2
THE BATTALION.
the restraints of law and order, not so
with the west. It needed the guidance
of a strong and determined man. Such
a man was Andrew Jackson.
He had moved to Tennessee and be
gan the practice of law. When that
state’s population became large enough,
a convention was called and a constitu
tion was formulated. In this Jackson
was the moving spirit. He anchored
Tennessee to the Union and became her
representative, then judge and next her
governor.
About this time Jefferson, with one
stroke of the pen, added the territory of
Louisiana to the domain of the United
States. Jackson with a commission
from the government, marched into
Louisiana removed the Indians west of
the Mississippi, broke up the lawless
element and rendered the newly acquir
ed territory tit for settlers. His next
service was in the leafy everglades of
Florida, where he compelled the Span
ish authorities to make amends for their
violations of the laws of the United
States. The negotiations which he
opened up with Spain resulted in the
purchase of Florida.
The war of 1812 came on. The news
that a fleet was advancing upon New
Orleans caused great excitement. The
veterans of Waterloo, who captured Na-
polean and placed again the Bourbons
on the throne of France, were coming
eight thousand strong, led by the
nephew of Wellington. Jackson took
command of the American troops. Hasty
breatworks were made. The general was
every where infusing hope and courage
by his untiring energ} 7 . His men were
rough and untrained volunteers, but
within their tawny bosoms beat a heart
of invincible valor.
After two repulses the British battal
ions under Beckenham, mo zed to the
main assault. On they came in awe in
spiring columns ! But behind those em
bankments the American soldiers
are as cool as the cold steel they clasp in
their determined hands. Suddenly at a
a distance of a few yards, a flood of flame
and fire leaped into the face of the ad
vancing foe; musketry rattles and can
non roar. “Stand to your guns; make
every shot tell!” said Jackson, as his
towering form moved among his men.
Two hours passed, and when the smoke
of battle rolled upward, like curtains of
a theatre, the enemy’s legions had melted
and “Old Hickory” was master of the
field.
A grateful people attested his popular
ity by placing him in the presidential
chair. While at the helm of the ship of
state he guided her through troubled
waters. But the mist never grew so
thick, nor the clouds so black that this
heroic man could not land her in the
harbor of safety. In the face of great
opposition he firmly fixed his policies
and however arbitrary they seemed at
the time to be, all have united in pro
claiming the wisdom of his course.
“Rare combination of soldier and
statesmen.” A leader of men, both in
camp and cabinet. Stern as Regulus, as
unbending as Hannibal, yet as saga
cious as Cassar. Whether dealing with
cunning savages, or facing the veterans
of Europe ; whether establishing princi
ples of government, or directing the
meditation of an hour, he was the same
confident and energetic man. He was
one of the few great men who could
think correctly and act quicklj 7 . It was
given to him to both plan and achieve.
Andrew Jackson lived at a time when
our country was prolific of great men.