from all future fears of Indian warfare. Having become perfectly familiarized with the necessary regulation and police of an army, his at- tention was almost exclusively devoted to the in- troduction of them, into the American army. In the spring of 1817, he issued the following general order, which has been the subject of severe ani- madversion, from some distinguished officers in the army, and q{ approbation from others. DIVISION ORDER. Adjutant-Ge^vERal's Office, H. Q. Division of the South, Nashville, April 22, 1817. \ The commanding general considers it due to the principles of subordination, which ought, and must exist in an army, to prohibit the disobedience of any order emanating from the Department of War, to officers of this division, who have re- ported and been assigned to duty, unless coming through him, as the proper organ of communica- tion. The object of this order, is to prevent the recurrence of a circumstance, which removed an important officer from the division, without the knowledge of the commanding general, and in- deed, when Tie supposed that officer, engaged in his official duties, and anticipated hourly the re? ceipt of his official reports, on a subject of great ANDREW JACKSON. 1*91 importance to his command ; also to prevent the topographical reports from being made .public through the medium of the newspapers, as was done in the case alluded to, thereby enabling the enemy to obtain the benefit of all our topographical researches, as soon as the general commanding, who is responsible for the division. Superiour offi- cers, having commands assigned them, are held re- sponsible to* the government, for the character and conduct of that command ; and it might as well be justified in an officer, senior in command, to give or- ders to a guard on duty, without passing that order through the officer of that guard, as that the Department of War, should countermand the ar- rangements of commanding generals, without giving their order through the proper channel. To ac- quiesce in such a course, would be a tame surren- der of military rights and etiquette ; and at once subvert the established principles of subordination and good order. Obedience to the lawful com- mands of superiour officers, is constitutionally and morally required : but there is a chain of com- munication thatbinds the military compact, which, if broken, opens the door to disobedience and disrespect, and gives loose to the turbulent spirits, who are ever ready to excite mutiny. All physi- cians, able to perform duty, who are absent oa furlough, will forthwith, repair to their respective posts. Commanding officers of regiments and corp^. *ire ordered to report specially, all officers absent 292 jHEMoms oi from duty, on the 30th of June next, and their cause of absence. The army is too small to tolerate rdlers, and they will be dismissed the service. By order of Maj. Gen. Jackson. (Signed) ROBERT BUTLER. Adjutant General* Until the commencement of the last war, the American Republic could hardly be said to have had a practical military system. From the conclu- sion of the war of the revolution, to that pe^od, it had, indeed, a small military force ; but they were scattered, in small sections, through an im- mense country, and but little of a systematic or- ganization, or of regular subordination, was to be discerned. The collisions that unhappily subsist- ed in the army, and between the army and the War Department, in the campaigns of 1812, and 1813, evinces the justice of the remark. It requir- ed the energy of a Monroe, in the last, and of a Jackson, Brown, Macomb, Gaines, Scott, Rip- rey, &c. in the first, to give efficiency and system to the physical power of the country, when called into action. The preceding general order of the Commander in Chief of the Division of the South, is inserted, not for the purpose of discussing its merits. It would be arrogance in the writer to attempt it. That subject more properly belongs to the accomplished officers of the army, than lo the unassuming biographer. ANDREW JACKSON, 293 Gen. Jackson, with that vigilance which always characterizes a great commander, extended his views through the whole of his immensely extensive division ; but he was fully aware from whence the greatest, or rather, the most immediate danger was to be apprehended. He was well acquainted with Spanish perfidy, and had once carried the Ameri- can arms to the capital of their North American possessions, and terrour into the heart of an effemi- nate, though vindictive minister of the imbecile, though tyrannical Ferdinand VII. The sparing mercy of the American government, was extended to him and to his nation, from the most solemn assu- ranees, that the treaty existing between the Ameri- can