USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Windham > The history of Windham in New Hampshire (Rockingham country). 1719-1883. A Scotch settlement (commonly called Scotch-Irish), embracing nearly one third of the ancient settlement and historic township of Londonderry, N.H > Part 50
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in my own house, by my own children, and it makes us very proud." The President asked, "Who is this Yo-ne-a-quar ?" At this point, my father, to avoid becoming conspicuous in a motley crowd, bent forward in order to conceal himself behind those in front ; but the old chief, rising on tiptoe, and bending his eagle glance over the audience for a few seconds, with disappoint- ment in his countenance, exclaimed, "I saw him here "; then almost immediately stretching out his right arm, pointed with the index finger to where my father sat, and exclaimed, "There he is!" The next day my father received a note from the Presi- dent, requesting him to call, as he wished very much to see him. He did so, and was strongly urged to accept the position of agent among the Choctaws, there being a vacancy at the time. He accepted, and repairing to New Hampshire, took his invalid wife and started for the Choctaw nation. They travelled by private conveyance, across the Alleghany Mountains, to Pittsburg, where my father built a flat-boat in which to descend the river, there being no steamboats in those days. When his boat was finished, he embarked, and as they seldom floated much at night, it was sixty-eight days before they arrived at a point on the Mississippi nearest the Choctaw nation. Before reaching his destination, he was, one beautiful, clear, light night, floating peacefully down the river, when his attention was attracted by a fire on the bank ; then a firebrand was waved swiftly in air, followed by a call to come on shore. Thinking to find some fellow-mortals in distress, he landed, and you may guess his astonishment to find old Bloody Knife, and a party of Cherokees, who informed him that, learning that he was descending the river, they had come across the country to see him, and had been encamped on the bank of the river for two weeks to await his coming. "Now," said the old chief, "come home with me." "No," replied my father, "I am behind time now and cannot go." " But," said the old man, "my two little girls whom you left there are so high," stretching his hand, palm downward, "and the other, so high," raising his hand six inches ; "one can now weave her six arm's-length a day, the other her nine; our house is full of goods; we have everything comfortable around us, and all this we owe to you. It will do your heart good to see it." My father replied : "I know it would give me much pleasure, but duty calls me elsewhere, and I can- not go." A shade of disappointment passed over the chief's face, who, turning on him a beseeching look, said, "But you will stay with us to-night?" " Yes," was the reply, and the Indians forth- with bestirred themselves to get up a feast and a dance in his honor. They danced around in a circle, and sang, with great earn- estness, a monotonous, but plaintive song, by these words : "This man not only gave us clothes, but taught us how to make them," - words bumble in themselves, yet language cannot express the gratification my father felt in listening to them.
Now let us return to Parton, who says in a note : " I notice,
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since this chapter was prepared, that a different account of Gen- eral Jackson's proceedings at the agency is in print. I append, therefore, one of the authorities for the above statement. The following is part of a letter written by Mr. R. Weakly, of Nashville."
Who this Weakly was, I do not know, and have no reason to doubt but the statements made in his letter are all true; but, what does that prove? Nothing. The intention, no doubt, was to impress upon the belief of the public that the agent, Silas Dinsmoor, had been bull-dozed, intimidated, and cowed by the wonderful bully, Andrew Jackson. But does it do this? I think that no fair-minded, unprejudiced person could answer in the affirmative, for does not the account say Dinsmoor was not at home? Undoubtedly the intention was to create the impression that the agent had been cowed, for such was the state of public opinion in the South at that time, that no surer means of ruin- ing a man's reputation, and destroying his usefulness, could be resorted to, than that of branding him with cowardice.
My father considered himself in honor bound to look after the interests of the tribe over which he was placed, as well as over the interests of the United States. The Indians were in posses- sion of excellent land, and some speculative white men wanted to get hold of it. Andrew Jackson was in their interests, but the agent watched the corners so closely as to be a thorn in their sides, and as they could not challenge and kill him in a duel, that being attended with too much risk, since he was one of the best shots with rifle, shot-gun, and pistol in that whole country, and had few equals in the art of fencing with broad or short sword, his skill in all of which he took special pains to exhibit, there- fore the effort to give the impression that Dinsmoor was a cow- ard was calculated only to call a smile to the face of any one who knew him.
