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Show so LIF8 OF GEN. JACKSON. CHAP. degree, by the predictions of their prophets, who as~ sured them, that " the Great Spirit" was on dteir side, and would enable them to triumph over all dteir enemies ; · they began to make immediate preparations for extending their ravages to the white settlements. Fort Mimms, situated in the Tensaw settlement, in the Mississippi territory, was dte first point destined to satiate their cruelty and vengeance. It contained, at that time, about one hundred and fifty men, under the command of major Beasley, besides a considerable number of women and children, who had betaken themselves to it for security. Having collected a supply of ammunition, from the Spaniards, at Pensacola, and assembled their warriors, to d1e number of six or seven hundred, the war party, on the 30th of August, commenced their ~~·:;;.c- assault on the fort; and having succeeded in carrying ~fi~ms. it, put to dead1 nearly three hundred persons, including women and children, with dte most savage barbarity. The slaughter was indiscriminate; mercy was extended to none ; and the tomahawk often cleft the mother and the child, at the same stroke. But seventeen of t11e whole number, in the fort, escaped, to bring intelligence of the dreadful catastrophe. This monstrous and unprovoked outrage no sooner reached Tennessee, than the whole state was thrown into a ferment, and nodting was thought or spoken of, but retaliatory vengeance. Considerable excitement had already been produced, by brutalities of earlier date, and measures had been adopted by the governor, in conformity with instructions from t11e secretary of war, for commencing a campaign against them ; but the massacre at Fort Mimms, which t1treatened to be followed by t~ . LIFE OF GEN. JACKSON. St entire des~uct~on of the Mobile and Tombigbee set- CHAP. tlements, msprred a deep and universal se.ntiment of II. solicitude, and an earnest wish for speedy and effectu-~ a! operations. The anxiety felt on the occasion, was great! y increased, from an apprehension, that general Jackson would not be able to command. He wa~ the ~nly man; known in the state, who was believed qua-hfied to discharge the arduous duties of the station, and who could carry with him, the complete confidence of his soldiers. He was at this time confined to his ro~m '~ith a fractured arm, and a wound in his body, by ~ pistol ball, received in a private rencounter, some time before: although this apprehension was seriously in-dulged, measures were industriously. taken, to prepare the expedition with the u~most despatch. A numerous co~ection of respectable citizens, who convened at Nashville, on the 18th of September for the purpose of devising the most effectual ways 'and means of affording protection to their brethren in distress, after conferring with the governor and general hc~son, who wa: still confined to his room, strongly advised the propnety of marching a sufficient army into the heart of ~e Creek nation ; and accordingly recommended this measure, with great earnestness to the legislature, which, in a few days afterwards c~mmenced its session. That body, penetrated ,~ith tJ1e ~me s~ntiments which animated tlte whole country, Immed:ately enacted a law, authorizing t11e executive to call mto the field thirty-five hundred of the militia, to be marched against the Indians ; and, lest the genera: government should omit to adopt them into their servtce, 300,000 dollars were voted for their support. |