USA > Tennessee > The Annals of the Army of Tennessee and early western history, including a chronological summary of battles and engagements in the western armies of the Confederacy > Part 9
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Many of my real friends, under a great delusion, have done me VOL. I, NO. 11 .- 3.
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more injury than all my enemies could do; and many who have pro- fessed friendship (Calhoun like), under the mask of friendship, have endeavored to do me much injury. They have been foiled. The moment I was installed, because I appointed Major Eaton, so neces- sary to me when Judge White declined, all was wrong. And where was there a man who had labored so much, and burnt the midnight taper so often, as he did in my behalf? Such a friend as Major Eaton is hard to find, and is worthy to be hugged to the bosom as a pearl beyond price. I have and will so cherish him.
The extracts of sundry letters, being a correspondence between Mr. Calhoun and a gentleman in West Tennessee, explains all this matter. Too much credence is given to the slang of Duff Green and his coad- jutors in the opposition with regard to my friends. If the Globe was read it would show all these tales put down by positive denials and proof. Clerks have been engaged here who have written to Nashville some of the most positive falsehoods that ever have been raised by the most depraved of the opposition. They are just discovered, and some of them will "go home " soon. One fact is now well ascertained; that Duff Green or Mr. Calhoun never supported me. They opposed Mr. Adams, under my name, to put him down, and now wish to put me down, to open the way to the Presidency for Mr. Calhoun.
Mr. Calhoun first tried to crush me by his secret move in the Cabi- net. He prostrated Crawford, and now wishes to crush Mr. Van Buren, least he may be in his way hereafter, and will unite with Mr. Clay, or any other, to effect his views. As to myself, I leave these things to the people. They have the right to select their agents, and I hope ever will exercise it; and if they prefer another, I am sure I will be satisfied with my sweet retirement at the Hermitage, which I was dragged from, contrary to my wishes, and now am complained of be- cause I select a few well-tried friends around me, and will not abandon them for new ones, to gratify one of the most wicked and depraved conspiracies that ever disgraced any Christian country. I would loathe myself if any earthly influence could bind me to so vile a purpose.
It is well known the high confidence I once had in Mr. Calhoun. I. was once taught to believe him a high-minded and honorable man, capable of friendship, free from duplicity or falsehood. This being my opinion of him when I returned from the Seminole campaign, en- feebled with disease-with one foot in the grave, and the other on the brink-and found, from the public journals, that there had been a
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Cabinet council held which had divided on the subject of my arrest for transcending my orders in Florida. I could not believe that Mr. Cal- houn was approbating such a movement (the Nashville paper ascribed it to Mr. Crawford, and that Mr. Calhoun was my shield and support against this movement for my destruction), because I knew that Mr. Calhoun and Mr. Monroe could not think so, because my public or- ders were a carte blanche, and very confidential had been received my views, fully made known, and Mr. Rhea instructed to write me that my views were fully approbated. I therefore believed that Mr. Craw- ford was this secret agent of my destruction, for how could I believe that Mi. Calhoun, who had said to Gov. Bibb "that I had orders to carry on the war as I pleased ; " who had read the confidential letter, had approved it, and said to Mr. Monroe it required his answer ; who knew that Mr. I. Rhea had been instructed, and had answered it ; who, in his letters, and those of confidential friends, had breathed their full approbation of my conduct-I say, after all this, how could I believe that Mr. Calhoun was this secret assassin who had endeavored to destroy my reputation by his movement in the secret Cabinet council, where he believed his acts never could become public, and had laid it upon another ?