That Andrew Jackson was a brave man, no one was more ready to acknowledge than my father, and I have often heard him speak in admiration of his courage and unbounded energy; but he thought that he also possessed what Shakespeare calls " the better part of valor, discretion," and I have heard him say that if he had been at home when Jackson armed his negroes and passed through, he would have treated him as he had done all others ; would have demanded his passport, and was satisfied that Jackson would have presented it, as he was afterwards credibly informed that Jackson had applied for and obtained it, but being informed that the agent was not at home, had concluded to try the bluff game on the person left in charge.
Jackson stopped at the. house of a neighbor, whom he knew to be a particular friend of my father's, also that he was a timid man, and after strutting up and down for some time, turning suddenly to his host, asked, "Does Dinsmoor continue to demand pass- ports ?" "I believe he does," was the reply. Walking deliber-
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ately to a table, he seated himself by it, and taking out his pistols, examined them carefully, picked the flints, and said, "By the eternal God, my pistols are my passports ! "
The result was what he expected, for when he was ready to start, his host announced his intention of accompanying him as far as the agency, which he did, giving notice to the person left in charge by my father while he was absent on duty, and this person not wishing to have a controversy with one of Jackson's violent temper, allowed him to pass without question, shielding himself behind the permission, given the agent by the secretary of war, to discriminate between individuals; and Jackson hastened to take advantage of that circumstance to create the impression on the citizens of Tennessee, that Dinsmoor did exact passports of the timid in violation of treaty stipulation, but that he dared not do it of the great and courageous Jackson. It is true that he acknowledged that the agent was not at home, but still gave the impression that it would have made no difference if he had been, for " I, by myself, I, would have bid defiance to his authority."
I have said that, considering the agent's skill with the various weapons of the day, the attempt to get rid of him in a duel was attended with too much risk. This conclusion was arrived at from the fact that the attempt had been made but failed, in this wise.
While down in the white settlements, there suddenly returned an old resident, an Irishman by birth, who had acquired great notoriety by his reckless, dare-devil character. He was a splen- did shot, a great duellist, and had killed a number of men in that way ; was a man to whom fear was unknown, and who hon- estly believed that any man who was in the slightest degree timid, was too mean to be allowed to live. He was an entire stranger to the agent, and it was thought he was the proper person to be made a tool of in order to get rid of Dinsmoor. He was therefore told that my father was one of the " white-livered Yan- kees," possessing no courage whatever; and it was proposed, in order to have some fun at the agent's expense, that they in- vite him to a big dinner to be shortly given, and that this Irish- man be seated in front of the agent, and that he should embrace the opportunity to insult him, that they might see him quail, and become the butt of ridienle for the whole company. This programme was carried out to the letter, so far as the insulting went, for my father accepted the invitation in good faith. The Irishman was seated directly in front of him, and before the dinner was over, began to traduce the Eastern people in general and the Yankees in particular. My father at once saw that the intention was to draw him into a controversy, but thinking that nothing had yet been said to justify him in noticing it, continued in cheerful conversation with others, which convinced the Irish- man that he had been correctly informed, and that the agent was too craven-hearted to resent an affront. Such was his contempt
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for a character of that sort, that he came right out and insulted my father in language so plain that it was impossible to misun- derstand. He did not become excited, but coolly picking up his fork threw it across the table at his insulter. This, of course, drew a challenge from him. My father replied that he had been brought up where duelling was looked upon with abhorrence; that he did not think it an evidence of courage, yet, as it was the enstom there, he would how to public opinion and accept this challenge, and would name Mr. - [the name I have forgotten], who was also an Irishman, as his second. The second on the other side being named by his opponent, my father said that he believed, according to the "code," he, as the challenged party, had the right to choose time, place, and weapons. This being con- ceded, he continued, " As it is a very unpleasant business, the sooner it is over the better. I will fight yon here, right away. We will remain seated at this table, each man's breast squarely in front of his antagonist, the pistols properly loaded, to be placed one in the hand of each, who will cock and take deliberate aim at his antagonist. One of the seconds, to be chosen by lot, will count deliberately and in good time, . One, two, three,' and at the