and Spanish governments, should be inviolably kept, and faithfully executed. Without alluding to other articles, and other violations, it is sufficient for the present purpose to state, that one article of this treaty provides, that the Spanish government, shall wholly restrain the savages within the limits of their possessions in North America, from depre- dations of every kind upon the citizens of the United States. In the preceding parts of this work, the conduct of Manrequez, the then Spanish governour, has been unfolded. Conduct equally flagrant in outrage, was pursued by the Spanish au- thorities, after the conclusion of peace between America and Great Britain, as was pursued during the last war. So far from restraining the hostile 'Savages from committing depredations upon the \*x 25* 294 MEMOIR- ritory, and murder upon the persons of American citizens, they were encouraged to the perpetration of these deeds, by the officers and emissaries of Spain. No thanks are due from Americans to the Span- ish authorities of Florida, for the peace which has subsisted, for a considerable period, between the government and people of the American Republic ; and the Choctazo, Creek, Cherokee, and Chickasazo tribes of Indians : nor will these brave and infatu- ated sons of the forest, thank them for stimulating them to warfare, against a magnanimous nation* whose prowess, directed by the courage and wisdom of Gen. Jackson, has conquered them into a peace, advantageous to themselves — advantageous, because the sacred regard to justice, which is the leading characteristic of the American government, will inviolably regard it. These tribes, from the most correct information, could bring into the field, in 1817, 10,000 warriors : but none of them, except the disaffected, who had, by the seduction of foreign emissaries, joined the Siminoles, raised the hatchet against Americans. The Siminole Indians are not a " legitimate" tribe of native Americans. They are an associa- tion of desperados, who have been banished from other tribes, and who have drawn into their con* federacy, many runaway negrOes> whose African sullenness, has been aroused to indiscriminate ven- geance, by the more frantic fury of the American ANDREW JACKSON* 295 natives. It was from this desperate clan of out- laws, from civil, and even from savage society, that the Spanish authorities expected to see the Ameri- can settlements, upon the borders of Florida, de- vastated, and the settlers slain ! The British government, since the treaty of peace negociated at Ghent, had been more cautious in arming, disciplining, and driving savages into war with Americans, than it had previously been ! but two of its subjects, by the names of Arbuthnot and Ambristie, had long been executing, under the specious pretext of carrying on merchandize, the wishes of the enemies of the American Republic* To conceal their depravity, they may have furnish- ed the Siminole Indians with some few articles of clothing : but the principal articles of their traffic, were knives, hatchets, muskets, rifles, balls, and pozoder. From the year 1814 to 1817, this ferocious clan of American savages, and African negroes, com- mitted many depredations and wanton murders, in the American settlements. Gen. Edmund P. Gaines. the next in command to Gem Jackson in the Divi- sion of the South, was stationed in the vicinity of these outrages* In a communication which would grace this, or any other volume, but which is re- luctantly omitted, he portrayed the open violences of the savages, and the insidious wickedness of Spanish and British emissaries, in a manner not to be disregarded. He was stationed at Fort Scott : 296 MEMOIRS OF and had with him but part of the 7th Regiment of U. S. infantry. He however immediately put his forces in motion against them, although wholly in- competent, from deficiency in amount, to cope with the immense host of savages that surrounded him, and his little gallant force. He demanded a surren- der of the murderers of American citizens. No answer was given but savage defiance. No com- punctions were manifested for the innocent blood that stained them. Gen. Gaines, aware that patient sufferance of injuries from savages, forever in- creases their ferocity, proceeded against them — • crossed the Flint River — dispersed them — des- troyed Fowltown, and returned to Fort Scott. A nu- merous horde of desperate warriors, red and black, surrounded the fort, and entirely cut off the communication of the American forces. Appea- rances indicated a repetition of the tragical scenes of Fort Mimms, in Mississippi* The signal ven- geance inflicted upon the Creeks, by Gen. Jack- son, and his invincible army, probably occasioned the Siminoles to pause, before