It is true, in 1824-5, Mr. Rankin, member of Congress, did tell me Mr. Calhoun, and not Mr. Crawford, had made this movement against me. I did not, nay, could not, believe he could be so base ; nor did I, when I sent him Mr. Crawford's statement, believe it until I received his acknowledgment, under the sanction of his name, in reply to my note alluded to. You may ask me why I was so incredulous. I will tell you: You have read the correspondence ; you have seen it pub- lished in my confidential letter to Mr. Monroe, in which I. Rhea is re- ferred to as a confidential friend, through whom the wishes of the Executive could be communicated, and in sixty days I would carry into effect the Executive wishes ; you have seen that Mr. Calhoun read that letter, drew Mr. Monroe's attention to it, and said he must answer it. I have now to tell you that Mr. Rhea did answer it by the direc- tions of Mr. Monroe, approving all my views. This letter was re- " vived by me on my way to Fort Scott. Mr. Calhoun knew that this letter was answered by Mr. Rhea, and that I had complied with the public orders and confidential wishes to a letter. He knew I had not, nay, could not, transcend my orders ; and how could I believe that Mr. Calhoun had secretly moved my arrest or punishment? I was mis-
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taken-he was the man. And I now ask you, if a man would do this and at the same time publicly hold forth to me his friendship and sup- port, what is it he would not do to prostrate those he might conceive to be in the way of his own ambition ? Think you he would not sever the Union rather than not reach the point of his ambition ? Think you, would not such a man rather rule in the lower regions than serve in heaven ?
I sincerely regret that the multiplied bereavement of my friend, Judge White, has prevented me from having the benefit of his able assistance in the Department of War. All my influence was exerted, but has failed, and I have appointed Gov. Cass to that department. I trust that my present Cabinet will harmonize. It must. I cannot per- mit such scenes as Mr. Monroe suffered in his.
One word and I must close. You may rest assured that all the acts of Mr. Calhoun and his satellites cannot cause me to abandon my old and well-tried friends without cause. Tennessee was the last place in this Union that I expected a combination to injure me, and promote, the views of my most inveterate enemies. It is now clear that the vile attempt against Eaton was not to injure him, but me, through him. Still, when he has resigned, it is kept up to injure me. Be it so. They have fell into the pit they dug for Eaton and myself. Ingham is pros- trate, whilst Eaton lives in the heart of his countrymen; and when his traducers are buried in forgetfulness, his name will be hailed by the good and great as one of the best and most virtuous patriots of his day.
I shall expect to hear from you on receipt of this, and hope you will pardon the haste in which it has been written.
Your friend, ANDREW JACKSON. Washington, July IS, 1831.
P. S .- It would have been a source of great consolation to me to have had Judge White in the Department of War. My whole influence was used to effect this. It failed from the situation of his family.
In Major Eaton I had a faithful and. confidential friend, and had it not been for the intrigues of Calhoun, and part of my Cabinet falling into his views and aiding him in operating on the Senate to defeat my nominations, I would have had a harmonious and successful adminis- tration. I will still have it.
Who is it that is making the serious charge that I have discarded my old friends ? Who are they I have parted with ? It cannot be pos-
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sible that Calhoun is meant as one of my old friends? I thought him so; but his own declarations show he was lukewarm between Mr. Adams and me, and his secret attempt against me in the Executive Cabinet shows that although he was my open, professed friend, he was my deadly enemy. Was it meant any of my Cabinet that have re- signed ? There were but two that would not have sacrificed me at any price for their own aggrandizement and that of Calhoun. I had three friends-disinterested, high-minded, and talented men-Van Buren, Eaton, and Barry. These were jewels-men of high, honorable feelings, on whom their friends and country might repose with safety. No country holds men of purer patriotism, or talents of higher order, particularly Van Buren and Barry, and Major Eaton is one of the best men, and his talents are far above mediocrity. You have seen the disgraceful flight of Ingham. " The wicked flee when no one pursueth." Ingham has fallen, never to rise again-the fate of all slanderers. A. J.
N. B. - You say, " If Mr. Calhoun is a nullifier," &c., &c. I have positive proof of that fact. I have this day read a letter from a high source that he is secretly encouraging hostilities to the Republic, and if it proves to be true, I will meet the crisis firmly. A. J.
