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Show liB LIFE OF GEN. JACKSON. CHAP. for those he had been ordered to raise. The more IV. certainly to efiect this object, he had, on the 20th of ....,...,.._,December, despatched his own quarter master, and !814. adjutant general, to Deposit and Huntsville, to push on what should be collected, and on hand, at these places ; and had, at the same time, despatched one of th~ subcontractors from camp, with directions to examine the situation of the different depots ; and, if found insufficient to meet the requisition he had made, to proceed immediately to the settlements in Tennessee, and lay in the necessary supplies. To the contractors themselves, he had addressed orders and exhortations almost without number ; and, indeed, from every source, and through every chrumel that the hope of relief could be discerned, had he directed his exertions to obtain it. Having thus strained every nerve, and unceasingly directed all his efforts towards the accomplishment of this object, he had, for a while, flattered himself with the hope that these multiplied endeavours would enable him to bring on his new troops in time for that combined movement with the East Tennessee militia, which he so much desired. So importru1t did he consider this measure, that he was willing to subject h' self considerable hazard, ratheF than not effect one! Carro_ll he wrote, on learning that he n fils way, with the newly raised troops, "I am py to hear of your success, in procuring volunteers. shall receive, with open arms, those who, in this hour of neecl, so gallantly come forth, to uphold the sinking reputation of their state. I am more anxious tl1ru1 ever to re-commence operations, and indeed they have become more necessary thm ever ; yet I cannot move LIFE OF GEN. JACKSON. 119 without supplies. As this will meet you near where CHAP. the contractors are, you will be better able to ascertain IV· . . .~ than I can mform you, when that happy moment will 1814_ arrive : and I pray you, use your best exertions to have it brought about, with the least possible delay. Until supplies, md the means of trru1sportation can be furnished, to justify another movement from this place, it will be ·better that you remain where your horses can be fed. I say this, upon tl1e supposition that this will shortly be done ; but were it certain that the same causes of delay, which have so long retarded our operations, were still to continue, I would, at every risk, and under every responsibility, take up the mru·ch, so soon as the troops, now with you, could aiTive. For such a measure, I should seek my justification in t11e imperiousness of the circumstances by which I am surrou~ded ; and rely for success upon heaven, and the enterpnse of my followers. "Partial supplies have arrived, for my use, at Fort Armstrong, which will be ordered on to-morrow This, with th~ scanty stock on hand, will at least kee; us from starvmg a few weeks, until we can quarter upon the enemy, or gain assistance from the country below .. General Claiborne, who is encamped eightyfive miles above Fort Stoddart, writes me, that arrangements are made, to send supplies up the Alabama, to the junction of the Coosa ru1d Tallapoosa. Up~n such resources will I depend, sooner than wait until my army wastes away, or becomes throuo-h in-action, unfit for service." ', .. b The hopes, however, which had been cherished of combined operations, with all the forces at that time |