they u cast their lives upon a die." Gen. Gaines had called upon the executive of Georgia, whose state was more immediate- ly endangered than any other, for immediate suc- cour. The miserable system of temporary draft- ing, had been adopted ; and before the troops could be brought to act efficiently, their term of service expired, and the small re^uiar force was the ANDREW JACKSON* only reliance the frontier settlers had, as a protec- tion from devastation and massacre. A boat with 40 passengers was taken upon Flint River, and every soul on board slain* Universal consternation - prevailed ; and Gen. Gaines once more called upon the Georgia forces, 2000 of whom were de- tailed, and rendezvoused at Hartford, Geo. Gen. Jackson, as commander in chief, was again called upon, from a sense of duty, to take the field* Again were the "Tennessee Volunteers," by their beloved and almost adored general, exhorted to re- sume the armour of war, in the following address, — - "Volunteers of West Tennessee — -Once more, after a repose of three years, you are summoned to the field. Your country, having again need for your services, has appealed to your patriotism, and you have met it promptly. The cheerfulness with which you have appeared to encounter the hard- ships and perils of a winter's campaign, affords the highest evidence of what may be expected of you, in the hour of conflict and trial. The savages on your borders, unwilling to be at peace, have once more raised the tomahawk to shed the blood of our citizens, and already they are as- sembled in considerable force, to carry their mur- derous schemes into execution. Not contented with the liberal policy that has from time to time been shewn them ; but yielding themselves victims to foreign seducers, they vainly think to assail and conquer the country that protects them, Stupid 23$ MEMOIRS OF mortals ! They have forgotten too soon the stream* of blood their ill-fated policy heretofore cost them. They have forgotten too, that but a short time since, conquered, and almost destroyed, they were only preserved by the mildness and humanity of that country, which they now oppose. They must now be taught, that however benevolent and humane that country is, she yet has sacred rights to protect, and with impunity, will not permit the butchery of her peaceable and unoffending citizens. Brave Volunteers — The enemy you are going to contend with, you have heretofore met and fought. You have once done it, and can again conquer them. You go not to fight, but to be victorious ; remem- ber then, that the way to prove successful, is not by being inatt entive to the first duties of a soldier, but by bearing'and executing with cheerfulness, the or- ders of superiours, and being constantly mindful of the obligations you are under to your country and to yourself. Subordination and attention to dis- cipline, are all-important and indispensable ; without them, nothing like system can be preserved, and this being wanted, nothing favourable can result. But in you, every confidence is reposed. Your general will not believe that brave men, who have so promptly come forth at the call of their country; will withhold their assent to regulations which can alone assure them safety and success. Hardships and dangers are incident to war : but brave men rrill bear them without murmuring or complaining? ANDREW JACKSON. 293 Knowing you to be such, no fears are entertained but that every duty imposed on you, will be mel with promptness and cheerfulness. Your general goes before you to open the way, and prepare for your reception. Confiding in your diligence and exertions, he will expect your arrival at your destined point, without unnecessary delay — led by Col. Arthur P. Haynes, an officer in whom he has every confidence. This being effected, he will place himself at your head, and with you share the dangers and hardships of the campaign.'' The proud title and unfading laurels which these gallant sons of the Republic had acquired, would not suffer them to remain unmoved at an address from a cheiftain, under whom they had acquired them. With a promptness, that had ever signalized them, they repaired to their rendezvous, and, under the command of Col. Arthur P. Haynes, so often mentioned before, repaired to the point of des- tination, at Fort Scott. Gen. Jackson, in January 181 8, had repaired to Georgia, and had placed himself at the head of the Georgia militia. Situated in a country which affords but few materials for the subsistence of an army, he actually commenced a march of ten days through a wilderness, with only a pint of com to each man per day ! He was also conscious, that a supply could not be relied upon at Fort Scott. But he knew the importance of celerity in the