KILLING OF WILLIAM McMURRAY. 1
N the year 1782, General Smith, Wm. McMurray, Hughey Rogan, and four others, went from one of the lower stations to Bledsoe's Lick on some errand, and were about a mile on their return when they met a large body of Indians at the spot now the site of "Cragfont," which for seventy-five years was the homestead of General James Winchester and his descendants. General Smith and McMurray, ig- norant of the numbers of the enemy, dismounted for battle, but a . heavy volley showed them too late the folly of such a course, and they attempted to remount. McMurray's arm being broken at the first fire, he was unable to get upon his horse, and General Smith being quite fleshy, failed himself to remount, as the Indians pressed forward at a run. The mounted party made good their retreat without injury, but McMurray was soon overtaken and cut down with tomahawks. Smith took advantage of the attack made on McMurray, and slid
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down a high bluff, after the manner of a frightened bear, without stop- ping to think of the consequences. On reaching the bottom he gath- ered himself up, and plunging into Bledsoe's creek, he soon gained the high canes and weeds on the other side, and made his escape. Rogan made off up the creek at such a gait that the leaves with which he had muffled his mare's bell dropped out, and its tell-tale clatter added greatly to his danger and discomfiture. After going a mile or so, he decided to quit the mare and try his luck on foot. He stripped off the bridle and saddle and took refuge in a large hollow sycamore, where he remained until the next day. On coming out from his place of concealment, his mare was gone, and, as he never heard of her af- terward, he supposed the Indians carried her off.
After wandering three days without food, he reached the settlement nearly exhausted with hunger and fatigue. The rest of the party reached places of safety, but it was some time before Rogan and Smith knew that each was safe, and when these doughty warriors met, al -. though ordinarily of grave demeanors, they fell on each other's necks and wept most joyously. McMurray's bones, lightly covered with stones, marked the spot where he fell for a great many years, mute meinorials of this bloody episode, and an eloquent tribute to the life of danger and personal sacrifice led by the fathers of this Common- wealth.
Tennessee has never rewarded the names of those who perished in laying the foundations of her existence as a great State, with any offi- cial recognition or remembrance. The sites of few of their graves are known with certainty, but, with a few strokes of the chisel and mallet, she could fix their names on the corridor walls of her Capitol, and es- tablish a Roll of Honor which would do honor to herself. Such in- scriptions, spread on the extensive walls of the Capitol, would well and cheaply supplement the labors of the artist's brush, which have been so freely bestowed on the portraits of her illustrious citizens. These walls could not contain a more honorable record, and would serve, in- cidentally, to work the purpose for which ancient kings expressly taxed the physical strength and treasure of vast empires.
If there be any virtue in exalted patriotism, let Tennessee foster its influence on the coming generations by honoring, publicly and officially, the memories of those who were the brightest exemplars of this sentiment -- the men who gave their lives in the defense and pro- tection of her infant cradle.
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THE SOLDIER'S WAR-BAG.
. Incidents of a Fight at Mossy Creek-James Morgan's Adventure- Killing of Captain Talbot-Butchery of "Nashville."-Toward the close of this fight, the Third Arkansas Cavalry got out of ammu- nition and began to withdraw, when other regiments, mistaking the nature of the movement, followed suit, leaving James Mor- gan and Byrom, of Company I, Fourth Tennessee, on the skir- mish line. Captain Talbot, of Brownlow's Union Regiment. im- mediately charged. Morgan fired at the foremost man, and then dis- covered that Byrom and himself were the only occupants of the field ; they broke to the rear, each closely pursued by a trooper with a drawn sabre. He endeavored to reload as he ran, and got his cartridge in the muzzle, but never could steady his ramrod on it to drive it down, as he had to keep one eye on his assailant and dodge around trees and under the limbs to save his bacon. The affair was growing extremely critical with him, as he was determined not to surrender to one man; but, to his great relief and joy, he discovered - Roach, of Company I, standing behind a tree with his gun ready and watching the race. He asked Roach to " kill that fellow." Roach nodded assent, while he passed on. As the Yankee was passing the tree, Roach presented his gun in a few feet of him and shot him through. He then mounted the dead man's horse and made his escape. Byrom also succeeded in making his escape from his man. A soldier of Company E was not so fortunate. He was called throughout the regiment only as " Nashville," very few knowing his real name. He was overtaken by Talbot's men and cruelly butchered, his head being hacked to pieces with their sabres.
This taste of blood seemed to have made Talbot and his men reck- less, and they pressed so closely on the Fourth Tennessee, which had rallied in a field, that eighteen out of twenty of them were killed in a short time. Captain Talbot galloped up to within twenty-five yards of the Confederate line, and was shot by Sergeant Risener, of Company 1 Before dying, he sent a gold ring to his sister, who lived at Talbot's Station, near by.
