Beacon Lights of History, Volume 12 | Page 6

months, and the Indians were nearly all
killed or dispersed. I need not enumerate his engagements, which were
regarded as brilliant. His early dangers and adventures, and his
acquaintance with Indian warfare ever since he could handle a rifle,
now stood him in good stead. On the 21st of April, 1814, the militia
under his command returned home victorious, and Jackson for his
heroism and ability was made a major-general in the regular army, he
then being forty-seven years of age. It was in this war that we first hear
of the famous frontiersman Davy Crockett, and of Sam Houston,
afterwards so unique a figure in the war for Texan independence. In
this war, too, General Harrison gained his success at Tippecanoe, which
was never forgotten; but his military genius was far inferior to that of
Jackson. It is probable that had Jackson been sent to the North by the
Secretary of War, he would have driven the British troops out of

Canada. There is no question about his military ability, although his
reputation was sullied by high-handed and arbitrary measures. What he
saw fit to do, he did, without scruples or regard to consequences. In war
everything is tested by success; and in view of that, if sufficiently
brilliant, everything else is forgotten.
The successful and rapid conquest of the Creeks opened the way for
Jackson's Southern campaign against the English. As major-general he
was sent to conclude a treaty with the Indians, which he soon arranged,
and was then put in command of the Southern Division of the army,
with headquarters at Mobile. The English made the neutral Spanish
territory of Florida a basis of operations along the shores of the Gulf of
Mexico, thus putting in peril both Mobile and New Orleans. They
virtually possessed Pensacola, the Spanish force being too feeble to
hold it, and made it the rendezvous of their fleets. The Spanish
authorities made a show, indeed, of friendship with the United States,
but the English flag floated over the forts of the city, and the governor
was in sympathy with England. Such was the state of affairs when
Jackson arrived at Mobile at the head of parts of three regiments of
regulars, with a thousand miles of coast to defend, and without a fort
adequately armed or garrisoned. He applied to the Secretary of War for
permission to take Pensacola; but the government hesitated to attack a
friendly power without further knowledge of their unfriendly acts, and
the delayed response, ordering caution and waiting, did not reach him.
Thrown upon his own resources, asking for orders and getting none, he
was obliged to act without instructions, in face of vastly superior forces.
And for this he can scarcely be blamed, since his situation demanded
vigorous and rapid measures, before they could be indorsed by the
Secretary of War. Pensacola, at the end of a beautiful bay, ten miles
from the sea, with a fine harbor, was defended by Fort Barrancas, six
miles from the town. Before it lay eight English men-of-war at anchor,
the source of military supplies for the fort, on which floated the flags of
both England and Spain. The fleet was in command of Captain Lord
Percy, whose flagship was the "Hermes," while Colonel Nichols
commanded the troops. This latter boastful and imprudent officer was
foolish enough to issue a proclamation to the inhabitants of Louisiana
and Kentucky to take up arms against their country. A body of Indians

were also drilled in the service of the British, so far as Indians can be
drilled to regular warfare.
As soon as the true intentions of the English were known to General
Jackson, who had made up his mind to take possession of Pensacola, he
wrote to the Spanish governor,--a pompous, inefficient old
grandee,--and demanded the surrender of certain hostile Creek
chieftains, who had taken refuge in the town.
The demand was haughtily rejected. Jackson waited until three
thousand Tennessee militia, for whom he had urgently sent, arrived at
Mobile, under the command of General Coffee, one of his efficient
coadjutors in the Creek War, and Colonel Butler, and then promptly
and successfully stormed Pensacola, driving out the British, who blew
up Fort Barrancas and escaped to their ships. After which he retired to
Mobile to defend that important town against the British forces, who
threatened an attack.
The city of Mobile could be defended by fortifications on Mobile Point,
thirty miles distant, at the mouth of the bay, since opposite it was a
narrow channel through which alone vessels of any considerable size
could enter the bay. At this point was Fort Bowyer, in a state of
dilapidation, mounting but a few pieces of cannon. Into this fort
Jackson at once threw a garrison of one hundred and sixty regular
infantry under