movement of an army, and the brilliancy 300 MEMOIRS OP of his achievements had hitherto depended much upon it. At Fort Scott, he formed a junction with the regular forces ; and upon the arrival of the Tennessee Volunteers, was prepared to make a sudden termination of the Siminole war. This tribe had not a solitary claim to compas- sion, excepting what arises from the consideration, that they were willing victims to Spanish and British machinations. Even their principal chief, Pepiticoxy, when asked the reason of his hostility against the American Republic, replied — " The government were alzvays ready to do him justice, and to make peace with him ; but that war was a fine manly exercise, in which he zvished to practise his young men ! /" Their " foreign seducers," were ever ready to make them victims to their own in- fatuation. The same Col, Nicoll of proclamation memory, and the same Capt. Woodbine, of no memory, but that of infamy, were found to be sculking among the Siminoles, as they sneaked from Pensacola in the last war, after having ex- posed the feeble and impotent Manrequez, to the just vengeance of a magnanimous, but insulted government. By the first week in March, 1818, the measures of Gen. Jackson, were determined upon ; and when fixed, Indian hostility, Spanish intrigue, and British perfidy, might as well divorce the sun from the ecliptic, as to divert him from their accom-r ,plishment. He had been compelled, in avenging ANDREW JACKS0i\. iiOl the injuries of his country, to make the brave, infatuated, and misguided Creeks bleed at every pore. Although the Siminoles had less claim to compassion, yet this great commander was aware that they were also misled ; but upon them, as open agressors, his power was first to operate, and then, upon their misleaders. He was deter- mined to strike at the root of the evil ; and, if possible, to remove it. Minute details might be entered into, and they might gratify minute curiosity ; but it is sufficient to say, that Gen. Jackson, marched with his for- ces through a country, in which the savages had every advantage, from their acquaintance with it ? and from its better adaptation to savage, than to ci- vilized warfare. Like the powerful representative of a great people, he determined to punish the guilty wherever found, and to spare the innocent, where innocence was evinced. He passed through that part of the American territory, occupied by the Siminoles ; and they either fell, or retired before him and his gallant followers. He reached the borders of Florida, upon 10th March. Know- ing that geographical boundaries^ were not the "boundaries of right and wrong, and determin- ing to penetrate the darkest recesses of guilt, and punish its instigators, he entered the Spanish province of Florida with his forces. Many of the countrymen of Gen. Jackson, have bestowed a liberal portion of censure upon him. 26 o02 MEMOIRS OF for entering tke territory of a power, with an ar- my, with whom the Republic was at peace. While it is admitted, that Spain was ostensibly at peace with Americans, it must not be denied that the Spanish authorities in Florida, were palpably vio- lating the treaty, by omitting to restrain the savages in their territory, from acts of hostility against them v and by encouraging the savages in commit- ting them. Should it be said that they were un- able to restrain them, from their own weakness, and from the superiority of the savages, it maybe an- swered — every nation must perform their own treaty-stipulations, or suffer the consequences of a violation. Is not the plea of weakness, a fal- lacy, as it regards the Spanish treaty with Ameri- ca ? Is it to be said that one of the " Allied Sov- ereigns 1 ' of Europe, cannot restrain a single tribe of Indians from breaking his treaties ? A tenth part of the forces he has, for years, maintained in South America, vainly endeavouring to enslave the Patriots, and subject them to Spanish tyranny, the torture, and the Inquisition, might easily have restrained the Sirninole Indians from depredations and murders, in the American settlements. Gen. Jackson had under his command, and of course, under his military protection, all that por- tidn of the Republic which bounds upon the exten- sive province of Florida. He held himself, in a degree, accountable for every inch of territory, that was invaded, and every limb and life that^w— ANDREW JACKSON. 