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Personal Daring of General Wheeler .- In the winter of 1865, the combined forces of Generals Wheeler's and Hampton's Cavalry ap- .proached the Pedee river in South Carolina late one afternoon, to effect a passage and attack the enemy, who were camped several miles beyond. The ford was very rocky and dangerous, and General Hamp- ton suggested that if General Wheeler could cross, he would try to fol- low with the men. This was accepted, and the General, with five or six of his escort, plunged in at once. The site of the crossing was an ar- tificial dam, made for fish-traps, and was filled with large boulders. After great peril in the rapids, the party got safely across, and the Gen- eral waved his hat to General Hampton to follow. This the latter de- cided not to attempt, and moved up the river to seek a ferry. General Wheeler now found himself in a critical situation, cut off from support and in the immediate vicinity of the enemy; but he decided to hold what he had won and await the issue. So, with the little party he formed a picket-line, taking post himself on this duty and watched, without sleep, during the entire night, anxiously awaiting the ap- proach of General Hampton. When day-light came, no succor came with it; but, on the contrary, immediate and pressing danger from a column of the enemy's cavalry, which was seen marching along the road a short distance off in the direction of his position. With a wide river at his back, and a force of the-enemy in the front, it were hard to say which was the least perilous mode of escape. But this stout- hearted officer cut the gorgian knot at once, and decided to fight. Gathering his little party into compact ranks, and taking his place at their head, he dashed like a thunder-bolt at the advancing column, which broke in confusion at the first onset, and in a brief space of time was in a pell-mell retreat, without halting to inquire into the character and numbers of the force which had so successfully over- thrown it. In the course of the day, General Hampton reached the spot by a circuitous route, and the heroic little band was safe.
J. W.
He Saved His Oxen .-- A Lincoln county farmer was pressed, much against his will, into the service of a squad of Federal Infantry to carry them to Fayetteville. Their motive was to make greater speed from the supposed danger of bushwhackers. His only means of transportation was an of-cart, and into this nine of them mounted, leaving him to walk and drive. Aside from the distasteful character of the service forced upon him, he knew that his fat oxen would be sacrificed to the
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U'nion war-gods as soon as he got to camp. On his route, he espied a low bridge, which he thought presented a favorable opportunity of es- rape from his distress. As he rose on to the bridge, he slyly pricked his leader forward, and in an instant cart and soldiers were precipi- tited into the bed of the creek; a cart wheel was smashed, and this ended the journey. Threats of vengeance were made against the in- nocent oxen, but the driver was not once suspected of having a hand in the disaster.
A Texas Ranger's Strategy .- In a fight near Smoky Knob, in East Tennessee, a Texas Ranger was captured about nightfall, by Colonel Jim Brownlow. The Colonel, it seems, was doubtful of his posi- tion with reference to his own army, and anxiously inquired of the prisoner, "Whose fires are those on the mountains?" He re- plied at once that they were the rebels; but he knew at the same time that they were Federals. The Colonel saw that if they were rebels he was in great danger of being captured, ind he proposed at once to give his prisoner fifty dollars, a horse, pistol and free pass through the lines, if he would pilot him to a place . of safety. This the Ranger promised confidently to do, and, by avoiding the suspicious fires, he soon performed his part of the con- tract. The Colonel complied gratefully with his promise, except as to the pistol, and the Texan regained his command the next day.
'Origin of the Term "Josh."-The troops of each State received, in the course of the war, nicknames, by which they were familiarly distinguished. The Texans were called "Chubs," the Arkansians, "Joshes." The latter soubriquet originated in this way : There was a man in the Third Arkansas Cavalry named Josh - -, who was conspicuous for his height and size, and from this circumstance his name soon became familiar throughout Forrest's Cavalry. In time, the Third Arkansas were dubbed "Joshes," and then the term was upplied generally to all Arkansians.
Covered Himself With Glory .- General Polk accosted Colonel Rob- sson, after the battle of Chickamauga, with the remark that a cer- tin officer had covered himself with glory. The Colonel had a bet- 'er knowledge of this officer's conduct, and dryly replied, "He cov- ered himself with a big tree."
