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Show 58 LIFE OF GEN. JACKSON. CHAP. by themselves, was not less ~han six h~mdred: that III. of the Americans was fifteen k1lled, and eighty wound· .....,..,.._, ed several of whom afterwards died. Jackson, after · coilecting his dead and wounded, advanced his army beyond the fort, and encamped for the night. The Indians, who had been for several days shut up by the besiegers, thus fortunately liberated ~o~ the most dreadful apprehe11sions, and severest pnvatwns, . having for some time been entirely wit~out water, received the army with all the demonstratiOns of gratitude, that savages could give. Their manifestations of joy for their deliverance, presented an interesting and affecting 'spectacle. Their fears had been already greatly excited, for it was the very day when they were to have been assaulted, and when every soul within the fort must have perished. All tl1e provisions they could spare, from their scanty stock, tl1ey sold to tl1e general, who, purchasing with his own money, distributed them amongst the soldiers, who were almost destitute. It was with great regret, that Jackson now found he was without the means of availing himself ful!Y of the advantages of his victory ; but the condition of his posts in the rear, and the want of provisions, (having left his encampment at Fort Strother with little more than one day's rations,) compelled him to hasten back; thus giving tl1e enemy time to recover from their consternation, and to re-assemble their forces. The cause which prevented general White from act· in" in obedience to his order, and arriving at the Ten Islands at a moment when it was so important, and so confidently expected, was as yet unknown; the only certainty upon the subject was, tl1at for the pre· LIFE OF GEN. JACKSON. 59 sent it wholly thwarted his views, and laid him under CHAP. the necessity of returning. This mystery, hitherto 111· inexplicable, was soon after explained, by a view~ of the order of general Cocke, under which White being a brigadier in his division, chose to act, rathe; than under Jackson's. General Cocke stated to him he had understood, Jackson had crossed the Coosa' and had an engagement with tl1e Indians. " I hav; formed a council of officers here, and proposed these questions ;-shall we follow him or cross 'the river ' ... ' and proceed to the Creek settlements on the Tallapoo-sa ?-Both were decided unanimously: that he should not be followed, but that we should proceed in the way proposed." He remarked, that the decision had met his entire approbation ; and directed White forthwith to unite with him at his encampment, where he should wait, fortifying it strongly for a depot, until he should arrive. " If,'' said he, " we follow general Jack_ son and his army, we must suffer for supplies; nor can we expect to gain a victory. Let us then take a directio~, in which we can share some of the dangers and glones of the field. You will employ pilots and ad vis: me ~vhicl;i side of tl1e river you will move 'up." In this, as m every other measure, it seemed to be the studied aim of Cocke, to thwart the views, and arrest ~e su~cesses of Jackson ; and perhaps jealousy, in no mconsiderable degree, was the moving spring to his conduct. Both were major generals, from the state of Tennessee; sent on the same important errand -to check an insolent foe, who had practised the mos; cruel and unprovoked outrages. Which of them should share the "dangers and glories of the field," was, per. |
