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Show 1,58 LIFE OF GEN. JACKSON. CHAP. Understanding that the · enemy was embodied, V. in considerable numbers, at Hoithlewalee, a town ~situated not far from the Hickory ground, he was 1814' anxious to re-commence his operations, as early as possible. The forces under his command, from sickness, the loss sustained in the late battle, and some discharges that had been given, had been too much reduced in strength, to permit him to act as effi· ciently as was wished. It was desirable, therefore, to effect a junction with the southern army, as soon as possible. The Ndrth Carolina troops, under the command of general Graham, an old and experienced revolutionary officer; and those of Georgia, under colonel :Milton, were announced to be some where south of the Tallapoosa, and could be at no great dis· tance. To unite with them was an event much desired by Jackson, as well with a view to push his operations more activelv as to be able to procure for his army tl10se suppli;; which he feared his resources might not sufficiently afford; for, hitherto, he had received from general Pinckney strong assurances, that all com~laints on tl1is subject would be at an end, so soon as IllS, and the southern division, could unite. No time was to be lost, in effecting a purpose so essential. Genernl Jackson accordingly determined to leave his sick and wounded, and the fort, to the care and command of brigadier Johnston, and to set out again for the Tallapoosa. On the 7th, with all his disposable force, he commenced his march, with the double view of effecting an union with the army below, and of attac~ing, . on bis route, the enemy's force, collected at Hmthle· walee. His greatest difficulty was in conveying to colo· LIFE OF GEN. JACKSON. nel Milton intelligence of his intended operations. The CHAP. friendly Indians, who, from their knowledge of the V. country, had been always selected as expresses, were....,...,....._ with difficulty to be prevailed on now, for any such 1814' undertaking. Believing their nation to be embodied in larger numbers tl1an any which had been yet en~ countered, and that, confiding in their strength, tJ1ey ~vould be better enabled to go out, searching and spy-mg through the surrounding country, they at once concluded, that any enterprise of tl1is kind would be attended with too great peril and danger, and the diffi-culty of eluding observation too much increased, for them to adventure. This circumstance had as yet prevented the arrangement of such measures as were best calculated to bring the different divisions to act in general concert. The necessity, however, of such cooperation, was too important, at this moment not to be efl~cted, if it were possible. Could the e;emy, at the po.~t they now occupied, be brought to fight, and a dectstve advantage obtained over them, dispirited and broken, they might be induced to submit to any terms, ~nd the ~var be ended; but if suffered to escape, they mtght agam collect, give battle at some fortunate a~d unexp_ected moment, and tl1ereby protract it a conSiderable lime. To prevent this was desirable ; and in : otller way could it so certainly be effected, as if, while e Tennessee troops advanced from the north th•, c r · ' ' ':'0 mtans and Georgians shoulll make such a dispo- ~~l!Oi~ as wo~Id prevent an escape, by t11e enemy'' Eossmg_ the nver, and passing off to Pensacola and th'· scamb1a . |