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EDITORIAL.
W TE are gratified to know that the April number of the ANNALS has been well received and handsomely complimented by the press of this State and by subscribers. It has imperfections, of which we are well aware, and which will be remedied as rapidly as the circu- lation will justify. The typography is very creditable to the publisher, but, for economical reasons, the paper is not as heavy as could be wished. We have thought it best and safest not to weight down this enterprise, in the beginning of its career, with a heavy expense, deem- ing it vastly more important to get our history into print, even on the cheapest scale, than to cater solely to the critical taste of typographical experts. In common with hundreds of others of our soldiers, we have deeply deplored the condition of our history, and have sought, by this publication, to provide a remedy. What has already been done, has gone far toward awakening a public interest in a subject which has only come up for discussion around fire-sides, where comrades have met and revived the memories of their toils, sufferings and triumphs in the cause of the Confederacy ; and we feel encouraged to believe that an honorable pride and a sense of duty will move our people to come up to the rescue of their civil and military fame, which, when recorded, will be found to be as bright and glorious as any that graces the pages of the world's history.
T HE letter of Dr. J. B. Lindsley is a pointed endorsement of the ANNALS that we prize highly indeed. Commendation from such a source serves greatly to strengthen our purpose and encourage our efforts in the cause of Western History. He, like all others who have given any attention to this subject, appreciates the value of authentic records as the only sound basis of truthful history; and further recog- nizes the fact that these must be obtained from the living without de- lay, before the sources of them fail and cease to exist. With the en- larged vision begotten of the perusal of such scanty materials as are at hand, he sees that the events of the great struggle between the States
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will occupy a prominent place in the literature of the coming centu- nes, and furnish an inexhaustible theme for the historian, poet, painter and sculptor. Every relict of those times will be idealized into a living presentment and picture of these martial scenes, and have a value far above any sordid considerations. In such a spirit Massa- chusetts sought to obtain the files of the Nashville Dispatch of the years 1862-3-4-5, and in a similar spirit-to his honor and credit be it said- Dr. Lindsley refused to part with them. Another important consider- ation, which we will mention as proper to keep before the view of our acople, is the fact that numerous errors and perversions crowd the pages of northern histories, and stand there unchallenged and un- refuted. Many of these were made solely in the interest of the mili- tary reputation of commanders, and serve only the selfish ends of a few individuals. Others were used as the legitimate weapons of war- fare against us, and have served their purpose most efficiently. Now, we say, let the scales of justice weigh every fact on either side, and give to each its place and value-thereby teaching the coming genera- tions to honor and respect what was good and noble, and to detest what was base and degrading, in the acts of each party to the great contest.
ERMS .-- In localities where we have no special contract with Agents, we will furnish an extra copy of the ANNALS one year, gratis, to any who will get up a club of ten. Where persons will form a club of more than ten, we will allow them a copy each at $1.80 per annum. The name, post-office, county and State must be written plainly. Payment must accompany each list. Single copies, Two Dot- lars per annum.
W TE invite the attention of business men to the advantages of the ANNALS as an advertising medium. It is distributed to nearly wery locality in this State, and will be mailed extensively to other States of the South and West. It will have this advantage of news- papers: it is less destructible, and will circulate, from house to house, largely beyond the limit of actual subscribers. Again, the place of an advertisement being once noted, reference is readily made to it subsequently. Contracts can be made with the Publisher or Ed- Ror, as may be convenient.
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W E hope our soldiers will take an interest in this effort to do jus- tice to their achievements in the Confederate service, and will aid the circulation of the ANNALS in every locality. The price is cheap, and will be but a small tax on many of them, even in these hard times. This enterprise is fairly in the field, and was established solely to give our unwritten history the benefit of publication and se- cure it a "local habitation and a name." The opportunity for con- summating a great and important work is at hand, but lessening every year, as time takes its victims from our already thinned and fading ranks, and we trust that every soldier and citizen will realize its value before it is too late. No selfish considerations prompted this under- taking, and if no financial loss accrues to those interested in it, they will be content, in the hope that the ANNALS will render a genuine service to the living and the dead, and to the future generations of our people.
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