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Show 114 L[Ff~ OF GEN. JACKSON. CHAP. makes, or hesitate to embrace with eagerness, the op· ~portunity he is about to afford you. . . "The enemy, more than half conquered, but denv· 1814. ing encouragement and hope from t h e tard 'm ess of ~ur operations, and the distractions which h~ve unhapp1ly prevailed in our camp, are again assemblm~ below us. Another lesson of admonition must be furmshecl them. They must again be made to feel the weight of that power, which they have, without cause, provoked to war; and to know, that although we have been slow to take up arms, we will ntver again Ia~ them fr_om our hands, until we have secured the objects that Im· pellecl us to the resort. In less than eight clays I sh~ll leave tllis encampment, to meet and fight them. Will any of you accompany me? Are ~ere any .amo~gst you, who, at a moment like this, w1ll not thmk 1t an outrage upon honour, for her feelings to. be tested .by a computation of time ? What if the penod for wh1?h you tendered your services to your country has exp~· eel -is that a consideration with the valiant, the patri· otic, and the brave, who have appeared to redress the injured rights of that country, and to acquire for them· selves a name of glory? Is it a consideration with them, when those objects are still unattained, and an oppor· tunity of acquiring them is so near at hand? Did such men enter the field like hirelings,-to serve for pay alone? Does all regard for their country, their fa~i· lies and themselves, expire with the time, for .wh1ch their services were engaged? Will it be a sufficient gratification to their feelings, that they served out three months withou't seeing the enemy, and then abandon· ed the c' ampaign, when the enemy was in the ne1. g h· LIFE OF GEN. JACKSON. 115 bourhoocl, and could be seen and conquered in ten CHAP. days? Any retrospect they can make, of the sacrifices~ they have encountered, and the privations they have 1814. endured, can aflord but little satisfaction under such circumstances ;-the very mention of the Creek war, must cover them with the blushes of shame, and self. abasement. Having engaged for only three months, and that period having expired, you are not bound to serve any longer :-but are you bound by nothing else? Surely, as honourable and high-minded men, you must, at such a moment as the preswt, feel other obligations than the law imposes. A fear of the punish-ment of the law, did not bring you into camp ;-that its demands are satisfied, will not take you from it. You had higher objects in view,-some greater good to attain. This, your general believes,-nor can he believe otherwise, without doing you great injustice. " Your services are not asked for longer than twenty days; and who will hesitate making such a sacri· lice, when the good of his country, and his own fame are at stake? Who, under the present aspect of affairs will even reckon it a sacrifice? When we set out t~ meet the enemy, this post must be retained and defended; if any of you will remain, and render this service, it will be no less important, than if you had marched to the battle; nor will your general less thankfully acknowledge it. Tuesday next, the line of march will be taken up: and in a few days thereafter, the objects of the excursion will be effected. As patriotic men, then, I_ ask you for your services; and, thus long, I have no doubt you will cheerfully render them. I am well aware, that you are all anxious to return to your |