303 lost, by the enemies of his country. He felt his ability to defend his extensive Division ; he knew it to be his duty ; and was conscious that his country expected it frorr^ him. He saw his countrymen murdered upon the frontiers, and the murderers pro- tected by a government which was solemnly pledg- ed to restrain the savages, who had committed them, from every act of hostility. It would have been but a pastime for these blood-seeking, despe- rate Siminoles, to have saturated themselves with the blood of American women and children, and merely to be driven to their homes in the forests of Florida, only to prepare to glut their vengeance by repeated feasts of innocent blood. Are the swamps and ravines of Florida, like the horns of ancient altars, a protection for murderers ? Ask the parents of slain innocents, whether thy* is the protection their government is pledged to extend to them. No matter what might have beon the in- structions of the government to Gen. Jackson — No matter what may be the opinion of the fastidious civilian upon abstract questions of international law. The Spanish government had palpably vio- lated their treaty with America ; and if thirteen years more, of negociation were to be spent, the Alabama Territory, the frontiers of Georgia, Ten- nessee, and Mississippi, will have presented a wide spread scene of desolation, in which the bones of American citizens wou d be found mingled with the ruins of their habitations, and the devastations of .the country. 304 MEMOIRS OP Gen. Jackson, like an ancient patriot, described by an ancient historian, is " a man — a high-minded man, who knows his duty., and knowing, dares perform it." He might have said, as his great and exalted friend, President Monroe did, when he entered the highest station filled by an human being — " from AJUST RESPONSIBILITY I SHALL NEVER SHRINK." He led his army into Florida. The confidence of the wretched Siminoles was converted to despair, and they fled in consternation before the avenger of their inhuman murders. He penetrated into the interiour of Florida, and captured Fort St. Marks, the dark scene of Spanish and British machinations, and the primurn mobile of Indian carnage, and mas- sacre. The Spanish authorities protested against it, but conscious guilt unnerved their arms, and they dared not defend it by force. ANDREW JACKSON. ^OS- CHAPTER XXL Gen. Jackson at Fort St. Marks, Florida — captures and executes Francis the Prophet, and an Indian Chief — at the same place, takes Arbuthnot and A«n- bristie — details a general court-martial for their tri- al — approves of the sentence, and orders them to be executed — Remark — Gen. Jackson marches for Pen- sacola — captures it — appoints Col. King to the command of it, and retires to Nashville, Tenn. GEN. JACKSON was now, (April 1818,) in pos- session of the most important post in Florida, (if Pensacola be excepted,) — Fort St. Marks. It is situated far in the interiour of that province, upon the river St. Marks ; has long been the theatre of the most nefarious designs, and the starting point from which marauders, depredators, and murderers have taken their departure — certain of being wel- comed home, when plunder and scalps were brought with them. From this place, Gen. Jackson direct- ed his operations against the Siminoles, yet unsub- dued. An important town of their's, by the name f)f Swvanney, thirty miles distant, was taken by a detachment of the army. The savages dispersed or surrendered, in every part of the country, and the war of defence against the Siminoles, was. suddenly brought to a close* By hoisting a British flag upon the fort, many hostile Indians entered the water-craft in the river,, and were captured. Among them, were a fero- r* 306 MEMOIRS OP cious chief, and the prophet Francis, whose mur- ders, committed and instigated, cannot all be mentioned. They suffered the reward of their diabolical wickedness upon the gallows. The rest of the savages were discharged. Francis had recently visited England ; and there was found in his possession, a general's commission in the Brit- ish army. At the same place were taken the two British subjects before mentioned — Arbuthnot and Ambris- fie. The most conclusive evidence was furnished Gen. Jackson, that these men were, and for a long time had been, in open hostility against the Re- public. That they had furnished the Siminoles and negroes, with every species of deadly weapons, the better to enable them to carry on war against the Americans. That they had stimulated them to the commission of many of the murders that had been perpetrated by them, upon the defenceless <;itizens upon the frontiers; and that they had rendered themselves subject to the most rigorous execution of vengeance against them, as violators of the acknowledged principles of the law of nations. Gen. Jackson, imitating the dignified moderation of the government, whose power he represented, detailed them for trial, to give them an opportuni- ty to evince their innocence. A general court- martial was detailed, of thirteen members. The President of this court, was Maj. Gen. Edmund P. Gaines^ one of the most distinguished ani accom- AXDREW JACKSON". 