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Show 244 LIFE OF GEN. JACKSON. "CHAP. Britain :-she will not call in vain. I know that· every ~man, whose bosom beats high, at the proud title of 1814. freeman, will promptly obey her voice, and rally round the eagles of his country, resolved to rescue her from impending danger, or nobly die in her defence. Who refuses to defend his rights, when called oh by his government, deserves to be a slave,-deserves to be punished, as an enemy to his country-a friend to her !bes." The minds of the people of this state were thus gradually turned to consider of the contest, in which it was certainly expected they would be shortly en. gaged, that they might be ready and prepared to meet it, when the event should arrive. Preparations for collecting, in sufficient strength to repel an invasion, when it should be attempted, had been carried active· ly forward. The fiat of the secretary of war had been issued to the governors of the adjoining states: and Jackson had long since anxiously pressed them to hasten the execution of the order, and push their forces to tl1e place of danger, without delay. The ardour felt by the governor of Tennessee, rendered any incentive unnecessary. He was well aware of the importance of activity and exertion, and had used all the authority of his office, to call the requisition fortl1, and have it in readiness. MiHt;a>re The venerable Shelby, of Kentucky, had been no >•lled out. less vigilant, in discharge of the duty required of him. The necessity of despatch, in military matters, and the advantages resulting from it, in his youth, and more advanced age, he had studied and learn· ed in the field of battle, The troops from his state LIFE OF GEN. JACKSON. 247 were immediately organized ;-placed under the com- CHAP. mand of major general Thomas, and proceeded down~ the Ohio, to resist the inroads of tl1e enemy.* It 1814• may be esteemed a circumstance of great good for-tune, that Shelby, at a time so perilous as that in which the United States were . placed, during the period of his services, should have been ilie chief magistrate of Kentucky ; a state possessing ample resources, and which might have slumbered. in inaction, but for the energy of him who filled her executive chair. He did not remain contented with a discharge of those duties, merely imposed on him by his office ; but, feeling the ardour of his youth revived, excited his citizens by manly appeals, and inspirited them by his own ex-ample. The government had never called upon tl1e patriotism of t1¥s state, that it haQ. not been met with a becoming zeal by tl1e governor, :y1q as cheerfully and promptly acquiesced in by his people. The bravery with which tl1ey crowded to the American standard, at the first onset of danger, where they firm-ly supported the honour of the nation, ~nduring cold, and hunger, and every privation, is remembered and will not be forgotte~;~. ' . vVilliam Carroll, who, on the promotion of Jackson m th~ army of the United States, had been appointed a maJOr general, was to command the requisition in- • Although this requisition was ready to •proceed yet tl . tshtaot e of the qua' t . , ·' • 1e Cl master s uepartment was inadequate to . se outfits and supplies necessary to its dejmrture Tl Situ t d ' j' 'd ' • HIS a e ' '"' lVI uals of the state came forward pledaeu tl . funds, and enabled it to set ou t. ' o lCir |
