CHAPTER V.

PATRIOTIC EPISODE-WILDERNESS JOURNEY TO GENERAL JACKSON.

In the spring of 1812, an Indian styling himself "The Prophet," belonging to the Northern tribe of Shawnees, who, partly instigated by the British, were making preparations for a war against the United States, despatched his brother Tecumseh to the Creek Indians, inhabiting the tract of country between the Chattahoochee and Tombigbee rivers, and extending from the Tennessee river to the Florida line, for the purpose of enlisting the Southern tribes in the same enterprise. After repeated conferences, Tecumseh succeeded in infusing into the minds of several of their most influential leaders a feeling of deadly hostility towards the whites. These chiefs, in turn, by their intrigues and harangues, at length aroused an insatiate desire for warfare in the majority of the nation. They resolved upon instant hostilities; and savage incursions of the usual sudden and devastating nature ensued. Whole families were horribly butchered. All the frontier of Georgia and Southern Tennessee, at once became the scene of frightful outrages; and this cruel warfare was waged, not only against the whites, but also against such of the Creeks as were disposed to preserve their friendship with them. Many peaceable Indians were thus driven to take refuge with such settlers as they might have formerly befriended, or with whom they might otherwise have amicable relations.

The treacherous massacre of Fort Mimms, which took place August 30th, 1812, awoke a universal feeling of horror and violent. resentment throughout Tennessee. Her legislature, which convened a few days afterwards, passed an act authorizing the Executive, in conformity with instructions previously received from the Secretary of War, to call into the field three thousand five hundred volunteers, and to commence a vigorous campaign against the enemy. Το guard against all contingencies, two hundred thousand dollars were voted for their support. General Jackson, who was supposed to be better qualified than any other man in the State, having been appointed

by the Governor to the command of the Second Division of Tennessee Militia, and having received orders for immediate action, hastened to carry them into effect. He accordingly set out early in October and was soon encamped on the borders of the enemy's country.

Rumors of General Jackson's near approach to the Creek Nation, and of the strong probability that he would be opposed by a considerable Then it was body of Creeks, arrived almost daily at Knoxville. reported that he was surrounded with serious difficulties; that his brave men were contending not only with the sons of the forest, but with famine and want, even to the extremity of sustaining life on "roots and acorns." Hoping to be able to render some relief to his countrymen in their distressed and destitute condition, Judge White left the bench, and with two other companions, the Honorable Luke Lea, and Honorable Thomas L. Williams, started for the wilderness. After several days and nights of perilous adventure, they reached the encampment of the East Tennessee troops, at Fort Armstrong on the Coosa, on the 13th of November. Here they learned from General Cocke that owing to some disaffection among his troops, no junction had been formed between the East and West Tennessee divisions, that for want of a messenger no communication had passed between them, and that General Jackson did not even know the reasons which led to General White's return from Turkey-town.* Judge White expressed great anxiety for the fate of the West Tennessee division, and fear that they might be cut off, or very materially injured, for the want of that support which had been expected from the East Tennessee troops; and offered to be the bearer of any despatches General Cocke might choose to send. He accordingly left on the

It is proper here to advert to the charges or insinuations of insubordination, or other sinister motives, which were made by General Jackson's biographers, at and since this time, against General White, for joining General Cocke, instead of continuing on to join Jackson at Fort Strother, at the time alluded to in the text. The truth of the case was this: General White, having been ordered by Jackson to join him, undertook to put his force in motion from Turkeytown, for that purpose; but discovered that the men would not obey such orders, but would return to General Cocke, instead, for the reason, alleged by them, that they and their horses would incur an imminent risk of starvation in the advance. This was not an unreasonable fear; it is well known that General Jackson's forces at that very time were almost entirely disorganized from lack of provisions. Under these circumstances General Cocke decided to recall General White. He was influenced hereto, also, by the consideration that after this junction, the superior morale of the troops under his own command would enable him to compel White's men to march anywhither; and by the fact that the delay would enable him to procu supplies. Instead of being sent to Jackson, therefore, General White was detached in another direction, against the Hillabee Towns, where he did good service. Such being the case, the blame, if any, must rest with the rank and file and subordinate officers of General White's detachment, for refusing to encounter what they supposed would be serious danger of starvation; and not with their commander, who could not compel the services of unwilling militia.

morning of the 14th November, with both verbal and written despatches, and reached General Jackson's encampment on the 18th, at 12 o'clock. After consultation with General Jackson as to the best means of relieving him from his embarrassed situation, he returned to Fort Armstrong with important despatches from General Jackson to General Cocke, and remained until General White's detachment returned from the Creek Nation, and a junction was formed on the 8th December, between the two divisions at Fort Strother. It was then determined that he should return through the wilderness to Tennessee, and exert his influence in raising volunteers, and procuring provisions for the distressed and famishing army.

