afterwards sent it to the Hermitage, where he and Mrs. Jackson raised it, and gave it an education, and cared for it as if it had been their own child.

For no apparent reason whatever they named the boy Lincoyer. When he became a wild, but not savage big boy, the General took him to Nashville for him to choose among all the shops what profession he would follow. He selected the saddler's trade, which might have brought to the General's mind a little similar circumstance. Like other boys, so situated, Lincoyer spent his Sundays at home and returned to his trade on Monday mornings. But habit and blood would tell. Lincoyer still liked the ways of his race, and the poorly selected and contemptible trade did not agree with him. How could such a contracted and mean pursuit agree with this free child of the forest, born in a climate where his parents had spent all their days in the open air, unrestrained and uncramped.

They took poor Lincoyer home, and good "Aunt Rachel" nursed him. But he actually had the consumption, and before he was seventeen years of age died. They buried his poor brown body, and long was his memory kept green at the Hermitage. Who could name a better and more interesting thing than the case of this little Indian boy, in the life of General Jackson, up to that date, at all events?

This wonderful battle, in which not a savage warrior survived, is thus spoken of by Mr. John A. Bolles :

"Talluschatches, a name that will ring sadly in the ear of every surviving Creek to the end of time; and yet, shall the red man and the white remember the terrors of that field with mingled emotions, for it bears immortal testimony to the humanity as well as the military genius of Jackson."

Discriminative stump-speaker's drivel! What had the genius of Jackson to do with it? He was miles away when the battle was fought. "We have retaliated for the destruction of Fort Mims." That was the view of this genius.

No man's humanity or genius was especially conspicuous in a conflict in which not an Indian was left to tell how no quarter was asked and none given. In the case of the women and children General Jackson was just and humane, and around him centered the melancholy interest of the event in the story of Lincoyer.

CHAPTER IX.

BATTLE OF TALLADEGA-GENERAL COCKE-JACKSON CONQUERS A MUTINOUS ARMY.

G

ENERAL JACKSON was now busy in building

the fort on the Coosa, which was called Fort Strother, and in fighting the contractors and waiting for supplies, his troops being on merely living rations.

At this time he received word from a settlement of friendly Indians thirty miles to the south, on a branch of the Coosa, at the site of the present town of Talladega, Alabama, that they were surrounded and about to be attacked by a large body of hostile Creeks, and urging him to come to their assistance. This he at once determined to do. He had just been apprised of the approach of General White with a part of the East Tennessee troops belonging to the command of General John Cocke, and wrote to White to advance immediately to the protection of the sick, etc., at Fort Strother during his absence.

On the morning of the 8th of November, 1813, Jackson, with two thousand men, eight hundred mounted and twelve hundred foot, crossed the Coosa and started for Talladega. In the evening of the same day he halted for rest six miles from the Indian camp. He had, in the meantime, been informed that White had been commanded by General Cocke to rejoin him, and deeming it his duty to obey, marched away instead of

coming to the protection of Fort Strother. But, notwithstanding the danger and destitution in which his camp would be left, Jackson determined to press forward, strike the enemy, and return to the Coosa before his absence would be known to the prowling bands of savages. Accordingly, on the morning of the 9th, he fell upon and defeated the Indians in a severe battle. The following letters to Governor Blount fully describe the nature and results of this engagement :"CAMP STROTHER, NEAR TEN ISLANDS OF COOSA,

1813.

SIR,-I am just returned from an excursion which I took a few days ago, and hasten to acquaint you with the result.

"Late on the evening of the 7th inst., a rumor arrived from the friendly party at Lashley's Fort (Talladega), distant about thirty miles below us, with the information that the hostile Creeks, in great force, had encamped near the place, and were preparing to destroy it; and earnestly entreated that I would lose no time in affording them relief. Urged by their situation, as well as by a wish to meet the enemy as soon as an opportunity would offer, I determined upon commencing my march thither, with all my disposable force, in the course of the night; and immediately dispatched an express to General White, advising him of my intended movement, and urged him to hasten to this encampment by a forced march, in order to protect it in my absence. I had repeatedly written to the General to form a junction with me as speedily as practicable, and a few days before had received his assurance, that on the 7th he would join me. I commenced crossing the river at Ten Islands, leaving behind me my baggage-wagons, and whatever might retard my progress, and encamped that night within six miles of the fort I had set out to relieve. At midnight, I had received by an Indian runner a letter from General White, informing me that he had received my order, but that he had altered his course, and was on his march backward to join Major-General Cocke, near the mouth of the Chatuga. I will not now remark upon the strangeness of this maneuver; but it was now too late to change my plan or make any new arrangements; and between three and four o'clock, I recommenced my march to meet the enemy, who were encamped within a quarter of a mile of the fort. At sun

The cav

rise we came within half a mile of them, and having formed my men, I moved in order of battle. The infantry were in three lines, the militia on the left, and the volunteers on the right. alry formed the two extreme wings, and were ordered to advance in a curve, keeping their rear connected with the advance of their infantry lines, and inclose the enemy in a circle. The advanced guard whom I sent forward to bring on the engagement, met the attack of the enemy with great intrepidity; and, having poured upon them four or five very galling rounds, fell back, as they had been previously ordered, to the army. The enemy pursued, and the front line was now ordered to advance and meet him; but, owing to some misunderstanding, a few companies of militia, who composed a part of it, commenced a retreat. At this moment, a corps of cavalry, commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Dyer, which I had kept as a reserve, was ordered to dismount and fill up the vacancy occasioned by the retreat. This order was executed with a great deal of promptitude and effect. The militia, seeing this, speedily rallied; and the fire became general along the front line, and on that part of the wings which was contiguous. The enemy, unable to stand it, began to retreat; but were met at every turn, and repulsed in every direction. The right wing chased them, with a most destructive fire, to the mountains, a distance of about three miles; and, had I not been compelled, by the faux pas of the militia, in the outset of the battle, to dismount my reserve, I believe not a man of them would have escaped. The victory was, however, very decisive; two hundred and ninety of the enemy were left dead; and there can be no doubt but many more were killed who were not found. Wherever they ran, they left behind traces of blood; and it is believed that very few will return to their villages in as sound a condition as they left them. I was compelled to return to this place to protect the sick and wounded, and get my baggage on.

"In the engagement we lost fifteen killed and eighty-five wounded; two of whom have since died. All the officers acted with the utmost bravery, and so did all the privates, except that part of the militia who retreated at the commencement of the battle, and they hastened to atone for their error. Taking the whole together, they have realized the high expectations I had formed of them, and have fairly entitled themselves to the gratitude of their country. ANDREW JACKSON.

"HIS EXCELLENCY, WILLIE BLOUNT, NASHVILLE."