307 plished officers in the American, or any other service. The members consisted of officers of high reputation in the regular army, and in the corps of volunteers. Every indulgence, consistent with the dignity of the proceeding, was extended to the arrested men ; and every opportunity af- forded them to make a full defence. After the most solemn deliberation, the court found them guilty of the articles and specifications exhibited against them, and ordered them to be executed. Gen. Jackson approved of the sentence; a.ndArbuth- not and Ambristie atoned with their lives, so far as two guilty lives could atone, for the murder of many innocent and worthy men ; many lovely and helpless women — many weeping and beseeching children, which had been instigated by them, and perpetrated by the most ferocious clan of in- furiated desperados that infest the earth. * These trials, these condemnations, and these exe- cutions have excited unmeaning clamour from some, and perhaps, as unmeaning applause from others. The wise advice "first hear, and then judge," seems to have been totally disregarded upon this subject. After the most assiduous endeavours, the writer could not procure the trial of these misguided, and, on the strength of the sentence of a distin- guished court, we may say guilty men. It is in the * To shew the unparalleled barbarism of the Sinrinole clan, it need only be mentioned, that in June, 18 18, Bull-Head, Chief of the lower Siminoles, died ; and that, four of his finest plundered horses, and his favourite negro, were burned on the occasion. o(JS . MEMOIRS OP department of the government ; and will be di- vulged when the wisdom of the government sees fit. It may be proper, however, to state, that the whole proceedings and the record, have been sub- mitted to an eminent man, who thus speaks of it — " I have been favoured with the perusal, of the trial of Arbuthiiot and Ambristie, by a military tri- bunal, upon the 28th April, 1818. The charges preferred against them, were so completely estab- lished, as not to " leave a loop to hang a doubts as to the justice of the sentence. When the facts connected with the execution of these men, shall be spread before the world, they will be satis- factory and conformable to the law of nations. When the letters of Arbuthnot to Mr. Bagot, and the governours of the Bahama, Havanna, &c. are laid before the American people, they will then see the " cloven foot" of British influence, as plain as the noon day's sun." An officer of intelligence and veracity, who attended the whole trial, corro- borates this statement; and even a leading Gazette, published in London, as ;late as 1st July, says — "If Arbuthnot and Ambristie, were really guilty of the crime with w r hich they stood accused, their fate was such as the law of nations warrants." Many British prints, however, and what excites rather pity than indignation, many American prints, have bestowed upon the administration, and Gen. Jackson, the most opprobrious epithets, for their proceedings in relation to the capture of St. Mark* ANDREW JACKSON. 30S and Pensacola, and the execution of Arbuthnot and Ambristie ! The justice of heaven is often re- cognized in bringing the solitary murderer, to jus- tice ; and although it is ever a solemn scene, hu- man tribunals are justified in inflicting it. Is it, because these miscreants occasioned blood to flow from hundreds of bosoms, that they are to be screen- ed from punishment ? They were murderers, in the strictest sense of the word. Britain and Spain, were both at peace with America ; they therefore could not claim the rights of prisoners of war. They lived by the knife, the tomahawk, and the musket, and they justly expiated their crimes up- on the gibbet. The Siminoles, had been conquered ; their pow- er broken ; their warriors dispersed ; and their insti- gators punished. At the very moment when Geiu Jackson, was about to discharge his army, infor- mation was received by him, that many recent murders had been " committed on the Alabama, by a party of the enemy from Pensacola, where they were furnished with provisions and ammunition by a friendly power ! " * Governour Joseph Masot, had succeeded Gon- zalez Manrequez, in the gubernatorial authority of Florida ; but although there was a change oi men y there was no alteration in measures. The hostile savages were still fostered, armed, and instigated to war, in the capitial of Florida. Gen. Jackson re- * Vide Gen. Jackson's address to his army, 29th May, 1818; 310 MEMOIRS OF solved again to u carry our arms where Tie found our enemies."