word ' three' both will fire." The company were astounded at the desperate terms, but the Irishman proved " true blue," and the programme was carried out so far that both triggers were pulled at the same time, but my father's pistol flashed in the pan, while his antagonist's weapon went off, the ball striking my father on the end of the little finger of the right hand, carrying away the first joint, and striking the brass mounting of his pis- tol, which deadened the force in a measure. It then passed into his right arm, three or four inches from the wrist, and following the bone, came out two or three inches from the elbow, then struck him in the centre of the breast and penetrated the width of the ball through the bone, and would probably have killed him had it not been for a strong linen shirt which stopped the ball from going any farther. He was knocked out of his chair, however, and rendered senseless for the time being; but this oc- currence put an effectnal stop for many years to challenging Silas Dinsmoor. Long after, when this transaction was nearly forgot- ten, he did receive another challenge under the following circum- stances.
A friend of my father's in New England wrote him, saying that an old neighbor and schoolmate of his, who had removed to Natchez and there become quite a politician, had, he was in- formed, been doing certain acts which he named, and which he considered derogatory to Yankee character. Wishing to know the facts in the matter, he wrote to my father as an old friend, who, living in Natchez, might be able to furnish them. My father replied that personally he knew nothing of the transaction by the person named which came under his own observation, and that he must judge for himself whether they were derogatory to the
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character of a gentleman, or calculated to bring a blush to any Yankee's cheek. He then gave the facts, and expected to hear no more of the matter, but his friend was so indiscreet as to have it published, and it was copied into a Southern paper. One day, while sitting in the parlor of a hotel waiting for dinner, the afore- said individual came in, livid with rage, holding a paper in his hand, and pointing to an article, said, " Did you write that letter ?" After carefully reading it, my father replied, " Yes, I wrote it, but did not intend it for publication." " Well, sir, you must contra- dict it," was the reply. "I will do no such thing, for the state- ments are true, every one of them, and you know it; but I never intended it for publication, and am willing to say so publicly, if that will answer your purpose." "No," was the reply; "you must either say that you never wrote that letter, or, having writ- ten it, it is false." "I will do no such thing," said my father. "Then you must fight." "So be it," replied he, "if that be the only alternative; my friend [I cannot remember names, but it was an Irishman again] will attend to the matter." The other named his friend, when they separated. My father sent for his friend, and told him the whole story, when he said, " Why, Dinsmoor, he is one of the greatest duellists in the whole country." "I know it," was the reply. "But, man, he can cutsa tape nine times in ten at the word 'fire.'" "I know it, and so can I." " But, my dear sir, he has killed half a dozen men." " I am per- feetly aware of the fact." "But is there no way of arranging this matter without a meeting ?" "I know of none without dis- honor. " " But he'll kill you ! " "I expect it, and I'll kill him too." " Who is his second ?" On being told, he started off to hunt him up, and on finding him, said, " Will it not be a great pity to let those men go out and shoot each other? One must fall, perhaps both ; their lives are in our hands; cannot we settle it in some way? Dinsmoor is willing to state publicly that he never intended that letter for publication, and it seems to me that ought to be enough." "No," was the response, "he must either say that he did not write it, or that, having written it, it is false." " Ile will never do that in the world, and I am sorry for your man, for there is not a better shot in America than Dinsmoor. I will go and see him, and get him to name terms, -you wait here till I come back." Coming to my father, he said, " You will have to fight ; when, where, and how shall it be?" The answer came promptly, "To-morrow morning, at sunrise, at the usual place, with pistols, distance four feet, and as much nearer as he chooses." After receiving these directions, his friend said, " If you have any unsettled business, you'd better be attending to it, for you are not long for this world." On meeting the other party and naming the terms, which were received with consternation, the question was asked, " Did Dinsmoor dictate these terms ?" " To be sure he did." " How did he look ?" " Just as he did when he fought So-and-so across a table not wider than that." " Did he ever do
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that ?" " Of course he did !" "I had no idea he was so desper- ate." "Och ! you've got the wrong sow by the car. Wait here till I come," said the other, and hurried off to consult with his principal. Returning, he stated that he was instructed to say, that if Mr. Dinsmoor would state publicly. that he never intended that letter for publication, the matter would go no further. "Och, marry, and hasn't he told you that already ?"
