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Show 96 LU'E OF GEN. JACKSON. CHAP. and his efforts can protect them ?-Be it so; let it be .:.;.:_,even granted, that these men's engagements rn:ve e~· pired under the law ;-has their sacred pledge, m wnt· ing, and has their love of country expired? . If the~ ca1mot bind them to a faithful performance of therr duty, I know of nothing by which I can hope to hold them." To have addressed them in a less pointed and inde· pendent strain, and endeavoured to soothe their discontents by in treaty, might, at some other time, and under different circumstances, have been better resorted to for success; but the ineffectual attempts that had been made with his infantry, who had forsaken the camp, in spite of every thing that persuasion, threats, or honour could suggest, left but a narrow basis, on which to erect a hope of his being able to detain them. There was but a single course left ; to point them to the pledge they had given, and appeal directly to their honour, believing that if this were unsuccessful, there was "nothing by which he could hope to hold them." Jackson had just.received a letter from the governor of Tennessee, in answer to his frequent and pressing inquiries, as to the disposition which should be made Orders of of the volunteers. It recommended what had already, ~~~::;:~r from necessity, been done; to dismiss-not discharge rcspectingthem because the latter was not in the power of either 1~cers.- of the' m :-nor was their dismission to be g.w en, be · cause founded in right; but because, under existing :ir· cumstances, their presence could not prove beneficial, but highly injurious. To induce them contentedly to remain, tl1e governor had suggested but one argument, which had not already been unsuccessfully attempted; LlFE OF GEN. JACKSON. 97 "that it was very doubtful if the government would CHAP. pay them for the services they had already rendered,~ if abandoned without her authority!' It is true, tlmt avarice sometimes alters a determination, when other considerati.ons have failed of success ; whether this ap-peal might not result beneficially with tl1e cavalry, whose presence was greatly desired, was at least wort\1 the trial. It was important, however, to bring it be-fore them in a way to awaken inquity, and g1.1ard ag-ainst ofl'ence. The letter was therefore enclosed for their inspection, accompanied with these remarks :- " I have just received a letter from governor Blount which I hasten to transmit to you, that you may avaii yourselves of whatever benefits and privileges it holds out. You will perceive, that he does not consider he has any power to discharge you,-neither have I:- but you have my permission to retire from the service if you are still desirous of doing so, a11d are prepared to risk the consequences." These letters, so far from answering the desired end had a directly contrary effect. The governor's was n~ sooner read, than they eagerly laid hold of it to support the resolution they had already formed ; and without further ceremony or delay, abandoned the campaign, witl1 their colonel, Allcorn, at their head who so far from having endeavoured to reconcile th~m . i~ believed, by secret artifices, to have fomented their discontents. So _general was the dissatisfaction of this brigade, and Wlth such longing anxiety did they indulge the ho~e of a speedy return to their homes, tl1at their impatlence did not permit them to wait the retum of the !If |