* Encountering hardships and priva- tions which he and the Tennessee Volunteers, had for years encountered, they moved toward Pensa- cola. Conscious of having incurred the just ven- geance of the American government and army, the governour remonstrated against the procedure, in order to lay a foundation for a little more negocia- tion with his " adored master y* but Gen, Jackson had no other power of negociating with Masot, than hfc had with Manrequez — "from ike mouths of his cdnnon"] He entered Pensacola without opposition. The governour, his retinue, and his forces retired to the fortress of Barancas, which had been repaired, at immense expence, since the explosion in the last war. It was here, that the American forces ex- pected the most determined opposition, from the superiour advantages that the Spaniards possessed- But "he is doubly arrri*d zvho hath his quarrel just J f The garrison held out but one day, and surrender- ed upon the 28th May. The articles of capitulation are before the public, and are too long to be here inserted. Upon the 29th May, Gen. Jackson commences his orders — " Head-Quarters. Division of the South f . Pensacola." — Speaking of the possession of this place, he says — u he has not been prompted to this * Vide Chap. xii. t Vide Chap, xh ANDREW JACKSON. o 1 1 measure from a wish to extend the territorial limits of the United States." Alluding to the Spanish trea- ty, and the Spanish violation of it, he says — " help- less women have been butchered, and the cradle stained with the blood of innocence !" He assigned the command cf Pensacola to Col. King, " as mili- tary and civil governour," and prepared to retire to his old head-quartprs at Nashville. He arrived there, late in June ; and was received by a deputa- tion of citizens, among whom was his gallant asso- ciate, Gen. Carroll. From that time to the present, (Nov. J 8 1 3,) Gen, Jackson has been assiduously engaged in the im- portant duties devoled upon him, as " commander IN CHIEF OF THE DIVISION OF THE SOUTH." MEMOIRS OF CONCLUSION. In^ddents of Gen. Jackson's life — his character, IN concluding these Memoirs, I cannot omit to insert a few incidents of Gen. Jackson's life, which are not yet embraced in them* When sitting as judge of tfe Supreme Court of Tennessee, an atrocious culprit escaped from the custody of the sheriff; seized_ a loaded musket with a bayonet ; placed himself in the angle of two stone walls, and swore he would shoot the first, and bayonet the second man that attempted to take him. The sheriff ordered ten men, as assistants, but they dared not approach him. The sheriff reported the fact to the judge* " Summon 1 00 men then," said Judge Jackson* It was done ; I but they also feared to arrest him. Upon a second report — u Summon me then," said the judge. It was done. He descended from the bench — ap- proached the culprit with a stern countenance, and dignified firmness — seized the musket with one hand, the culprit with the other, and handed him to the sheriff. In the most gloomy period of the Creek war, when Gen. Jackson's little army was in imminent danger from the savages, and still more alarmed at the almost certain prospects of famine ; when an alarming despondency pervaded the hearts of those brave men. who would face death in its most t ANDREW JACKSON. SIS horrible forms, the general invited a number of his officers to breakfast with him. They repaired to his marquee, and found him sitting, with digni- fied composure under a wide spreading oak, which had produced an abundant crop of acorns. " Sit down, gentlemen," said the general, " this is my breakfast, and it is all I have to serve you with : but a soldier ne^8b despairs. Heaven will bless our cause — will preserve us from famine, and re- turn us home conquerors." The officers return- ed to their tents with encreasing admiration of their general , adhered to him to the end of the w r ar* and saw his predictions verified. The troops before New Orleans embraced many of the first young gentlemen, in point of talents, education, family, and fortune, in the states Ox Kentucky, Tennessee, Louisiana, and Mississippi : and among them were, of course, many of a rougher character. The pleasant raillery, which is the very zest of life, when played off by one gentle- man upon another, was unfortunately practised upon a captain of a company, who took it in high dudgeon. In imitation of the names of Indian chiefs, his men called him Capt. Flat-foot. He remon- strated against it to Gen. Jackson, who pleasantly remarked — " Really Captain, it is difficult getting along with these gay young fellows ; but so long as they toil at the lines with such vigour, and fight the enemy with such courage, we officers must overlook a little innocent levity. Why, Captain. they call me Old Hickory ; and if you prefer