Silas Dinsmoor was a man of unusual physical development, stood five feet eleven and a half inches in his stockings; his usual weight was one hundred and seventy-five pounds.
He was an accomplished horseman, and a man of great force of will, as the following incident will show : Being required to ride long distances, the very best sort of a horse was needed for his purpose, and he became a capital judge of a horse. Upon one occasion, wishing to take a ride from Mississippi to Philadelphia, he advertised for a good horse, and in a few days was called upon by a man having a horse to sell. After looking over the horse carefully, my father expressed a desire to see him move, when the owner held him firmly by the bridle until one of the boys mounted. The horse moved off in elegant style, exhibiting great energy and precision of motion. "What do you hold him at ?" " Two hundred dollars," was the reply. The money was handed over, when my father said, " You have the money, and the horse is mine; if he has any bad tricks, I want to know it." "He has one very bad trick, and only one. Had it not been for that you would never have got him at that price. I never attempted to mount that horse, without a strong man holding him by the bit, that he did not try to throw me before I was fairly seated in the saddle, and I am afraid to ride him." "Thank you," said my father, " I will now be on my guard." He started on his journey, and sure enough, the horse did try to throw him every time he mounted, until becoming somewhat reduced in flesh and spirits by the journey, my father thought him entirely cured of the habit. He arrived in Philadelphia in the spring, placed his horse in a good pasture in the country, and, after getting through his business in the city, took public conveyance to visit old friends in New England, was gone several months, and on his return to Philadelphia went to the country for his horse, which he found thoroughly resuscitated. Putting on the bridle and saddle, and entirely forgetting his old trick, my father attempted to mount, but just as he had fairly raised himself in the stirrup, the horse gave a terrible lunge, and threw him some distance with such foree as to dislocate his shoulder.
A surgeon was immediately sent for. In that day, setting of limbs was done by main strength, and in a very awkward man- ner. He was bound to a tree by winding folded sheets around him and the tree. A sheet was then wound around his arm from the shoulder to the wrist, and there made fast. Then six strong men were ordered to take hold of the end of this sheet and pull
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firmly and steadily, which was done, but, to the amazement of the surgeon, such was the muscularity of the arm, without the desired effect. Ordering the men to stop, the surgeon said, "Dinsmoor, can you stand it?" With that pleasant smile which so well be- came his handsome face, my father began singing, -
" Begin, ye tormentors, Your threats are in vain, For the son of Alknomack Will never complain,"
And so continued singing until their renewed efforts brought the bone into the socket with a "pop." To illustrate his great strength I will relate the following.
I have heard my father and others say, that in old times it was as much a custom among New England farmers to put up a sup- ply of eider as of meat, and they were in the habit of making it. in home-made wooden mills. One farmer would make a mill, and all the neighbors would use it until it was worn out, then another would build one, and so on. My grandfather's mill having been worn out, he went to a neighbor's to make his cider. Eight bar- rels was a day's work, which was hauled home at night in an ox- cart, an awkward thing to load into, on account of the height of the wheels. It took just eight barrels, holding thirty-two gallons each, to make a load, and when the day's work was done, my father, when eighteen years old, would place himself at the tail of the cart, and as the others rolled the barrels to him, would seize them by the chines and toss them into the cart, and in eight minutes by the watch would put in the eight barrels.
