| OCR Text |
Show 206 LU'E OF GI':N. JACKSON. CHAP. Jackson directly brought to the view of the governVI. ment the information he had received, and again urged ~ his favourite scheme, the reduction of Pensacola. 1814. "How long," he observed, "will the United States pocket the reproach and open insults of Spain? It is alone by a manly and dignified course, that we can secure respect from other nations, and peace to our own. Temporizing policy is not only a disgrace, but a curse to any nation. It is a fact~ that a British cap· tain of marines is, and has' been for some time, engaged in drilling and organizing the fugitive Creeks, under the eye of the governor; c~1deavouring, by his influence and presents, to draw to his standard as well the peaceable as the hostile Indians. If permission had been given me to march against this place twenty days ago, I would, ere this, have planted there the American Eagle ; now we must trust alone to our valour, and the justice of our cause. But my present resources are so limited,-a sickly climate, as well as an enemy to contend with, and without the means of transportation, to change the position of my army, that, resting on the bravery of my little phalanx, I c:m only hope for success." Many difficulties were presented ; and althqugh anxious to carry into execution a purpose which seemed so strongly warranted by necessity, he was wholly without the power of moving, even should .he be directed to do so. Acting in a remote comer, which was detached, and thinly inhabited, the credit of. his government was inadequate to procure those .thtngs necessary and essential to his operations ; wlule the poverty of his quarter master's department presented LIFE OF GEN. JACKSON. 207 but a dreary prospect for reliance. But to have all CHAP. tlli.ngs in a state of readiness for action, when tile time VI. should come to autl10rize it, he was directing his at-~ tentt•o n m• .ut•. e way most l1'k -e I y to e ffie ct 1. t. The war- 1814' riors of the different tribes of Indians were ordered to be marshalled, and taken into the pay of tl1e government. He addressed tile governors of Tennessee, Louisiana, apd the Mississippi territory, soliciting tllem to be vigilant in tl1e discharge of their duties. Information, he said, had reached him, which rendered it necessary that all tile forces allotted for the defence of the seventh military district, should be held in a state of perfect readiness, to march at any notice, and to any point they might be required. " Dark and heavy clouds," he continues, "hover around us. The energy and patriotism of the citizens of your states must dispel tllem. Our rights, our liberties, and free constitutions, are threatened. This noble patrimony of our fathers must be defended with· the best blood of our country : to do this, you must carry into elrect tile requisition of the secretary of war, and call fortl1 Your troops, witllout delay." · On the day after completing his business at Fort sets n", Jackson, he had departed for Mobile, to place tile ~~r,~tvcountry in a proper state of defence. The tl1ird regi - ment, a part of the forty-fourth and thirty-ninth, were all tl1e regular forces he could at this time command. Many reasons concurred, rendering it necessarv that a sufficient force should be brought into the field, as early as possible. His appeal~ to tl1e people of Ten. nessee had been generally crowned with success ; and he had no doubt but tllat he might yet obtain from |
