OCR Text |
Show 121! LIFE OF GEN. JACKSON. CHAP. his power, against the contamination of a corps, upon IV. which his only hopes at present rested. ~ General Coffee, having received the instructions 18!4. which general Jackson had sent hi m, t. mmed "t ate ly gave orders to colonels Perkins and Higgins, who had been chosen to the command of the two regiments, to march them directly for head quarters ; explaining, in his order, the reasons that had induced him to issue it. To his entire astonishment, both these officers refused to obey it ; alleging, in a written statement they made, that general Coffee had no command over them, and that they would disregard any he might attempt to ex· ercise. Colonel Perkins, on its being shown him, by the brigade inspector, even went so far as to refuse to return it, or permit his taking a copy ; thereby placing it out of his power, to make it known to the rest of the brigade. Unwilling as Cofiee was, to create any additional perplexities to the commanding general, or occasion new disturbances, at such a crisis ; nevertheless, influ· enced by a regard for his own reputation, which he believed to be wantonly and wickedly assailed, by this contumacious refusal to obey an order which the oc· casion and his instructions required him to issue, he felt himself constrained to demand the arrest of those officers. This application, with charges and specifications of so serious a nature, against his officers highest in com· mand, placed Jackson in a very delicate situation. :fo commence the exercise of authority over troops wholly unacquainted with service, by t11e arrest of those in whom they !:lad reposed such distinguished confidence, ·LIFE OF GEN. JACKSON. 125 might be attended with consequences fatal to his CHAP. views, and the success of the contemplated expedi- IV. tion. On the other hand, he was fully sensible of the~ 1814. inj~ry that had been done t11e feelings of an officer, actmg under the authority of his instructions, and how much justice required them to be repaired : nor was he less sensible of the feeble reliance that could be reposed on men, who seemed to make a merit of dis· obedience and insubordination, especially if, from in· ~ulgence, t11ey should derive encouragement to licentiOusness. But however his mind might oscillate be-tween the evil consequences of eit11er alternative, he knew that the cow·se pointed out by duty was a plain one, should Coffee persist in his demand. N?twi~standing the strong injunctions and weighty const~e:atwns that had been urged, to produce ru1 expedtttous movement, it was not until the 13t11 t~t P~kins . and Higgins reached head quarters: wtth therr regtments. Finding, on their arrival, that they were likely to be noticed, on charges which their bett~-informed friends advised t11em would not only depnve them of command, but involve them in disgrace, Higgins immediately came forward, and made an honourable and satisfactory concession. Colonel Per~ins remained rather more obstinate; but after balancmg, for se.veral days, between pride and prudence, he at length yielded, though with a bad grace, and of. ~ered general Coffee lli1 apology, in which he pleaded Ignorruice of military duty' as an excuse for his misco_ nduct. That the service, at a crisis so important might ~ot be injured by any private feuds, the char?;e~ were Withdrawn. ·· |