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Show 1S2 LIFE OF GEN. JACKSON. CHAP. with the utmost expedition, and every arrangement ~made to repel their attempts, should they meditate an attack during the course of the night, or on the suc- )814. ceedin• g morn.m g. Tl1 e m. gh t h av.m g b een pernu.t ted to wear away without any disturbance, and without any appearance of an enemy, the general was led to conjecture that an ambuscade had been prepared, and that an attack would be made on him, whilst crossing the c~eek in his front ; which, being deep, and the banks rugged, and thickly covered with reeds, af. forded many advantages for such a design. Near the crossing place, was a deep ravine, formed by the pro· jection of two hills, overgrown with thick shrubbery and brown sedge, which afforded every convenienee for concealment, whilst it entirely prevented pursuit Along this route, the army, in going out, had passed; through it, as might have been expected, it would again return ; and here, it was believed, an ambuscade would be formed, if any were intended. Acting under these jmpressions, and to guard against them, Jackson deter· mined to take a different route. He secretly despatched, early next morning, a few pioneers, to ascertain and designate another crossing place below. A suitable one was soon discovered, at about six hundred yards distance from the old one ; and tluther the general now led his army ; having formed his columns, and the front and rear g11ards, previously to commencing the march, A handsome slope of open woodland led down to the new ford, where, except immediately on the mar· gin of the creek, which was covered with a few reeds, there was nqthing to ob&truct the view. The front LIFE OF GEN. JACKSON. 133 guards, and part of the columns, had passed ;-the CHA wounded were also over, and the artillery just entering IV. the creek, wh.en an .alarm gun was heard in the rear . .....,..,._ The Indians, finding the route bJif been changed, 1814" quitted the defile where they expectecl. to commence the assault, and advanced upon a company, under the ~~~~~ of command of captain Russell, which mll{(;hed in the chopco. rear. Though assailed by greatly supe,;ior ,numbers, J an. 2"1" it returned the fire, and gradually retired, until it reach-ed the rear guard, who, according to express instruc-tions given, were, in the event of an attack, to face about, and act as the advance; whilst the right and.left columns should be turned on tl1eir pivots, so as con}· pletely to loop the enemy' and render his destruction ° sure. The right column of tl1e rear guard was commanded by colonel Perkins, the left by lieutenant co-lonel Stump, and the centre column by colonel Carroll. Jackson was just passing the stream, · when the firing and yelling commenced. Having instructed his aid to form a line for the protection of the wounded, who were but a short distance in advance, and afterwards to tum th~ le~ column, he himself proceeded to the right, for a Similar purpose. What was his astonishment when, calculating on certain victory, he beheld t11~ right and left columns of tl1e rear guard, after a feeble resistance, precipitately give way, bringing with them confusio_n and dismay, and obstructing the passage, over whiCh the principal strength of the army was to ~e re-cr~sed ! Tllis shameful flight was well nigh bemg attended with the most fatal consequences ; which were alone prevented by the determined braverv of a few, Nearly the whole of the centre colunm h~d fol-f' |