Now can it be that a man of his amazing strength and symme- try of form, possessing a practical knowledge of all the arms in use at that day, self-reliant and brave, even to desperation, could be cowed by any man living ? I think not, and no one knew this better than Andrew Jackson himself, and he had too much sense to make the attempt. He no doubt, for a purpose, would have liked, and did endeavor, to impress upon the minds of strangers the belief that he had tried to cow Silas Dinsmoor, and had snc- ceeded ; but no one who knew my father could for one moment be brought to believe it, although such an impression would ap- pear to be given in Parton's account on page 26, as taken from information furnished by B .- L .- C. Warles, as follows: Turning full upon him, and assuming all that sternness of manner for which he was so distinguished, and with a pause sufficient to give full emphasis to his words, the General replied, " No, sir, I never go where I have no business."
Does this mean to imply that Jackson intended to convey the idea that " Yon, Silas Dinsmoor, are here where you have no business; but I, Andrew Jackson, never go to such places "? If this be so, then what becomes of the oft-boasted " high chivalrous spirit of the South," in thus attempting to insult an invited
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guest ? (See Parton's account at top of page 22.) " Our party, increased by the company of Mr. Dinsmoor"; then half-way down the page-"on our arrival an invitation was promptly given us to remain some time and take a part in the accommoda- tion of the camp, and table of the commissioners."
If Silas Dinsmoor had no business there, why was he invited to remain ? It might be replied, that the invitation had probably been given before Mr. Stockton's letter of caution had been read, and that the probable intention of the former agent to defeat the wishes of government were not known ; but does not the same account say that, owing to the statement made by Col. B .- L .- C. Warles, Dinsmoor was exonerated from these charges, and that, too, before this implied insult was given ? Had Jackson really wished to provoke a quarrel with Dinsmoor, as implied, he was manfully capable of doing it, in language unmistakable. But, no; mark how carefully it is worded, so as to lead by-standers to suppose that an affront was intended, and yet giving Dins- moor no pretext for taking exceptions thereto. Why did he not come out boldly and say, " You, sir, have no business here, and if you had the least particle of a gentleman about you, you would not be here; but I, Andrew Jackson, never go where I have no business "? Had he spoken out in this plain manner, of which he was fully capable, the sequel would probably have been very different.
For many years my father looked upon Andrew Jackson as the bravest of the brave, and a man of unbounded energy, and from his great use of the words " candor " and "sincerity," naturally concluded that he was what he claimed to be, one of the most candid and sincere men on earth, until he found that he had par- taken of his hospitality under the semblance of friendship, after he had written the letters traducing his character, and endeav- ored to have him removed from the agency. After these facts came to my father's knowledge, he used to say, " Jackson is brave and full of energy, but, if I may be allowed to coin an expres- sion, he possesses the hypocrisy of frankness in a more eminent degree than any man I ever knew."
The principal orator and chief, " Push-ma-ta-ha " (page 25), was always a warm friend of my father, and often came to see him after he left the nation, and was located at St. Stephens, Alabama, a small town situated on the high ground, half or three quarters of a mile back from the Tombigbee River, just at the head of tide-water navigation. I remember the old chief well, and many and many a time has he dandled me on his knee. He was truly one of nature's noblemen. I must protest, however, against Colonel Warles's, manner of spelling his name, for nine ont of ten would pronounce it "Push-may-tay-hay"; whereas, the true pronunciation is "Push-mat-tay-har," accented on the last syllable.
When my father lived among the Choctaws, travellers often
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complained that they had great trouble in getting supplies on account of the ignorance of the language, and would request him to give them the necessary list of Indian names, that they might know what to call for. This he did on several occasions, until complaint was made that the lists did no good, when he asked, " How do you pronounce such and such words ?" and on being told, replied, "I do not wonder that you could not make them understand, for you have not pronounced any of the words as I did." After this he wrote the words himself, and so spelled them that it was impossible to mispronounce them, and the result was that there was no more difficulty in obtaining supplies. In this way he acquired quite a reputation for spelling Indian words, which I can better illustrate by relating an occurrence at St. Stephens, while he resided there.
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