OCR Text |
Show 8s LIF~ 01' GEN. lACKSON. CHAP. Two days had elapsed since the departure o~.t~e ~volunteers, and no supplies had arrived. The m1htm, with great earnestness, now demanded a performance of the pledge that had been given,-that they sho~ld be marched back to the settlements. Jackson, on g1V' ing them an assurance that they should retu~1, if relief did not reach them in two days, had mdulged a confidence that it would certainly arrive by that time ; and now felt more than ever certain, that it could pot be far distant. Having, however, pledged himself, he could use no arguments or entreaties to detain them ;my longer, and immediately took measures for complying with their wishes. This was, to him, a m?ment of the deepest dejection. He foresaw how difficult it would be, ever to accomplish the object ~1pon which hi& heart \vas so devotedly jixed, should he lose the ~el) who w~re now with him ; or even to regain the conquests he had made, if his prese11t posts should fall into th~ hangs of the ene)Uy. Whili! thus pondering on the gloon1y prospect, he lifteP, ~p his hands and exclaimed, with a look anP, manner wh1ch showed how much he felt-" If only two men will remain with me, I will never a):>andon this post." Captain Go,rqon, of the spies, facetiously replied, 't you haye qne, general, let us look if we can't find ap.oth~r," and immediately, with a zeai suited to the occasion, undertook, with some of the geqeral staff, to raise volunteers ; and in a little while s~cceeded in procuring one hundred and nine, who declared a· determination to remain and With- protect the post. The general greatly rejoiced tl1at he draws would not be compelled to an entire abandonment of from Fort • · h th e Strother. his position, now set out towards Depos1t, w1t e r · LIFE OF GEN. JACKSON. 69 mainder oftl1e army, who were made distinctly to un- CHAP. derstand, tl1at on meeting supplies they were to return III. and prosecute the campaign. This was an event,~ which, as it had been expected and foretold, soon took place : they had not proceeded more than ten or twelve miles, when they met a hundred and fifty beeves ; but a sight which gave to Jackson so much satisfaction, was to them tl1e most disagreeable and unwelcome. Their £~ces being now turned towards home, no spectacle co~ld be _mo~e hateful, than one which was to change t~etr destl~at10n. They were halted, and having sa-tisfied therr hungry appetites, the troops, with tl1e ex-ception of such as were necessary to proceed with the sick and wounded, were ordered to return to the encampment,- he himself intending to see the contract-ors, and establish more effectual arrangements for the future. So great was their aversion to returning, that they preferred a violation of their duty, and their pledg-ed honour. Low murmurings ran along the lines, and presently broke out into open mutiny. In spite of the order they had received, they began to revolt, and one company was already moving off, in a direction to. wards home. They had proceeded some distance be-for~ information of their departure was l)ad by Jackson. Imta~ed at their conduct, in attempting to violate the prom1ses they had given, and )pJOwing that the success of future operations depended on the result ; the ge-neral pursued, until he came near a part of his staff. and a few soldiers, w)lo, with general Coffee, had halt: ed about a quarter of a mile ahead. He ordered them to f~rm· immediately across the road, and to fire on the mutmeers, if th~y attempted to proceed. Snatching |