my title to your's, I will readily make an exchange." Th^ 27 - 314 MEMOIRS OF Captain retired, proud of the title of Capt. Flat- foot. Pages might be filled in relating interesting anec- dotes, and incidents of Gen. Jackson,, which would clearly show, that although austere dignity is his predominating characteristic, he still possesses the most amiable and benevolent tjeart. But the work is already extended much beyond the original design of it. One subject," however, must not be omitted ; that of duelling. That Gen. Jackson has, a number of times, entered the field of single com- bat, is not disputed ; but that he ever entered it die aggressor, is most unequivocally denied. That he has that susceptibility which is always a con- comitant with genius and greatness, is admitted ; but that he ever wantonly provol^d an honourable man to resort to the sword or pistol for redress? is inadmissible. Gen. Jackson respects his fellow men, according to their merits ; and he respects himself according to his own. He is never guilty of insulting with wantonness, and will never be in- sulted with impunity. If Gen. Jackson, in repelling and punishing the vude attacks that have been made on his fame and his honour, has resorted to a mode of redress, not sanc- tioned by the laws of his country, it is a mode which legislatures have hitherto been unable to restrain. In concluding these memoirs, I attempt with deep solicitude, briefly to portray the exalted character who is the subject of them. ANDREW JACKSON was born a great man — he was born free. The first dawning of his iotelJectr ADREW JACKSON. 315 elicited the independence of his spirit. As if hi? youthful blood instinctively glowed with indignation, at the miseries his ancestors had sustained from abused power, the first signal act of his \fewas performed in resisting it. Intuitively great, he 'explored the regions of science with the rapidity of thought. Acute in observation, he studied men as he mingled with them. Aspiring in his views, he sought for a capacious field as the scene of his exertions. He entered the stage of life entirely alone. With no extrinsic advantages to raise hina into life, he sought no aid out of himself, and he received no aid but what he commanded by his own energy. A theoretical and practical statesman, he led the people of Tennessee, to the adoption of a. constitution, to give permanency to their civil rights — A soldier from boy-hood, he led his fellow- citizens to the frontiers, to preserve them from devastation, and the settlers from massacre. Un- satisfied with a minor station, every step he gained in his ascent to the temple of fame, gave him new vigour in ascending still. He became a senator of the American Republic ; and to shew the world that his greatness, was not derived from his official elevation, he retired to the " post of honour — a private station." When the olive of peace ceased to wave over the Republic, and the clarion of war assailed the ears of her citizens, his military character sud- denly developed itself, Enjoying the tranquil charms of domestic felicity, the soothing sugges- tions of inactivity urged him to rest. But he was 316 MEMOIRS OF born for his country — his country was endangered — its hopes were fixed upon him, and he espoused its car se. D J ted to the cause of his country from prin- ipl c scarcely breathed, after subjugating a savage foe, before he thundered defiance to the : onquerors of the Old World. Upon the banks of the majestic Mississippi, he soared before his ene- mies, in sheets of fire — he rendered ev^ry defile there, a Thermopolce, and every plain an Amqmthon. He is deeply versed in the science of human na- ture — hence he is rarely deceived in the confidence he reposes in his friends, and knows well how to de- tect his enemies. The first he loves, and sets the last at defiance. In the discharge of official duties, he imparts dignity to the office, .and secures respect to himself — in the circles of private life, he as affable, without descending to low familiarity. In his person, he is above the ordinary height, elegantly formed, but of very spare habit. But" toil has strung his nerves, and purified his blood " and he can bear any fatigue within the power of human en- durance. The features of his face have that stri- king peculiarity, which immediately attracts atten- tion. His large, dark blue eyes, are settled deep under prominent arching eye brows, which he can clothe in frow^is to repel an enemy, and dress in smiles to delight his friends — His whole person shows that he was born to command. In fine, he is loved by his friends — respected by his enemies — the favourite of his country, and thf? admiration of the worid. . 'IA-ixa*^ 1 ^^***^ ^^yL^ <& ^**£^~ J^