He appealed directly to the patriotism of his brother-in-law, Colonel John Williams, commander of the 39th regiment, who, having raised a force of 600 men, had enlisted in the regular army, and was making preparations for an expedition to New Orleans. He told Colonel Williams that he had been commissioned by General Jackson, to represent to him "his condition as very deplorable, that his men had all abandoned him except his life-guard, and unless he came to his aid, the country would be overrun by savages, the inhabitants become victims of every species of cruelty, and the reputation of their State forever blasted."

But Judge White's exertions did not end here. He remained with Colonel Williams nearly all night, using every means in his power to impress upon his mind the necessity of relieving Jackson's force. His importunities finally prevailed.* Colonel Williams acquiesced in his wishes; wrote to the War Department, stating his intention to proceed to General Jackson's head-quarters, instead of to the South according to his previous instructions; and upon learning that his plans were approved by the government, at once marched for the former destination, and arrived with his troops, February 6th,

1814.

On the 14th, they marched in quest of the enemy, and reached the village of Tohopeka on the 27th, where they found a strong force of Indians, a thousand or twelve hundred in number, awaiting their approach; upon which there ensued the most desperate engagement of the whole war, the bloody Battle of the Horse-Shoe.t

The intrepidity and firmness of the 39th regiment, the skill

Colonel Williams said that Judge White's arguments and persuasions used to him at this time, were altogether superior to anything he ever heard from him at the Bar.

+ General Jackson, in expressing his gratitude to Col. W., after the engagement, remarked, "Sir, you have placed me on the road to high military fame."

of their commander, Colonel Williams, the aid of the friendly Indians under Colonel Gideon Morgan, and of Captain Russell's company of spies, decided the hard-fought battle; which gave a death-blow to the hopes of the enemy, and brought the war to a successful terinination.

While absent on this expedition, Judge White missed several terms of his court. By the laws of Tennessee the Judges were paid only in proportion to duty performed. The legislature, however, in consideration of the services he had rendered to General Jackson, passed a resolution that there should be no deduction from his salary. But he declined the gift; refusing to receive more than that for which he had rendered actual service. He said that "his country was in distress; that the aid he had rendered was without the hope of reward. and that he would receive none."

CHAPTER VI.

A FINANCIER.

BEFORE resigning his seat on the Supreme Bench in 1815, Judge White was elected President of the Bank of Tennessee. Fortunately for him, his early habits of labor and activity had so strengthened his constitution, which was naturally delicate, as to enable him to endure an immense amount of bodily and mental fatigue. In order fully to discharge his numerous and important duties, he was at this time accustomed to rise early, take breakfast by candle-light, and be in town at his post, by dawn of day, usually riding to and from his duties. He was fond of horseback exercise, and always rode fine horses, and with great ease and grace. His command over them was extraordinary. One morning while acting as supreme judge, he was riding into town from the eastern entrance (all who are acquainted with the location of Knoxville, know something of the hilly ascent). Near what was then denominated the "Spout Spring," he came across a man driving a wagon, very heavily loaded. It was during the winter season; the roads heavy, the hill very steep, and the driver not very well skilled in the management of his horses, which seemed much more inclined to descend than to ascend the elevation. Many persons were collected on either side of the street, whose object seemed to be rather to observe, than to render aid. Judge White sat for some minutes on his horse, closely scanning the operations. He finally dismounted, and offering his assistance, took the lines, mounted the saddle-horse, and by his skill as a driver, quickly carried the load and horses to the top of the slippery hill.

His high qualifications as a financier were fully established by the success of the bank; "such was the wisdom of his management, that its paper was always equal to specie, as it was 'lifted' with silver and gold when presented for payment; indeed, it was the only instance for several years of a bank paying specie in the Western country.